In a recent article we discussed the fact that President Obama has dedicated a significant portion of his final year in office to shortening the prison sentences of people primarily convicted of federal nonviolent crimes. Note that the President of the United States can only alter sentences for federal convictions and not for state of Michigan convictions. In this particular case, the man in question is a Detroit-area resident, who says that the opportunity at early freedom has changed his life.
In 2006 Kareem Martin was arrested for drug crimes. He later accepted a plea bargain from the United States Attorney’s office (the federal prosecutor), and pled guilty to Possession with intent to deliver cocaine. In 2007, Martin was sentenced to serve twenty three years in federal prison. But now, thanks to President Obama, Martin will now get out of prison in 2018, a full 12 years earlier than expected.
<h2>Martin had a long history of criminal conduct</h2>
At the time of his sentencing in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Martin’s sentencing guidelines were enhanced due to his previous criminal convictions. Federal Judge Lawrence Zatkoff, who has since passed away, said at the time that Martin had a “long history of criminal conduct” and went on to say that it would be appropriate to grant him a “significant sentence.”
Martin has been pursuing a shorter sentence for years without any luck. In 2014, Martin wrote to Judge Zatkoff explaining that he was a changed man, and had taken the time to better himself in prison by getting an education and becoming an electrician but to no avail. His most recent attempt was rejected on May 13th by Judge Sean Cox, another United States District Court Judge in Detroit.
According to clemency statistics provided by the United States Department of Justice, the years between 2009 and 2015 were not particularly active for President Obama went it comes to pardons and commutations granted. But 2016 has been a landmark year, with no less than 348 people receiving clemency grants from this president.
Martin’s sentence was commuted, along with 41 other people’s on Friday of last week. According to a press release put out by the Office of the White House Press Secretary, the 42 individuals hailed from all over the country, including Florida, Texas, New York and South Carolina. But Martin, originally a resident of River Rouge, Wayne County, Michigan, was the only resident of the Michigan to receive a presidential commutation in this particular group.
Our criminal defense attorneys at The Kronzek Firm remind you that it is best to contact us very early in a criminal investigation or prosecution. We often get the best results for clients when we get an early start. Our federal criminal defense lawyers can be reached at 1 866-766-5245.