Obama’s First Pardons Include $20-Fined Coin Mutilator
- Posted on December 3, 2010 at 5:21pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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WASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) — President Barack Obama has granted the first pardons of his presidency. The list of nine people, however, is unimpressive and includes mostly people who never even served jail time, including one man absolved for mutilating coins.
No one well-known was on the list, and some of the crimes dated back decades or had drawn little more than a slap on the wrist in the first place – such as a Pennsylvania man sentenced in 1963 to probation and a $20 fine for mutilating coins. The White House didn’t explain the charge, but tampering with federal currency is a crime.
The White House declined to give details on the cases or comment on why these particular people were selected by a president who previously had only pardoned Thanksgiving turkeys. Presidential pardons often come in the holiday season toward year’s-end, but they can sometimes be extremely controversial, such as when Bill Clinton pardoned fugitive financier Marc Rich at the end of his presidency.
“The president was moved by the strength of the applicants’ post-conviction efforts at atonement, as well as their superior citizenship and individual achievements in the years since their convictions,” said White House spokesman Reid Cherlin. The White House announced the pardons Friday as Obama was in the air on the way home from a surprise visit to Afghanistan.
The people pardoned were:
-James Bernard Banks, of Liberty, Utah, sentenced to two years of probation in 1972 for illegal possession of government property.
-Russell James Dixon, of Clayton, Ga., sentenced to two years of probation in 1960 for a liquor law violation.
-Laurens Dorsey, of Syracuse, N.Y., sentenced in 1998 to five years of probation and $71,000 in restitution for conspiracy to defraud by making false statements to the Food and Drug Administration.
-Ronald Lee Foster, of Beaver Falls, Pa., sentenced in 1963 to a year of probation and a $20 fine for mutilating coins.
-Timothy James Gallagher, of Navasota, Texas, sentenced in 1982 to three years of probation for cocaine possession and conspiracy to distribute.
-Roxane Kay Hettinger, Powder Springs, Ga., sentenced in 1986 to 30 days in jail and three years of probation for conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
-Edgar Leopold Kranz Jr., of Minot, N.D., who received 24 months of confinement and a pay reduction for cocaine use, adultery and bouncing checks.
-Floretta Leavy, of Rockford, Ill., sentenced in 1984 to 366 days in prison and three years of parole for drug offenses.
-Scoey Lathaniel Morris, of Crosby, Texas, sentenced in 1991 to three years of probation and $1,200 restitution for counterfeiting offenses.
The minor pardons quickly sparked outrage. “Six out of the nine pardons are for people who didn’t even go to prison,” P.S. Ruckman Jr., editor of the Pardon Power blog and a political science professor in Illinois, told the Huffington Post.
“Mr. Obama has apparently been sitting on these since last February when the Justice Department recommended them as easy calls,” George Lardner Jr., a former Washington Post reporter who is writing a book about presidential pardons, also told HuffPo. “What took him so long? Was he afraid of making a mistake? … The President’s inattention to the pardon power, if not his disdain for it, has been painfully demonstrated by these minor league (or should I say Bush-league) grants.”
Politico reported the pardons as “comically trivial.” Even an advocate of more lenient sentences admitted the pardons were odd.
“These were easy cases,” Molly Gill of Families Against Mandatory Minimums told Politico, “These were not tough calls.”
—
Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include reactions.



















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Comments (116)
John 1776
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 7:13pmAll is not as it may appear. He’s doing this with his right hand…. What is he doing with his left hand? One of these people has more significance and is being buried in with these non-news story people.
Report Post »squeaker
Posted on December 4, 2010 at 3:02amwhat is he doing with his left hand….? He’s jerking off the american public…!
Report Post »APatriotFirst
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 7:02pmVery interesting story. Chilling if true.
http://www.infowars.com/republicans-move-to-block-ron-paul-from-monetary-policy-subcommittee-chair/
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on December 4, 2010 at 5:47pmYes Boehner is a SCUMBAG, Ron Paul should be the Speaker
Report Post »and Boehner sent to Iraq.
The Third Archon
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 12:46amYay! Boehner goes to Iraq! Hope he’s been playing his Call of Duty.
