Obama Commutes Sentences Of 214, Including Two From Pensacola, One From Atmore

August 4, 2016

President Obama commuted the sentences of 214 more federal inmates Wednesday, including one from Atmore and two from Pensacola.

dixonscottieladon.jpgScottie Ladon Dixon of Atmore was sentenced to life in prison with a concurrent 33 month sentence with 10 years supervised released on May 18, 2010. Dixon  pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine. Dixon admitted in federal court that he sold 6.2 kilograms (13.67 pounds) of crack cocaine while he was on supervised release from a 1997 drug conviction.

A Drug Enforcement Administration’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force agent used a confidential informant to purchase crack from Dixon near Bay Minette on April 21, 2009. According to court documents, Dixon bragged about the quality of crack and sold the confidential informant two cookies of crack for $2,000.  As federal agents raided Dixon’s home, he was found at the end of a trail of cocaine powder, standing over a toilet. Court documents indicated that agents found crack in the sewage pipes under his trailer. He was taken into custody by federal agents at his trailer at 307 East 4th Street in Atmore on April 30.

Dixon’s sentence was commuted to a term of 221 months imprisonment.

Christopher M. Dees of Pensacola was sentenced to life in prison, 10 years supervised release and a $1,000 fine on September 1, 2004. He was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base. His prison sentence was commuted to a term of 262 months imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Christopher Stanton of Pensacola was sentenced to 360 months imprisonment with eight years supervised release on July 25, 2006. He was convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of cocaine base. His sentence was commuted to expire August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Obama has now commuted the sentences of 562 people incarcerated under what he calls outdated and unduly harsh sentencing laws, including 197 individuals who were serving life sentences. The majority were nonviolent offenders sentenced for drug crimes. He has commuted the sentences of more prisoners than the past nine presidents combined. He has also granted 70 pardons.

Comments

36 Responses to “Obama Commutes Sentences Of 214, Including Two From Pensacola, One From Atmore”

  1. Travis on December 27th, 2016 11:37 pm

    Can we stop pretending like drug dealers are store clerks. People die everyday due to drugs and not just overdosing. Kids are not immune to this. This is not a victimless crime. Yes I think child molesters should be put down but that does not excuse other crimes. The system is far from perfect but cutting people loose is not the fix. He is just a drug dealer Jesus society is so far gone.

  2. David Huie Green on August 10th, 2016 8:26 pm

    zimmerman was innocent. Travyon Martin was beatIng him to deauh when he shot him.

  3. john on August 8th, 2016 6:41 am

    Yes let’s do some research.
    Three branches of government.
    Executive=President Obama
    Legislative=President Obama
    (Judicial)=President Obama

    Used to be
    Executive=President
    Legislative=Congress
    Judicial= Supreme Court Justices

  4. Mike Honcho on August 7th, 2016 7:46 pm

    Did some. Repeat offenders are not eligible. Yep looks like overreach.

  5. Lee on August 7th, 2016 10:11 am

    This is NOT overreach by the President. Do some research and get the facts on how this all works.

  6. Karen shepley on August 5th, 2016 5:56 pm

    First off given life in prison for a drug charge is Ludacris, When I see everyday Murderers and child molesters receiving 5 to 10 yrs. Its ridiculous my Nephew got 13 yrs for buying Sudafed and I know someone that got 4 yrs for killing a girl so I have no faith in Florida Judicial System. After all we let George Zimmerman off not to mention Casey Anthony. So Kudos to Obama for going back and changing the sentence’s on these harsh drug sentences.

  7. Jim on August 5th, 2016 1:40 pm

    The POTUS is essentially overriding the legislature, whose job it is to propose, evaluate, and either pass or reject law. Odd how he ignores the laws he disagrees with (and acts as if these death dealing drug sales are harmless), yet insists that one of the worst pieces of political law-writing, the so-called Affordable Care Act, AKA “Obamacare”, is the “law of the land and cannot be ignored”. Hopefully, prayerfully, with God’s grace, we can make some sort of positive change in November.

  8. David Huie Green on August 5th, 2016 12:21 pm

    REGARDING:
    “The legal system and the Constitution are now a farce. The Constitution is overrulled by feelings and agendas.”

    It is the Constitution which gives the Preident the power to pardon or commute sentences. It is a good idea even if it is often misused. It is one of the factors to consider when picking a president.

