Obama is commuting the sentences of five convicted Alabama drug dealers

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Wednesday announced his decision to commute the sentence of 214 federal convicts, including five convicted Alabama drug dealers.

The Alabamians who received commuted sentences Wednesday are as follows:

Scottie Ladon Dixon (Atmore):
In 2010, Mr. Dixon received a life sentence for conspiring to distribute crack cocaine. He also received a 33-month concurrent sentence for violating the terms of a previous supervised release. President Obama tossed Mr. Dixon’s life sentence aside and replaced it with 221 months imprisonment.

Felix Monroe Fort (Birmingham):
In 1998, Mr. Fort was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment and four years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. President Obama commuted Mr. Fort’s term to 262 months in prison.

Robert Lee Nickles (Mobile):
In 2003, Mr. Nickles was sentenced to 20 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. President Obama commuted Mr. Nickles’ sentence and he will be released in December.

Jerome Rowser (Birmingham):
In 2004, Mr. Rowser received a a life-plus-60-months sentence and 10 years of supervised release for posession with intent to distribute over 50 grams of a substance containing cocaine base and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Mr. Rowser will instead be released from prison in December.

David Dejuan Wise (Montgomery):
In 2005, Mr. Wise received a sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and 8 years of supervised released for conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride and several other cocaine-related charges. Mr. Wise will instead be released from prison in December.

President Obama has now commuted more sentences (562) than the previous 9 presidents combined, a fact that the White House touted on Twitter.

BREAKING: @POTUS just commuted the sentences of 214 additional people, surpassing the past 9 presidents combined. pic.twitter.com/mpr78ANJvX

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 3, 2016

Upon hearing the news Wednesday, Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) released the following statement:

President Obama granted sentence commutations to the highest number of individuals in more than 100 years today, 48 of whom were convicted of firearm-related convictions. This decision is completely contrary to the Administration’s claim that it is committed to making our communities safer and reducing violent gun crime.

On one hand, the Obama Administration is attempting to limit law-abiding Americans from exercising their Second Amendment right and protecting themselves from harm. On the other hand, the President will let criminals with firearm-related offenses off easy. I am deeply concerned by today’s announcement, and I will continue to press the Administration and Attorney General Lynch on the misguided decision to put criminals, particularly those convicted of a crime involving a gun, back on the streets.

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