WASHINGTON, D.C. On his way out of office President Barack Obama issued 153 commutations of sentences and 78 pardons. Some have captured headlines, like the release of Chelsea Manning, a transgender intelligence analyst serving time in Leavenworth for the biggest breach of secret information in U.S. history. Manning claimed at trial to be struggling with gender disphoria while serving in Iraq as Army Pvt. Bradley Manning at the time of the crime. Obama also pardoned retired Gen. James Cartwright who plead guilty to lying about his conversations with reporters to FBI agents who were investigating a leak of classified documents. Among the more widely publicized commutes and pardons were 14 people from N.C. serving prison sentences who got a reprieve from the outgoing president. All but one were serving time for either possession or distribution of cocaine. Six of those were also convicted of possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. Twelve people from N.C. had their sentences commuted or shortened. Only two North Carolinians received pardons from the outgoing president. Kristi Lynn Coe of Haw River was serving time for mail fraud, serving four months of home arrest and five years of probation. James Willie McGrady Jr. of Fayetteville was serving time for distribution of cocaine and possession while drug trafficking.Commutation of Sentence:Arthur Lee Butler, Jr. GreenvilleOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine; District of South CarolinaSentence: 120 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (Nov. 18, 2009)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on April 18, 2017.Calvin Lavan Clark Garner Offense: Possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base (crack) and a quantity of cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; Eastern District of North Carolina Sentence: 354 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (Sept. 17, 2008)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Dec. 19, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.Leonard A. Clement Cooleemee Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine and cocaine base and possessing with intent to distribute marijuana; Western District of North Carolina Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (Nov. 6, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 180 months imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.Adrian Lyndell Cook Murfreesboro Offense: 1. Possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; Eastern District of Virginia 2. Supervised release violation (possession with intent to distribute cocaine base); Eastern District of Virginia Sentence:1. 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (Oct. 6, 2008); amended to 168 months imprisonment (Oct. 24, 2013) 2. 60 months imprisonment (concurrent) (Aug. 5, 2009)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on April 18, 2017.Michael Leroy Darity Arden Offense: Conspiracy to unlawfully manufacture and distribute cocaine base; Western District of North Carolina Sentence: 384 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (Jan. 29, 1998); amended to 308 months imprisonment (Jan. 18, 2016)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on April 18, 2017.Korell Ellis Fairmont Offense: Possession with the intent to distribute cocaine base; use or carry a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; Eastern District of North Carolina Sentence: 295 months imprisonment; five years supervised release; $14,330 fine (March 12, 2002); amended to 248 months’ imprisonment (Oct. 7, 2015)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months imprisonment.Chalmers Lavette Hendricks Charlotte Offense: Conspiracy to violate narcotic laws (cocaine); possession/distribution cocaine (crack); possession of a firearm by convicted felon during drug trafficking crime; possession of firearm/ammunition by convicted felon (two counts); Western District of North Carolina Sentence: Life plus 300 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (Oct. 26, 1995); amended to life plus 60 months imprisonment (March 6, 1998)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Dec. 19, 2018, and unpaid balance of $1,200 remitted at the time of his release, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.Shelia Rochelle Neal Winston-Salem Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and cocaine hydrochloride; Middle District of North Carolina Sentence: 120 months imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (June 4, 2010)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted a term of 240 months imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.Tracy Maurice Thomas Weldon Offense: Possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base (crack); using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime (two counts); possession with intent to distribute more than five grams of cocaine base (crack); Eastern District of North Carolina Sentence: 437 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (July 13, 2009); amended to 420 months imprisonment (Dec. 17, 2014)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Dec. 19, 2018, and unpaid balance of the $5,000 fine remitted at the time of his release, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.Gary Dean White Gastonia Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; Western District of North Carolina Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (June 22, 2007)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Dec. 19, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.Billy Dee Williams Charlotte Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; using/carrying firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and aiding and abetting; Western District of North Carolina Sentence: Life plus 60 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (July 11, 2006)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Dec. 19, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.Harold Dwight Wooten Clarkton Offense: Conspiracy: Possession with intent to distribute and distribute cocaine base (crack); Middle District of North Carolina Sentence: 298 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (Sept. 1, 1998)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on April 18, 2017.Pardons:Kristi Lynn Coe Haw River Offense: Mail fraud (Middle District of North Carolina) Sentence: Five years’ probation, conditioned upon four months home confinement; $17,785.72 restitution (Oct. 11, 2001)James Willie McGrady, Jr. Fayetteville Offense: Distribution of cocaine and aiding and abetting; distribution of cocaine in excess of 500 grams and aiding and abetting; possession of a firearm in the commission of a drug trafficking crime (Eastern District of North Carolina) Sentence: 37 months imprisonment; four years supervised release; $5,000 fine; $1,000 restitution (April 11, 1989) (as amended May 3, 1990)
