Above Photo: Thinkstock
Note from Amy Ralston Povah, President – CAN-DO Foundation: “Thirteen of the original women on the Top 25 are NOW FREE – most due to clemency and a few for the two point reduction – this is progress. We’ve been told there will be “more women” on the next list coming out toward the end of July due to several of us who went to the White House complaining that there were only two women on the last list! We feel this short video helps explain why people end up with 10-LIFE for conspiracy even if they never sold drugs – and puts a face on it.”
Amy Ralston Povah received a presidential pardon from Bill Clinton in 2000, ending a 24 year sentence she received for an MDMA offense. Here is more of her story: A presidential pardon saved my life. Here’s why Obama should pardon hundreds more women.
These 25 women are extraordinary examples of people who received draconian sentences due to legislation passed in the the late 80s and 90s that caused minor participants in a “conspiracy” case to receive mandatory sentences of 10 years to LIFE without parole. Most of these women are FIRST OFFENDERS who have served no less than 9 years and as much as 24 years. They all have good conduct and yearn to be given a second chance.
The vast majority of society remains unaware of the conspiracy law or that it’s possible to receive a LIFE sentence in a federal drug case even if you never buy, sell, or possess drugs. Merely lending someone property that is used in a drug transaction (such as a car) is enough to trigger a “conspiracy” indictment. That’s why the rate of incarcerated women nearly doubled the rate of men from 1988 – 2014 and why most of these women are serving extraordinarily long sentences for their association with someone involved in the drug trade.
More years in prison is not what’s needed. All of these women have applied themselves while incarcerated and achieved extraordinary things, despite their situation, such as earning a college degree, completing drug rehab programs, or mentoring other prisoners. Combined, these women have over 55 surviving children and more than 100 grandchildren waiting to be hugged and loved outside of prison walls.
Read more about each of these women.
The Clemency Report and CAN-DO Foundation engages in exhaustive research to identify cases that deserve relief from unjustly long prison sentences that do not fit the crime. We are honored to vouch for:
1. Alice Marie Johnson – 1st offender – served 19 yrs on LIFE
2. Danielle Metz – 1st offender – served 23 yrs on LIFE
3. Josephine Ledezma – 1st offender – served 24 yrs on LIFE
4. Michelle West – 1st offender – served 23 yrs on LIFE
5. Minnie Pearl Thomas – served 16 yrs on LIFE
6. Cheryl Howard – served 22 yrs on LIFE
7. Rita Becerra – 1st offender – served 20 yrs on 27 yr sent.
8. Roberta Bell – 1st offender – served 22 yrs on LIFE
9. Lori Kavitz – 1st offender – served 15 yrs on 24 yr sentence
10. Lavonne Roach – 1st offense – served 18 yrs on 30 yr sent.
11. Patricia Clarke – 1st offender – served 23 yrs on LIFE
12. Nancy Ferneau – 1st offender – served 13 yrs on 25 yr sent
13. Tynice Hall – 1 prior – served 10 yrs on 28 yr sentence
14. Crystal Munoz – misd. – served 10 yrs on 20 yr sent.
15. Pauline Blake – bad check – served 14 yrs on 24 yr sent.
16. Cynthia Shank – 1st offender – served 9 yrs on 15 yr sent.
17. Rose Summers – 1st offender – served 18 yrs on 24 yr sent.
18. Terry Anderson – served 19 yrs on 30 yr sentence
19. Melissa Trigg – 1st offender – served 10 yrs on 15 yr sent.
20. Barbara Pachecho – served 9 yrs on 20 yr sentence
21. Beth Rushing – 1st offender – served 15 yrs on 24 yr sent.
22. Andrea Joy James – Fine only – served 17 yrs on 27 yr sent.
23. Rhonda Turpin – served 11 yrs on 17 yr sentence
24. Phyllis Hood – served 12 yrs on 22 yr sentence
25. Mandy Martinson – 1st offender – served 10 yrs on 15 yrs
Please – help reunite these women with their families! Together we CAN-DO this!