State Cases

Sally was sentenced under Michigan’s infamous “650 Lifer Law” for her peripheral involvement in her boyfriend's cocaine conspiracy. Justice was finally served in her case in May.

Jennifer’s substance abuse has ravaged her life and her family. Forging checks to feed her addiction resulted in conviction under North Carolina's habitual offender law.

Michaelene, a single mother of three, sold cocaine to support her own addiction. She has been incarcerated for eight years in Massachusetts.
 

Unfortunately, the drug dealing lifestyle swept up David at a very early age.  He was only 14 when he first started to sell marijuana to support his habit. 

Maria is serving a 20 to 40 year sentence in Michigan. 

José worked in an auto mechanic shop to earn a living to support his wife and three children.  His troubles with the criminal justice system began when he traveled to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to attend a friend’s wedding. When one of the other wedding guests, whom José had never met before, could not rent a hotel room because he did not have valid identification, José rented the guest a room in his own name. 

Daniel came to the U.S. at 16, hoping to earn money and support his family. His decision to act as a drug mule resulted in a mandatory sentence in N.C.

Charles is married with a nine year-old daughter and a two year-old son.  His family has remained extremely supportive of him throughout his ordeal, but unfortunately they have faced hardships because of Charles’ incarceration.  His wife works, but has to receive government assistance to make ends meet and his mother is currently working three jobs to help support his wife and kids.  On the impact Charles’ incarceration has had on the family, his wife states: “It’s been hard, I can’t lie.  I would say with the bills, but I think for the most part, it’s been raising my kids without their father in the home.”

Erik, a former addict, lived a productive life and stayed sober for many years after completing a prison sentence. As debt mounted and life became stressful, he began using drugs again. Under Maryland's mandatory sentencing laws, he received 25 years.

Richard was sentenced under Michigan’s infamous “650 Lifer Law”.  Prior to 1998, the “650 Lifer Law” mandated life without parole for delivery or conspiracy to deliver 650 grams or more of cocaine or heroin.  In 1998, FAMM succeeded in reforming the “650 Lifer Law” penalty and won further reforms of the penalty in 2003.  Richard and others who had been convicted under the “650 Lifer Law” became eligible for parole after serving 15, 17.5, or 20 years, after the 1998 reforms. 

Guadalupe is serving more than 18 years in North Carolina. 

Willie was married with two kids, gainfully employed and had never been in trouble with the law until he began to experiment with drugs at the age of 29.  After trying cocaine and crack cocaine on a few occasions, Willie quickly became a full-blown crack cocaine addict. As a result of his addiction, Willie was unable to hold down his job and consequently resorted to committing petty crimes to support his crack cocaine habit.

Tony is serving 33-110 years in Michigan for a cocaine offense. He has been incarcerated for 13 years. 

Bonnie is serving a 15-year mandatory minimum drug sentence in Massachusetts.

Growing up, neither Patricia nor her family fathomed that she would eventually develop a debilitating drug addiction. In December of 2003 Patricia forged $400 worth of checks to support her crack cocaine addiction. Because of prior convictions also related to sustaining her addiction, North Carolina's habitual felon law was triggered.

Between September of 2002 and January of 2003, Dwight was caught breaking and entering into parking meters in Ashville, North Carolina.  A total of $31.26 was taken from the three meters he broke into and he caused an estimated $200 worth of damage to the meters.  Dwight was charged as a habitual felon and sentenced to 7 ½ to 10 years in prison for these offenses.

At William's sentencing, the Honorable Paul F. Chaiet said, “In this Court’s view, the sentencing process goes awry in this case … I’ve been a judge for twelve years and a prosecutor for fourteen years.  And the penalty in this case under the mandatory extended term is simply too severe.  It does not fit the crime.”  Judge Chaiet would also say, “Mandatory sentencing provisions can create difficult results.  In the court’s view, this is one of those times where the ultimate results are difficult to accept.” 

Christine and her two brothers were born and raised in New Jersey.  Although she was never exposed to drugs or alcohol at home, Christine began experimenting with alcohol at the age of 14 and by the time she was 17 had tried ecstasy and marijuana.  She reports that she then quickly became addicted to heroin, prescription pills and alcohol.  She entered rehabilitation programs twice, at 18 and 20, but each time proved ineffective and she went right back to using drugs again.  Like many other drug addicts, Christine began to commit crimes to support her addiction. 

James was educated and devoted to his family, but an addiction to crack cocaine eventually resulted in life in prison in Louisiana.