Obama commutes sentences of 5 South Florida men among 111 federal inmates

2 South Florida drug offenders scheduled to be released at end of year

(Pool via CNN)

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – President Barack Obama has cut short the sentences of 111 federal inmates in another round of commutations for those convicted of nonviolent drug offenses.

Among the more than 100 inmates with commuted sentences are five men from South Florida. They are Alfonso Allen, Roosevelt Brockington, Aubrey Jermaine Cummings, Uriah Alfred Rose and George E. Smith.

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Obama has long called for phasing out strict sentences for drug offenses, arguing they lead to excessive punishment and incarceration rates unseen in other developed countries.

White House Counsel Neil Eggleston said the commutations underscore the president's commitment to using his clemency authority to give deserving individuals a second chance.

He said that Obama has granted a total of 673 commutations, more than the previous 10 presidents combined. More than a third of the recipients were serving life sentences.

Allen, who was sentenced to life in prison, had his sentence commuted to 30 years.

Brockington had his sentence trimmed from more than 21 years in prison to about 15-and-a-half years.

Cummings was also sentenced to life in prison, but he is now scheduled to be released in December.

Rose, who was originally sentenced to about 15-and-a-half years, is scheduled to be released in August 2018.

Smith, who was sentenced to more than 19 years in prison, is also scheduled to be released in December.

Eggleston said he expects Obama to continue granting commutations through the end of his administration, but that only legislation can ensure the federal sentencing system operates more fairly.


About the Authors:

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.