Obama Commutes Sentences For More Than 200 People — Four In Ohio

CLEVELAND, OH — President Barack Obama on Wednesday commuted the sentences of more than 200 people serving federal sentences — including four in Ohio.

The 214 commuted sentences are part of a broader reprieve Obama previously announced in 2014 in an effort to rectify harsh sentencing that would not be applicable by today's standards. Obama's so-called Clemency Project has granted a total of 562 commutations — more than all other presidents combined.

Wednesday's action represents the most commutations issued by a president in a single day since at least 1900, according to the White House. The Ohio residents who had their sentences commuted are:

• Timothy Aaron Brown of Warren, serving time for possession with intent to distribute cocaine; Central District of Illinois. He was originally sentenced to 240 months' imprisonment and 10 years' supervised release. With the commuted sentence he is now scheduled to be released on December 1, 2016.
• Derrick Glass of Youngstown, imprisoned for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and felon in possession of a firearm. Glass was originally sentenced to 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release. With the commuted sentence he is now scheduled to be released on December 1, 2016.
• Michael Goldsby of Cleveland, serving time for possession with intent to distribute 5.88 grams of cocaine base. Goldsby was originally sentenced to 383 months' imprisonment and eight years' supervised release later amended to 360 months' imprisonment. After commutation, prison sentence is set to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
• John A. Hill of Cleveland, serving time for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute marijuana plus felon in possession of a firearm. Originally sentenced to life behind bars. Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2017.
• Tyrand James of Youngstown, serving time for distribution of cocaine (two counts) and distribution of cocaine base. James was originally sentenced to 240 months' imprisonment and 10 years supervised release. Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
• Linton C. Nichols of Cleveland, doing time for possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base (crack) and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Originally sentenced to life behind bars and 10 years supervised release. Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
• Ervin Darnell Worthy of Akron, serving time for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an altered serial number. Conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine. Worthy was originally sentenced to two life sentences. Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2017.

Image by The White House [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons