A Portsmouth woman who has been in federal prison since 1992 on drug charges and for illegal use of food stamps was granted a rare sentence reduction this week by President George W. Bush.
Patricia Beckford, who has served 16 years of a 23-year sentence, will be released July 24 as a result of Bush's action.
Now 48, she currently is in a federal prison in Florida for conspiracy and attempt to distribute more than 50 grams of crack cocaine and for unauthorized use of food coupons.
Beckford could not be reached Wednesday for comment. She applied for the sentence commutation herself in February 2007, said Erik Ablin, a spokesman for the U.S. Justice Department.
Ablin said the department would not comment on the specifics of Beckford's application or why the decision was made to commute her prison time.
In addition to Beckford's commutation, Bush granted pardons for 15 people convicted of various crimes in other states, the Justice Department said late Tuesday.
Sentence reductions like the one granted Beckford are rare, Ablin said.
During nearly eight years in office, Bush has commuted the sentences of six people out of more than 6,500 applications, according to department statistics.
Presidents have the authority to reduce sentences only on federal convictions. The Justice Department reviews the cases and makes recommendations based on an evaluation of such factors as the applicant's behavior record in prison, circumstances surrounding the conviction and medical status, according to the department.
Based on news reports in The Virginian-Pilot, Beckford was arrested in 1991 as a member of an East Coast drug ring accused of selling crack cocaine in public housing neighborhoods in exchange for food stamps. The food stamps were later sold to grocery stores and markets that redeemed the coupons for full value.
Lazaro Sotolongo of Portsmouth, described as the ringleader, had come to the United States as part of the 1980 Mariel boatlift from Cuba, according to The Pilot's reports.
In records in Norfolk's U.S. District Court, an assistant U.S. attorney wrote in 1998 that Sotolongo was "responsible for the misuse of food coupons in the face amount of $10,000, an act that is particularly offensive to society and the taxpayers of this country."
In an August 1991 newspaper account of the arrest of Sotolongo and five others, Beckford was described by authorities as a top aide in the ring.
After she leaves prison in July, Beckford still must complete a five-year supervised release and meet other conditions that were part of her original sentence, according to the Justice Department.
Janie Bryant, (757) 446-2453, janie.bryant@pilotonline.com
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RE: There's George right on
"There's George right on schedule with his anti-Bush comment."
You got that right!
They have some things in common
Considering that he is a former (and current for all we know) serious powder-partier himself, it seems like a fair thing to do. Documentation aside, if you don't believe it just listen to him speak sometime.
That figures...
So a woman gets 23 years for a drug charge and fraudulent food stamps? Surely that has to be a mistake. The young men who killed my son only got 15 years and they admitted their guilt! Surely this lady didn't get more time than they did..right?
So if we can prove a murderer improperly used food stamps they'll get more time? Maybe prosecutors should start looking into folks' food stamp histories so they can serve the time they should get for killing folks on a food stamp rap!
And we wonder why the justice system is the way it is. Next thing you know, folks will be getting life for not cleaning up after their pets!
The real joke
The real joke is a pedophile gets convicted and serves 5 years, a durg dealer is convicted and gets 23 years! Who calls that justice? As for Bush he is out of here so to say he done this to save face doesn't make sense. I think finally he did something right!
There's George right on
There's George right on schedule with his anti-Bush comment.
Trust me
It's just a political move
Republicans have always benefited from white collar criminals
Now it looks like they are courting the support of other criminals. Desperate times make for desperate actions - trust the desparados to do whatever it takes to win. Wonder who they're more afraid of Hillary or Obama.
Let me get this right...
Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean can rot in jail for doing their jobs while this drug dealer gets to walk???
Revolving Door
Once again our judicial system is failing us. Criminals commit these crimes and our so called leaders let them out. I have an idea! Lets stop arresting people let everyone do what they want (Rape,Kill, Sell Drugs, and Steal) that way we don't have to waste money on trials and prisons.
Get real Gooche
Just jailed over food stamps? How about being a predator on one of the weakest segments of our society? How about using tax payer funds to subsidize drug use? How about the primary customers also having almost every aspect of their life paid for by us? Can there be a more jailable offense?
He's a fool
He's a fool
Not available?
Does anyone think that it's funny that Ms. Beckford was "not available for comment?"
Justice
Considering the fact that if this woman had been caught with 50 grams of powder cocaine, as opposed to crack, her sentence would have been at least half of the 24 years she was sentenced for, I think this reduction was fair and just.
For Once
Wow, A pardon from Bush? The punishment does not fit the crime. As tax payers it cost to lock people up for less violent crime. Let the violent criminals get lock or whatever, but jailed over food stamps? There is enough crime out there to get people locked up ie, shootings!! Lets use common sense!!
Soft?
In 8 years only 6 of 6500 sentences presented to him were commuted by President Bush..That is less than 1/10 of 1%..I wouldn't exactly call that being soft. I hope federal inmates counting on President Bush to commute their sentence are not holding their breath!......
Question
Why don't you entertain comments on the article about the judge vacating charges against the three hoodlums in Norfolk?
Cheesy Pete!!!
What about the man pictured on the recent edition of 60 minutes who has been in prison for the last 23 years and been found innocent by DNA test. He is still awaiting the system to grind through the process of giving his life back to him. Enough of the secrecy of this administration, the circumstances of these commutations should be made public!
????
And then we wonder why our laws do not deter crime...we go soft on the sentences imposed. What a joke!
Commute the sentence?
This woman was selling crack and ripping off the system by #1. Living in public housing, #2.Un-lawful use of food stamps. Why should her sentence be commuted? I am sure there are others out there that deserve this opportunity more than this woman. Wonder how long she will be out before she is back in trouble with the law?