Obama Commutes Former Joliet Offender’s Prison Sentence
The 46-year-old woman was originally sentenced to 240 months in prison. She’ll be released in 2018.
Bobbie Jo Diers was convicted of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of crack and possession with intent to distribute. Her original sentence was 240 months in jail with 10 years of supervised release, which was handed down April 12, 2010.
With Obama’s commutation, her prison sentence will expire Aug. 3, 2018, but she will have to enroll in a residential drug treatment facility.
According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Diers was originally scheduled for release July 1, 2026. She is currently housed at the Waseca Federal Correctional Institute in Minnesota.
Diers and Kenneth Brown, both of Joliet at the time, were charged Feb. 25, 2009, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“The two worked together to transport the drugs from Joliet to Springfield with each making telephone calls to arrange delivery of the drugs in Springfield,” according to the release. “Diers allegedly drove Brown to Springfield and concealed the crack cocaine on her person at Brown’s request.”
The two were arrested in Springfield on January 28, 2009. Brown’s sentence has not been commuted.
Since his presidency began, Obama has commuted the sentences of 562 men and women “incarcerated under outdated and unduly harsh sentencing laws, including 197 individuals who were serving life sentences,” according to the White House.
The majority were nonviolent offenders sentenced for drug crimes.
Obama has granted more commutations than the past nine presidents combined, the White House said on its website. He has also granted 70 pardons and will continue to grant additional commutations and pardons throughout the remainder of his presidency.
