Obama Commutes Jail Sentence For Newark Man

NEWARK, NJ — A Newark resident was among the 111 federal inmates who received commuted jail sentences from President Obama on Tuesday, authorities say.

Overall, the inmates were in prison for non-violent drug offenses, with 11 people also convicted on firearms offenses. Of the 111 announced Tuesday, 56 people will be freed by the end of the year. The others will be released early, in 2017 and 2018. A separate group will be freed before their sentences are up but after 2018.

• See related article: President Obama Commutes 111 More Sentences

According to www.WhiteHouse.gov, three New Jersey inmates had their sentences shortened on Tuesday:

Eugene Kenneth Brinson (Newark)

• Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride and heroin, possession with intent to distribute marijuana (Eastern District of Virginia)
• Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (September 8, 2006)
• Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months imprisonment

Mark Lanzilotti (Sewell)

• Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; manufacture of methamphetamine and aiding and abetting (Eastern District of Pennsylvania)
• Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (April 4, 2002). Amended to 360 months imprisonment (August 7, 2006)
• Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months imprisonment

Mark Foster (Waterford Works)

• Offense: Conspiracy to possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, carrying or possessing a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime (Middle District of Florida)
• Sentence: Life plus 60 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (July 12, 2002)
• Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months imprisonment

In May, Obama lessened sentences for 56 people. Earlier this month, he announced commutations for 214 people.

Since the "War on Drugs" began in the 1980s, the number of people in jail for drug offenses increased from 41,000 in 1980 to nearly a half-million in 2014, according to The Sentencing Project, and one in nine people are serving life sentences. Advocates for reducing prison populations say that sentences of nonviolent offenses should be capped at 20 years.

Photo: The White House, Flickr