Washington D.C. — Last week, President Donald Trump announced a slate of pardons just in time for Christmas. Among those pardoned was Weldon Angelos, a prison reform activist who previously served time for a non-violent drug offense.
Angelos announced his pardon on Twitter, thanking the President, Jared Kushner, and Sen. Mike Lee, among others.
Angelos’ story begins in the 1990s and early 2000s. Weldon was an aspiring rapper and producer, even working with the likes of Snoop Dogg.
During this time, Angelos was struggling to provide for his two children and began selling small quantities of marijuana to get by.
In 2002, Angelos sold a small amount of marijuana (about $950 worth spread across multiple occasions) to a police informant. He also allegedly carried a firearm during these transactions, although he never brandished or used that firearm.
At the age of 23, Angelos was arrested and charged for these crimes.
The case made its way to federal court, wherein 2004, Weldon was sentenced to 55 years in federal prison. Angelos had no prior convictions. Why such a steep sentence for non-violent drug charges? Federal mandatory minimums.
Because of the firearm charge, the Judge in the case was forced to “stack” charges against Angelos, resulting in a minimum of 55 years in federal prison. The Judge, Paul Cassell, stated that he knew the sentence was far too harsh, but he did not have a choice due to the mandatory minimum laws.
After 13 years in federal prison, the prosecutor in Weldon’s case had a change of heart and filed a motion to resentence Weldon to time served, ending his time in prison in May of 2016.
Following his release, Angelos became an advocate for criminal justice and prison reform. He tours the country and serves as a cautionary tale against mandatory minimum sentences. He also runs The Weldon Project, which does advocacy work against marijuana prohibition.
In December of 2018, President Donald Trump signed the First Step Act into law, the biggest criminal justice reform effort in the last few decades. The First Step Act was a bipartisan legislative effort aimed at reducing federal prison populations and creating fairer guidelines for the sentencing of non-violent drug offenders.
In the wake of the adoption of the First Step Act, there has been pressure on the President to commute the sentences of people like Weldon.
On Dec. 22, President Trump granted Weldon a full Presidential pardon, clearing him of his crime and giving him a second chance at life and righting a wrong in the justice system.
In response to the pardon, Angelos said, “I’m forever grateful to President Trump and Senator Mike Lee, who made it happen. This gave me the opportunity to have a real second chance. It doesn’t give me back my career in the music industry or the time lost with my family, but it’s certainly the next best thing. I will continue working to secure more pardons and commutations for deserving individuals.”
Find out more about Weldon’s mission at www.theweldonproject.org.
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