Roosevelt "Pure" Hamlin is among 102 who had their prison sentences commuted by the president Thursday. He says he's sorry for what he did. It appears Obama is trying to secure as many sources that he can for future use......
The president has now commuted nearly 800 sentences since he took office in 2008.
All four of the Illinois prisoners were serving time for dealing crack. Three were doing decades-long sentences and one was serving life.
Here are the four Illinois prisoners whose sentences were commuted Thursday:
Delvin R. Dixon, Rockford
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine; Southern District of Iowa
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (February 10, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 6, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Roosevelt Hamlin, Chicago
Offense: Distribution of cocaine base (crack), Central District of Illinois
Sentence: 30 years imprisonment, 10 years supervised release (May 5, 2010)
Jerry Pirtle, Springfield
Offense: Distribution of 50 or more grams of cocaine base (crack), Central District of Illinois
Sentence: 20 years imprisonment, 10 years supervised release (May 5, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on February 3, 2017.
Christopher Alan Simmons, Moline
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine; possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, Central District of Illinois
Sentence: Life imprisonment, 10 years' supervised release (August 7, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 15 years and eight months.
Hamlin was the subject of a Change.org petition that was delivered to President Obama, Sen. Rand Paul R-KY, and Sen. Dick Durbin, D-IL. In the petition, Hamlin expressed his remorse.
"I am very remorseful for the act," Hamlin said, describing the "act" as a "non violence low scale drug crime."
"I'm asking for a chance to show our justice system is in place someone can become rehabilitated if wanted," Hamlin said. "Why keep using taxpayers hard earned dollars to house someone like myself, when I have the tools To use to help rebuild communities. As well taking the steps to reduce the risk of recidivism."