Obama Commutes Sentences For 214 Federal Prisoners; 4 From Southeast Michigan

WASHINGTON (WWJ/AP) - President Barack Obama is cutting short the sentences of 214 federal inmates — including four from Southeast Michigan.

They include William Anthony of Detroit, who was serving time for drug distribution; Vincent King of Detroit, convicted on weapons and drug charges; Samuel Grooms of Clinton Township and John Tolliver of Holly — who were both convicted on drug charges.

The White House says it's the largest batch of commutations on a single day in more than a century, in a tweet declaring that "America is a nation of second chances."

Almost all the prisoners were serving time for nonviolent drug offenses.  Sixty-seven of them were serving life sentences.

The commutations bring to 562 the total number of sentences Obama has shortened. The White House says that's more than the past nine presidents combined. Almost 200 of those who have benefited were serving life sentences.

In 2015, Obama announced that his Administration would be establishing new grants to help returning citizens adjust to life after prison with resources including education, job training, housing, as well as legal, health and child services.

White House counsel Neil Eggleston says Obama will continue granting clemency to more inmates during the final months of his presidency. He says those receiving commutations were imprisoned under antiquated, overly harsh sentencing laws.

Most of those receiving commutations Wednesday will be released December 1.

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