    David for thoughtful, fair presidents

  9. mike honcho on August 5th, 2016 4:18 am

    What is going on in the world today.
    All you hear is poor poor criminals. There is a set of standards that criminals have to meet before being considered for commute. One big one no repeat offenders.
    I see it as a slap in the face for ever one who risked there lives to bring them to justice. So when one of these fine young men comes a knockin wanting what you got, make sure to let them know you think they got a raw deal.

    But that’s my thoughts
    God Bless America, and the people who fight for it.

  10. Larry on August 5th, 2016 12:35 am

    The truth of the matter is that most people who reoffend “feel” as if they have no other choice but to revert back to their old habits. Not all people who have committed offenses do it again. The majority of so called statistics people quote are highly misrepresented. Everyone makes choices and all of those choices have consequences, that includes the people who choose to use drugs. You can’t TAKE from anyone what is GIVEN freely. People who make a conscious decision to use drugs choose to give up their souls. The problem in America is that most people lack compassion for their fellow man. We are always quick to point fingers, but are never ready nor willing to take a walk in the next man’s shoes. Until we do, WHO ARE WE TO PASS JUDGEMENT. Judgement will be passed soon enough, but it won’t be ANY man who does it. It will be GOD and HIS WORD.

  11. Just saying 13 pounds on August 4th, 2016 9:52 pm

    From a 2010 northescambia article

    Atmore Man Gets Life In Prison For Selling Over 13 Pounds Of Crack
    May 26, 2010
    An Atmore man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for selling over 13 pounds of crack cocaine.
    Scottie LaDon Dixon, 38, received the sentence from Chief U.S. District Judge William Steele after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine. Dixon admitted in federal court that he sold 6.2 kilograms (13.67 pounds) of crack cocaine while he was on supervised release from a 1997 drug conviction.
    A Drug Enforcement Administration’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force agent used a confidential informant to purchase crack from Dixon near Bay Minette on April 21, 2009. According to court documents, Dixon bragged about the quality of crack and sold the confidential informant two cookies of crack for $2,000.
    As federal agents raided Dixon’s home, he was found at the end of a trail of cocaine powder, standing over a toilet. Court documents indicated that agents found crack in the sewage pipes under his trailer. He was taken into custody by federal agents at his trailer at 307 East 4th Street in Atmore on April 30.

  12. Chris j on August 4th, 2016 2:44 pm

    I know this man personally ! He sold drugs , you all are talking like he was a rapist or killed people ! If you know him you know he was the most giving person around . Just had a bad job .

  13. jan on August 4th, 2016 2:38 pm

    Can’t wait to see what TRUMP does if he gets in …since everyone is blaming the prez. I bet trump will do nothing if he can close out atlantic city and bankrupt the Talj mahal what will he do for this country…

  14. Bea, thomas on August 4th, 2016 1:24 pm

    Will come out folks the one that turn state evidence on you discount 2 days You may,need to leave your state because your life my be in danger

  15. George on August 4th, 2016 1:23 pm

    Thank you berry. What else can you do to harm America prior to 22 jan16.

  16. My on August 4th, 2016 12:38 pm

    I feel as if you all sound stupid, like you never did anything wrong wonder what skeletons are in your closet and drug dealers font put a gun a drug addicts head and make them do drugs they are the ones to blame for their own addiction and irresponsible decision to be a “career drug addict” really get over it, its life!

  17. Antwon on August 4th, 2016 12:30 pm

    I don’t know whats the problem with some people. These offenders received a lesser sentence for drug related offences, they didn’t murder, rape, or anything of that nature. Let’s not forget how these drugs made their way into the US. But you have people who get away with murder and you support that.

  18. Citizen on August 4th, 2016 12:28 pm

    For the people who support this, on the day they are released…Please pick them up and take them home with you.

  19. Ethel Jones on August 4th, 2016 12:16 pm

    All I can say is any court that sentences people to life in prison for selling drugs, but gives a murderer 5-10 years is flawed. I do not use drugs not sell them, but the President did the right thing. Let the sentence fit the crime….especially when not all drug dealers receive the same sentence.

