Obama commutes life sentence of Chicago man convicted on drug charges

A Chicago man serving a life sentence for his role as a low-level courier in a federal drug case will be released by next Christmas, one of 95 federal inmates to have their sentences commuted Friday by President Barack Obama.

Alton Mills spent 22 years in federal prison, and his life sentence was more than the drug suppliers and dealers convicted with him in a 1994 drug conspiracy case. Mills had two prior convictions for drug possession — crimes so minor he was sentenced to probation in those cases. But when he was found guilty in the federal case in 1994, that conviction was considered a “third strike” that made him eligible for a mandatory life sentence.

At his sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Marvin Aspen bemoaned the federal statutes that tied his hands on the harsh sentences to be meted out to Mills and his six co-defendants. Aspen called the life sentence a “farcical” punishment.

“Everyone in the courtroom when Alton was sentenced agreed that he was the least culpable,” said Assistant Federal Defender Amanda Graham. “He was just a courier.”

Mills’ prior appeals had failed, leaving commutation his only hope to be released before his death, said Graham, who worked on Mills’ case along with fellow Assistant Federal Defender MiAngel Cody.

Most of the nearly 100 federal inmates to have their sentences commuted Friday were serving lengthy terms for drug offenses mandated by federal drug laws. The Obama Administration has pushed for reductions in sentences for drug defendants, who comprise about half of the 200,000 inmates in federal custody.

Amador Rodriguez, convicted in 1990 in an unrelated drug conspiracy, also had his life sentenced commuted, and will go free next year. Rodriquez, who represented himself on appeal, could not be reached for comment.

Mills was stunned when his attorneys called him at a medium-security prison in Mendota, Calif., Friday morning, Graham said.

“There weren’t any words for a while, and a lot of crying,” Graham said. “When I asked him how he was feeling, he said he felt just total relief.”

Mills’ daughter was a toddler when he was arrested, but he is looking forward to seeing her graduate from college next year, Graham said. After Mills’ previous appeals had failed, the Justice Department’s Office of Pardon Attorney — which refers cases to the White House for commutation or pardon — was his only chance of leaving prison.

“Alton had faith that if the president ever saw his (case) he would do the right thing,” Graham said. “But it’s a shame that it took an action by the President, that is so rare, to correct this.”