Report Post »IvanK
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 7:01pmHey TOWER7FEMACAMP
You wrote:
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:28pm
Boehner = SCUM
Are we truly non partisan ? or just a bunch of NEOCON NAZI robots ????
________________________________________________________________
Apparently you are in need of a history lesson…
Nazi’s, much like todays democRATS, were socialists.
I f find it quite amusing that uneducated liberals constantly refer to conservatives as Nazi’s. The fact of the matter is that the Nazi political foundation was SOCIALISM. In fact, their self proclaimed “great achievement” was nationalized health care and of course, wealth redistribution.
You see TOWER7FEMACAMP, perhaps if you took the time to educate yourself on the matter, you would discover that is it YOUR party and possibly you that is the NAZI.
Report Post »After all, it is “all about you” isn’t it?
mossbrain
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:58pmAll of those people, except one, have a J or a L in their name. Now if you pronouce the two letters together, JL, it’s sounds suspiciously like jail. Now most of you want George Soros in jail and so far not one single 20 foot tall 3 headed lizard with a strong smell of sulfur has been seen sneaking around. Even Palin’s drug sniffing beaver, named Smokey, hasn’t caught wind of this yet. I don’t need to connect the dots for you brainiacs, it’s obvious what the master plan is. My advice, if you see the mothership hoovering over you home, get the hell into your underground bunker and knuckle down for the long haul.
Report Post »whitaker
Posted on December 4, 2010 at 5:55amDont do drugs before posting. Makes you look mentaly ill.
Report Post »ConstitunalAmerican
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:50pmNothing is done by this admin without a reason to their Cause!!!
We’ve just had the Food Safety Act passed, which in some comments has been listed as one of the most dangerous, and one of the individuals pardoned is a “Laurens Dorsey” of Syracuse, N.Y. , for making false statements to the Food and Drug Administration. There is a small article listed at link below, that bears reading about this company Syrex, an import/export Co and their cargo diversion scheme. Further inquiries may be needed.
Report Post »http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=201012031800dowjonesdjonline000582&title=obama-pardons-9-people-including-convicted-coin-mutilator
IvanK
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:49pmHe sure likes pardoning cocaine offenders. I guess he needs some “connections” that owe him a some favors.
Report Post »It’s been reported by a high number of folks that Obamy, like Slick Willey, was quite the user of cocaine.
imareader
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:43pmRemember those commemorative pResidential coins from the 2008 “election?”
The United States Mint has now issued the following “Commemorative Coins” advisory:
http://www.coinnews.net/2008/12/02/obama-commemorative-coins-advisory-issued-by-us-mint-4572/
They were a rip off..just like oBama.
Report Post »mrmikejohnson
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:42pmObama’s first pardon was millions of illegal immigrants. His seond pardon was the Black Panthers. I hate to imagine what his last minute list of pardons is going to be when he’s leaving the White House.
Report Post »LDSmommy
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:33pmI can’t wait until the people with the right connections look into this. There’s some one in there, or someone’s someone.
Report Post »Not that it would matter. So many are just sitting back, allowing our country to be destroyed.
8jrts
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:54pmTime we all got our own connections by doing our homework. Knowledge of the past as well of current events, is key to not letting our country be destroyed. Teach your kids the truth LDSMOMMY, as I know you are, then you are NOT “just sitting back”.
Report Post »welovetheUSA
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:33pmThere is a Reason he choose these people…….a dark reason.
Report Post »Clive
Posted on December 4, 2010 at 2:17pmyou are stupid.
Report Post »temple62
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:27pmObama is willing to “look the other way” and grant pardons to people committing the following crimes perpetrated in this country: counterfeiting, drugs, adultery, possession of government property, liquor laws violations, giving false information to a government agency, mutilating government coins, possession and conspiracy to distribute of cocaine. Does this tell the American people what a mess this fake presidency has cast upon the country? Thank you Marc Rich, Bill Clinton, Obama and Eric Holder – you have made America what it is today!
Report Post »GeorgieJo
Posted on December 4, 2010 at 12:42amthe pardon of MARC RICH was wrong!!! Major tax evasion or fraud then “EX” wife Denise Rich gives Slicky Billy MAJOR MONEY
Report Post »and people today think Clinton(s)LCC are great people??? UGHHHHHHHHHHHHH
heavyduty
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:24pmJust hold your breath and hope that he doesn’t start pardoning a lot more. You just have to wonder what his next move will be. I mean he has gone behind the Congress’s back before. What’s to stop him now. He needs all the dead people and prison inmates that he can get.
