Obama Commutes Sentences Of 7 Pennsylvania Inmates

President Barack Obama commuted the sentences of 102 prisoners on Thursday, including seven from Pennsylvania. This week's commutations bring the total for Obama's term to 774 — more than the past 11 presidents combined.

All the Pennsylvania prisoners whose sentences were commuted are serving time for drug distribution offenses.

The following Pennsylvania prisoners are among the 102:

• Randy Boler – Indiana, PA

Offense: Conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine; Middle District of Pennsylvania

Sentence: 327 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release; $2,500 fine (April 18, 2002); amended to 267 months' imprisonment (December 18, 2002)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on February 3, 2017.

• Julio Figueroa – Philadelphia, PA

Offense: 1. Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; unlawfully maintaining a place for the manufacture of controlled substances; distribution of cocaine and aiding and abetting (four counts); Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 2. Supervised release violation (conspiracy to distribute 500 grams of cocaine; distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine and aiding and abetting); Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Sentence: 1. 360 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (June 19, 2008). 2. 6 months’ imprisonment (consecutive) (November 4, 2008)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months' imprisonment.

• Anthony P. Flemming – Pittsburgh, PA

Offense: Possession with intent to distribute and/or distribution of five grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute less than 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine (two counts); Western District of Pennsylvania

Sentence: 188 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release (March 22, 2007)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 6, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

• Mark Louis Katzin, Sr. – Philadelphia, PA

Offense: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; Use of a communication facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense; Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (May 15, 2002)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 1, 2017.

• Jerald McCullough – Altoona, PA

Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Western District of Pennsylvania

Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (July 2, 2009)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months' imprisonment.

• John Purcell – Philadelphia, PA

Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and manufacture methamphetamine; manufacturing methamphetamine, aiding and abetting; Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (May 16, 2007)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on February 3, 2017.

• Jose Ramon Rivas – Philadelphia, PA

Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base ("crack"); Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (June 22, 2005)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 6, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

The president has been an outspoken critic of mandatory-minimum sentencing, including comments last year following a visit to El Reno Federal Penitentiary.

"This is costing taxpayers across America $80 billion a year," he said. "When we’re looking at nonviolent offenders, most of them growing up in environments in which the drug traffic is common, where many of their family members may have been involved in the drug trade, we have to reconsider whether 20-year, 30-year, life sentences for nonviolent crimes is the best way for us to solve these problems."

.@POTUS just granted commutations to another 102 people who have shown that they are deserving of a second chance: https://t.co/hQztO31mi6 pic.twitter.com/cxc1fdmiUE — The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 6, 2016

Many of Obama's commutations involve righting "unduly harsh sentences under outdated laws for committing largely nonviolent drug crimes," noted Neil Eggleston, White House counsel to the president, following the last round of commutations.

"We must remember that these are individuals — sons, daughters, parents, and in many cases, grandparents — who have taken steps toward rehabilitation and who have earned their second chance," Eggleston wrote on the White House blog.

Official White House Photo by Pete Souza