Ashley Hunter - Greene Publishing, Inc.
In 1998, Frank Lavelle Sharpe, of Pinetta, went to prison.
Back in April of 1996, an investigator from the Madison County Sheriff's Office initiated a drug case on Sharpe, who was a large scale dealer who only sold large amounts of cocaine.
Also involved in the case was the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), as well as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), who considered Sharpe to be a convicted felon who was alleged to have carried a firearm during his illegal drug business.
The case involved the purchase of large amounts of crack cocaine, and obtaining a warrant to search Sharpe's residence. An additional pound and 10 ounces of crack and powder cocaine were found within Sharpe's home, as well as marijuana and paraphernalia.
Sharpe, who was then 33 years old, was arrested and charged at the state level for three counts of possession of cocaine with intent to sell, three counts of selling cocaine, trafficking cocaine, possession of marijuana less than 20 grams, the cultivation of marijuana, and the possession of drug paraphernalia.
On June 9, 1998, Sharpe had his first arraignment in Tallahassee, and on Jan. 14, 1999, Sharpe was convicted and sentenced to life in the Federal Court system for four counts of distributing cocaine base. Sharpe was allowed 10 years of supervised release as well.
On Thursday, Oct. 6, President Barack Obama granted commutation of sentences to 102 federal inmates and of that list, Sharpe was included.
In the United States, a commutation is a leniency on the severity of a punishment and can be granted by the President under Article II, Section 2 of the United States Constitution, which states that the President “shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.” The pardon or leniency power of the President extends only to offenses recognized under federal law. However, governors of most of the 50 states are allowed the power to grant pardons or reprieves for inmates prosecuted under state criminal law.
Some of the more controversial uses of the presidential pardon power have included President Gerald Ford's pardon of former President Richard Nixon following the official misconduct which gave rise to the Watergate scandal and President Andrew Johnson's sweeping pardon for thousands of former Confederate officials and military personnel following the American Civil War.
Before being granted a commutation, Sharpe would have had to serve out a life sentence for his crimes, but under the commutation granted by President Obama, Sharpe's sentenced was reduced to 360 months (30 years) imprisonment.
Already, Sharpe has served 18 years, meaning he will be free to return home in 12 years.