Report Post »Nigel2
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:21pmMy guess is he is pardoning these individuals so as to clear the way to hiring them into his administration.
Report Post »Republic Under God
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:20pmAdd your comments
Surveillance squirrel
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:28pmNo thanks. Lol
Report Post »Republic Under God
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 7:04pmLOL that was a mistake… It glitched out. LOL
GeorgieJo
Posted on December 4, 2010 at 12:34amRepublic
Report Post »I can relate.I have lost sleep and worry about where America is going but unlike you,I have already had my children and I do fear for THEM but like Glenn says we will endure and reset and continue on….I have to hold onto this.My parents taught me to work hard save my money and follow the golden rule. Read Atlas Shrugged I read it in college and have never forgotten the story. If the size of the book scares you,start out with The Fountainhead Howard Roark is a great role model.
EP46
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:18pmDid I just read a post of someone making ‘excuses’ for obama’s cocaine use? Wow, if pressure drove him to that as a teenager…wonder what the pressures of being President do to him ?
Report Post »The pardons do seem strange, but then again, what isn’t ???
Republic Under God
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 7:04pmYou DID read the whole post, didn’t you? Not excuses, more like putting the drug use in context. And I wouldn’t say it was PRESSURE that drove him to drugs so much as it was a desire to shut his mind off for a while so the questions of where he fit in in this world would not surface. To say they are excuses implies that I am defending his decision. I am not. Ultimately my point was that it’s petty to make such assertions.
Obama’s drug use as an adult would be pure speculation. We all make mistakes, let’s not hurl the stone of past mistakes at the man. Try the fresh ones that are bringing down our country and liberties.
I would have done the same for Mr. Beck had anyone tried slamming him for his past. He speaks about what a despicable man he was before his “come to Jesus moment.”
Despite all that Obama has done to ENRAGE me. Despite all the sleep I lose worrying about the future this BEAUTIFUL country because of progressive policies. Despite the fact that I am holding off on having children, because I fear being responsible for bringing life into a world that is falling down around me. I try to love Mr. Obama, and pray for him and denounce the evil he is bringing down on this country. And within that love that God gives me the strength to even CONSIDER, I find I can be fair to Mr. Obama.
Love is the most powerful thing I learn from God. For God so LOVED the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoseoever believeth in Him shall not parish but have everlasing life. Love Him and He will empower you to love. Do that and most everything else falls into place and sorts itself out.
Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 5:59pmHis next pardon will be for Col Mustard, for doing in in the Hallway with the Candlestick. Maybe Little Jack Horner for domestic terrorism on pastry with his thumb. Please pardon the wolf for his crimes against an entire pig family. A famous case he needs to look at is the Hamburgler and Wimpy in their decades long hamburger theft. After all that pardonig maybe he can pass the Grey Poupon while he is at it. We need tax relief and a budget NOW.
Report Post »felina g
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:16pmHardy har har……….you made my day.
Report Post »Republic Under God
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:24pmIs your name a reference to a a Star Trek TNG episode? I seem to remember an alien who spoke in… stories…? Like Temba, his arms wide open! Picard was stuck on a planet with him… it’s been a while, my memory is a tad foggy but reading your name triggered thos memories…
8jrts
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:41pm“His arms open” He is probably looking to get more backing from M. Barry’s people!
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 7:30pmNo, no handouts, no assistance needed, and no Barry O.
I heard he just pardoned the Muffin man for adultery. Yes the MUFFIN Man.
Report Post »AZBabe
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 5:57pmMost of them had charges for cocaine possession…probably his dealers!
Report Post »Republic Under God
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:14pmor yours?
missionarydad
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:21pmMy thoughts exactly
Report Post »rbqueen
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 5:55pmPerhaps he pardoned most of these people because they dealt in drugs and maybe they’ve been supplying to Obama and if they gave him a special deal for them then he would owe them by such as giving them pardons. Or they could be part of a drug gang and they all could be friends with the dealer possibly delivering drugs to the White House
Report Post »Republic Under God
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:12pm*sigh* Do you really believe those speculations?
pavnvet
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 8:09pmThere is something unusual in the number that were pardoned for cocaine violations (out of just 10). Is it more than coincidence when you consider the number of laws one could violate? I also tried to research to see if any President ever pardoned any one with a cocaine use/distribution felony and could not find an instance. So, if you believe in coincidences…..yep nothing there.