  20. Jamie on August 4th, 2016 11:17 am

    I don’t agree with all the commutes but I will say murders and child molesters get less time than scottie did

  21. Sandra on August 4th, 2016 11:07 am

    Although you have to pay for your crimes sometimes the punishment is too harsh, the comments that they will re-offend are totally unnecessary i wonder what your comments would be on someone that killed someone for that i have seen the punishment is not enough in some cases, where is the fight for that and yes they had choices and sometimes picked the wrong ones who are WE too judge everyone deserves 2nd chances keep your negativity for your family and these kids have their parents ijs

  22. Thomas on August 4th, 2016 10:41 am

    My cousin got 20 years talking about selling drugs. And yet some people get 5 to 10 for killing someone. Remember drugs sell them selves….

  23. me3tv on August 4th, 2016 10:14 am

    One of the few things Obama did right. We have the highest incarceration of any first world country. Mandatory sentences and zero tolerance policies are taking common sense out of sentencing. None of these above are released immediately. Two are fifteen years away. One is two years away. Our addiction rehab programs are unfunded to pay for commercial prison growth. We are not smart about this.

  24. cw on August 4th, 2016 10:01 am

    obama continues his agenda to destroy America. We may go back to street justice just like the wild west was.

  25. Eddie on August 4th, 2016 9:26 am

    Even if Hillary would have been indicted and convicted Obama would have pardon her!!

  26. dman on August 4th, 2016 9:13 am

    Typical of dear leader. He’s making sure there are more democrats who’ll vote in elections to come. @Robert- How has the war on drugs failed? I was a child of the 80s, and I vividly remember a constant and continuous stream of “Say No to Drugs”. When I was about 10 years old, I remember it dawned on me that this stuff must be pretty bad, for them to be constantly harping about it. I had teachers who’d taught in the 60s and 70s and said the students meandered down the halls in a doped fog. I don’t think that’s happening now, and it sure as heck didn’t happen (at least not here) in the mid 90’s when I was in school. Most of my friends are and have always been drug-free. So please explain…

  27. JT on August 4th, 2016 8:28 am

    Just want to say thanks to our president for bypassing every legal system in the US. The legal system and the Constitution are now a farce. The Constitution is overrulled by feelings and agendas. One of his commuties has already comitted a triple murder. Felons are the victims and cops are the problem. What a time we live in.

  28. Miranda on August 4th, 2016 8:14 am

    Statistics are scary, this man has done horrible things, I pray for the strength and help from his family and friends or at least the guidance of the Bible to correct this man’s wrong doings for the futures sake. We don’t know if he learned his lesson or not, but we can only pray about this. I do not wish he walk down the same path, but finds a better one. This is a blessing and a second chance from God. I hope he takes advantage. There is nothing like being a free man.

  29. Billy D on August 4th, 2016 6:40 am

    I’m sure that both of these folks are going to be fine upstanding citizens who will contribute greatly to their communities……………………(insert sarcasm here)
    You finally get a judge to put a career criminal where he belongs and this happens. The double edged sword that is our judicial and criminal justice system continues to dig further between our shoulder blades.

  30. Spud on August 4th, 2016 6:35 am

    So the moral of the story is if you wanna sell crack or cocaine in America it’s okay, you’ll get slapped on the wrist and sent to time-out. Government is dumb…

  31. Concerned Citizen on August 4th, 2016 5:49 am

    After looking at the court records for the two upstanding citizens of Pensacola, I must admit that the best part of the commutation from the guy in the White House, is that they won’t be out too long. They cannot stay out of the system long for some reason.

    Concerned Citizen

  32. BT on August 4th, 2016 5:40 am

    While I think a life sentence for distributing drugs is excessive, almost 14 pounds of crack sounds like a lot. This is a guy who is not trying to do the right thing.

  33. Robert on August 4th, 2016 5:19 am

    Anyone with any sense knows the war on drugs has been a complete failure. What does an intelligent person do when they fail? They look for reasons for the failure and remedies to mitigate the problematic results. Alcohol prohibition didn’t work, it totally backfired. Why would we think drug prohibition would be any different.

  34. john on August 4th, 2016 5:16 am

    A drug dealer is about as bad as a murderer, in that their drugs take people’s soul.

    I hope some organization is keeping tabs on these guys to see how many re-offend or if they kill someone, and then throw this back in the face of the out of office Obama.

  35. Don on August 4th, 2016 5:06 am

    They will re-offend soon enough…..business as usual.

  36. Dan on August 4th, 2016 4:44 am

    months and even years spent working on these cases hundreds of people involved in the process to make sure they go to trail get a fair trail and a fair sentence what’s else can be said this president has been the worst thing to ever happen to America.