WASHINGTON D.C., DC — A Georgia man is being pardoned for a non-violent drug offense he pleaded guilty to over 10 years ago, the White House announced.
On Wednesday, President Joe Biden used his authority to grant clemency to 16 people who were convicted of non-violent drug offenses. Of those individuals, 11 were pardoned -- meaning they were forgiven of their crimes.
Jeffrey Alan Lewis of Douglasville was one of those people. According to a release, the 58-year-old man pleaded guilty to a non-violent drug offense when he was 40. The White House said that if Lewis had been sentenced under current law and practices, he would have received a significantly shorter sentence. In addition, Lewis had already served his sentence and completed any obligations with his supervised release.
"Since his release, he has been consistently employed, contributes to the community through charitable works and active community engagement, and he has built a reputation as a 'family man,'" a release described.
Lewis was the only Georgia man on the clemency list. The rest were from locations all over the country, including two in Florida, three in Tennessee and one in South Carolina. Those who were not pardoned were granted reduced sentences.
Biden said the pardon recipients have shown a commitment to improving their lives and positively influencing their communities. In addition, the recipients whose sentences were commuted have shown they deserve forgiveness and the chance to build a brighter future, he stated.
"Like my other clemency actions, these pardons and commutations reflect my overarching commitment to addressing racial disparities and improving public safety," Biden said in a statement.
For the full list, click here.