Report Post »DagneyT
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 5:52pmCan you say “make work” for someone who hates his job?
Report Post »Fedupinpa
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 5:46pmIt was really great he got this jon done before his vacation in Hawaii! Do these people get their fines back? Can we afford the pay back? Maybe Wesley Snipes will be pardoned or at least just made to endure a standing ovation from the Democratic House? Maybe Dear Leader can issue a general pardon for belching, farting or stepping in front of someone. I’m tired of asking for pardons!
Report Post »jackricks
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 5:35pmHey, why wouldn’t he pardon drug users. He was quite frank about his own drug use in his books, and he was elected as president of the UNITED STATES.
Report Post »Republic Under God
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:08pmDrug use as a young teenager caught in the tangle of two very different worlds with no real father figure but Gramps and the odd black poet Frank. He did not glorify the action or indicate in any degree that he endorsed it, he was simply honest about having used drugs.
There are PLENTY of things for which you can nail Obama.
He has given us more than enough ammunition, but you chose THAT stone? Frankly, it’s petty and only gives the impression that you are grasping for straws…
I presume you read his book and aren’t parroting what someone else advised on the book. I am not done with it, I am in his rookie stage as a Community Organizer in Chicago, right before his pivot point where he .. I guess becomes successful at it?
And I probably sound like an Obama defender but I am actually defending the integrity of our list grievences. Items like that make will be picked up and used to trivialize everything esle.
God bless you Jackricks. May Mr. Obama hear God’s call to bring this nation back to Him, or get out of the way for someone who will.
Report Post »troyvar
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:51pmI call B.S. on you Pub… The next conservative that shows up with toking or blowing a line, on his sheet, will be skewerd by the left.
Report Post »LadyIzShy
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 5:33pmwatch the other hand
Report Post »dinadp
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 5:32pmI wouldn’t be surprised if Barack pardons Mumia Abu-Jamal.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 7:57pmDo not give him any ideas. Expect him to have pardons already set up for any kinds of administrations ‘civil rights’ and ‘criminal’ violations committed. He will most likely issue a blanket pardon or amnesty for some situation or another involving the radicals working the unions and the administration.
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 5:31pmObama will obviously have to pardon me….for not giving a rat’s ass about his latest pathetic stunt.
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:04pmThat president of ours sure is an impressive man. I wrecked a penny in one of those coin crushers at the zoo, maybe I should turn myself in.
Report Post »LDSmommy
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:27pmDang it, Kate! You’re gonna make all of us penny-crushers look bad for not turning ourselves in.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 7:55pm@Untamable Kate
Guess I have to hand over the pennies put on railroad tracks for the trains to run over.
(Sarcasm meant) Oh! THE SHAME of it ALL!!!
Report Post »Independent Tess
Posted on December 4, 2010 at 11:47amMe, too, Snowleopard. Pennies on the tracks is one of my fond childhood memories.
Report Post »FreedomAdvocate
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 5:28pmWhy would such people even rise to the attention of the President? Unless they were perhaps contributors or otherwise politically connected.
Report Post »pajamash
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 5:41pmHe enjoyed pardoning turkeys so much he had to pardon more! : )
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 5:42pmGood question. I smell a rat..
Report Post »cognitivedissonance
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 5:55pmYeah, how dare the President use his power to grant pardons to help out regular people, doesn’t he know the power to pardon should only be used to help political cronies.
George W. Bush, now there was a man who knew how to use a pardon, Clinton too.
PeachyinGA
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 5:58pmI smell a rat too. Because details were denied, the WH is either trying to set a precedence for future ‘no-detail pardons’, or there is one specific person in this group they actually wanted pardoned and the other 8 were chosen as camouflage (drugs seems to be a dominant theme).
Report Post »missionarydad
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:03pmJust plain weird! Hmm Cocaine seems to come up a lot among those who were pardoned. Could it be that these were contributors to his personal stash. (Not the cash variety).
