Stories

Jomari DeLeon made two drug sales over 24 hours, making less than $200. Kingpin? Hardly. Yet this first-time offender was sentenced to 15 years. Even the judge didn’t want to give her that much time. And making matters worse, the same crime today carries three years. A second chance for Jomari is humane, just, and common sense.

Rick, a drug addict with no prior criminal convictions, was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison because of mandatory minimum sentencing laws. The judge at his trial had no choice but to hand down the brutal sentence, calling it “wrong” and “excessive.” Rick, now 38, arrived at federal prison in July of 2018, knowing that he most likely would spend the rest of his life there. Tragically, Rick Turner died in prison on June 13, 2019.

UPDATE: Erik was released in February 2021 through a resentencing to time served. Kerry Weyant’s son Erik is living the nightmare that is Florida’s 10-20-Life mandatory minimum. Erik was sentenced to 20 years for firing a gun into the air to ward off attackers, even though no one was hurt. In 2016, Florida changed the aggravated assault law under which Erik was charged, amending the statute to remove the mandatory minimum. If that were made it retroactive, Erik would be released. Instead, he is looking at almost a decade more behind bars. His dad remains one of his strongest advocates, reaching out to lawmakers and the media for help.

UPDATE: Kenny was released from prison in May of 2020. It may seem strange but, here’s how I look at my 24 years behind bars: Success. Hear me out. When I was convicted for my part in a marijuana drug conspiracy at the height of the war on drugs in the 1990s, there was no…

“It feels like the world has given up on you. That you are just some throwaway, someone who is irredeemable.” That’s how Robert Shipp describes being sentenced to life in prison for a drug crime in 1994.

UPDATE: Robert was released from BOP custody on July 19, 2019.

Desperate to make ends meet as a 20-year-old single mom to three young kids, Stephanie Nodd became involved with a drug dealer. Eventually, she was caught up in the conspiracy that would bring both of them down—and she was sentenced to more time than he was. Soon after landing behind bars, she gave birth while shackled to a bed.