Philadelphia

Two Convicted Drug Dealers from Philadelphia and Camden Get Lengthy Sentences Commuted by President Obama

A Philadelphia man and a Camden man, both serving lengthy federal prison terms for drug offenses, are among 79 offenders to have their sentences commuted by President Obama, according to officials Tuesday.

Tyris Ford, 47, of Philadelphia, was convicted in 2001 for possession and distribution of cocaine and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. He was sentenced to 300 months in prison and 10 years' supervised released. He was not scheduled for release until July 9, 2020, according to the federal Bureau of Prisons.

Jose Rodriguez, of Camden, was convicted in 2006 and sentenced to 360 months in prison. It is unclear when he was scheduled for release.

Both men will now be released March 22, according to Obama's commutation grants.

Ford and Rodriguez are on a list of commutations of prisoners from across the country.

The 79 offenders announced Tuesday bring the total to receive clemency under Obama to more than 1,000, according to the White House.

"The President has now commuted the sentences of 1,023 men and women incarcerated under outdated and unduly harsh sentencing laws, including 342 individuals who were serving life sentences," the White House said in a statement. "The majority were offenders sentenced for nonviolent drug crimes."

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