Manatt assisted in securing presidential clemency for an incarcerated client who received a 30-year sentence for a first-time, non-violent drug offense.
Referred to as BLR, the client was charged and convicted for participating in a drug-tracking conspiracy. Prior to his arrest, seven of the nine codefendants in this conspiracy had already pled guilty and later testified against BLR. He never received a plea deal and, therefore, exercised his right to trial. At trial, BLR was found guilty and sentenced to 30 years in prison—more than every other co-conspirator, all but one of whom have been released from prison.
While in prison, the client proved to be a model inmate and positive influence on his peers. BLR served as an educational tutor to other inmates, as part of the Bureau of Prison’s Education Department and as a volunteer and ambassador for the Compassionate Prison Project—a program designed to assist inmates and their families struggling with trauma. Since being released to home confinement, BLR has earned his associate’s degree and was a member of the National Honors Society, and he is currently pursuing his bachelor’s degree in information technology. More recently, he was selected as an Amazon Web Services (AWS) Educate Learner Advocate and his inspiring personal journey was featured as part of AWS’ web series.
The Manatt team representing BLR collected prison records and information that demonstrated his exemplary behavior while in prison and positive influence on others. Manatt’s supplemental clemency petition argued that BLR’s excessive sentence would be substantially lower today under current sentencing guidelines and highlighted the personal growth and success that he has achieved, even while incarcerated.
On December 11, 2024, BLR was named as one of the 1,500 individuals that President Joe Biden would be granting presidential clemency. With his prison sentence commuted, he looks forward to pursuing a career in cybersecurity and reuniting with his family and fiancé.
Litigation Associate Matthew Bruno first began representing BLR at his prior firm, as part of an engagement to seek compassionate release. After the motion for compassionate release was denied, Bruno continued to explore other options for BLR and initiated a new engagement at Manatt where he and Investigations, Compliance and White Collar Defense Partner Richard Hartunian worked on preparing the client’s clemency petition.
The case was referred to the Firm by pro bono partners the Compassionate Release Clearinghouse and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.