Dublin Man Pardoned By Biden; Among 6 In The U.S.

DUBLIN, CA — A Dublin man was one of six in the country and two in California to be pardoned for past crimes. On Friday, Biden announced pardons to six people who have served their sentences primarily for minor drug crimes, and then contributed to their community in a positive way. The pardon means that the convictions will be expunged from their records.

Edward Lincoln De Coito III of Dublin, 50, pleaded guilty to serving as a cannabis courier on five or six occasions when he was 23. He served a prison sentence for nearly two years, from March 1999 to December 2000. Before his offense, De Coito served in the U.S. Army and Army Reserves, where he received numerous awards, including the Southwest Asia Service Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal. Since his release, he has served as an electrician and a pilot.

The other pardons include:

• Vincente Ray Flores of Winters, California: Flores, 37, was sentenced to four months of confinement, forfeited part of his military pay, and saw a reduced rank after he was convicted of consuming ecstasy and alcohol while serving in the military at age 19. He then enlisted in a six-month rehabilitation program to allow select offenders to return to duty. He remains on active duty in the Honor Guard and has won a number of awards, including the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Meritorious Unit Award. Flores has also volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, cancer research, and help for service members returning from deployments.
• Gary Parks Davis of Yuma, Arizona: Davis, 66, served a six-month sentence in county jail after pleading guilty to facilitating a cocaine transaction. Since then, he has run his own landscaping business, and volunteered for school booster clubs, the local rotary club, and the local chamber of commerce.
• Beverly Ann Ibn-Thomas of Columbus, Ohio: Ibn-Thomas, 80, was sentenced to five years in prison after she was convicted of killing her husband. She testified that her husband beat her and threatened her while she was pregnant. The judge refused to allow expert testimony on battered woman syndrome, which can develop in victims of domestic violence. Her case was appealed, and became among the first where a judge recognized battered woman syndrome. Her term was reduced from five to one years of incarceration. Since then, Ibn-Thomas has become director at a healthcare business and continues to work as a case manager.
• Charlie Byrnes-Jackson of Swansea, South Carolina: Byrnes-Jackson, 77, pleaded guilty to selling whiskey without the necessary tax stamps at age 18. In 1964, he was sentenced to five years’ probation, and could not fulfill his dream of enlisting in the Marine Corps. In the following years, he became a carpenter and used his carpentry skills to help his church and members of his community.
• John Dix Nock III of St. Augustine, Florida - Nock, 72, pleaded guilty in 1996 to manufacturing cannabis plants. He was sentenced to six months community confinement followed by three years supervised release. In lieu of forfeiture, Nock paid the government the value of the home he rented to his brother. Since his supervised release ended in 2000, he operates a contracting business, mentors young contractors, and helps organize a fishing tournament to benefit abused young men.

In October, Biden granted full pardons to thousands of people convicted of cannabis possessions. In April, he also issued three pardons to people convicted of nonviolent drug crimes.