Report Post »kryptonite
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:12pmPardon Assange for the groinkick, Mr. Present.
Report Post »Thedaddy
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:13pmThey were friends of the turkey that was pardoned
Report Post »Sinista Mace
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:17pmThe government is putting URANIUM IN YOUR DRINKING WATER!
http://www.prisonplanet.com/shocker-feminizing-uranium-fluoride-lithium-in-water-to-be-exposed-on-ventura-tv-show.html
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:28pmBoehner = SCUM
http://www.infowars.com/republicans-move-to-block-ron-paul-from-monetary-policy-subcommittee-chair/
Are we truly non partisan ? or just a bunch of NEOCON NAZI robots ????
godlovinmom
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:58pmI believe theres more to this one…the whole time I’m reading the names… I’m thinking …is he just drawing these names from a hat…I am sorry to say…I do not trust our president…and am suspicious of everything he does….
Report Post »PeterThePainter
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:59pmGuess it was a statement, Hobo‘s in the early 60’s used to turn nickels into works of art…known as hobo nickels…I remember my parents were always angry when they got one…now some are worth thousands…wish I would have saved a few.
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 7:01pmObama spend 20 minutes with Charlie Sheen
http://www.infowars.com/thanksgiving-day-spoof-20-minutes-with-the-president/
alcarfl
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 7:15pm2012 voters.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 7:21pmWager it is one of two connections: fellow radicals or Soros.
I have to wonder if anyone hacked Soros bank records could we find out where all the funds went, and who else is doing his dirty work.
Report Post »walkwithme1966
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 8:54pmGood questions – how do those minor crimes end up on the President’s desk – I don’t understand and even I smelled a rat!! http://maboulette.wordpress.com
Report Post »chazman
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:22pmHow ’bout you pardon my student loan and my tax bill you friggin’ JERK!!!!!!
Report Post »Creestof
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:26pmMy paranoid mind tells me that there is 1 or 2 mixed in that he has plans for…and it would behoove him for them to have clean records when the time comes. Even if it is just their I.D.’s he needs for someone else to use. The rest of them are there just to camoflage the real players.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:37pm@The Blazers
Just had a thought; if Obama is doing this to test the reaction of America to small items being pardoned could it be so he will set the stage for something larger – say like another amnesty bill, or a blanket type of presidential pardon for illegals, who are criminals for being here illegally?
Look from the outside of the box inward, see how in this situation him and the administration come out ahead if that would happen.
Report Post »jzs
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 11:38pmOne thing I like about Bush, and there are several, was that he did not pardon “Scooter” Libby, Dick Cheney’s Chief of Staff. Libby was convicted perjury, obstructing justice and lying to federal agents. Remember? He’s the one who outed Valerie Plame then lied about it afterward. The lack of a pardon was an affront to Cheney I think, and might have been payback for one of Cheney’s machinations as vice-president to an often clueless President.
Report Post »jzs
Posted on December 4, 2010 at 12:13amSorry if it’s off-topic, but here‘s Glenn’s latest LIE (how everyone here loves that word!):
http://politifact.com/ohio/statements/2010/dec/03/glenn-beck/glenn-beck-paints-beleaguered-wilmington-ohio-real/
Report Post »CatB
Posted on December 4, 2010 at 12:38amI would bet that at least one of the people had more to it than what meets the eye … can’t imagine Obama not doing something that would further his socialist utopia.
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on December 4, 2010 at 3:53amAgreed, and just who are these people and why isn’t there more information released about them.? I hope someone looks into it. My gut tells me that there is something very strange about it. Somehow he has the time or concern for something like this? Why?
Report Post »Independent Tess
Posted on December 4, 2010 at 11:44amVery odd calls. Adding them to my (long) list of odd calls made by this incompetent President. I am SO glad I can proudly say I did NOT vote for him……
Report Post »neverending
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 5:35pmNo worries – he has the next one planned.
Report Post »Rapunzel
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 5:45pmNext they’ll be suing for wrongful conviction.
Report Post »troyvar
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:48pmNice that he was out-of-country for the jobs numbers… coincidence?
Report Post »TruthLover
Posted on December 4, 2010 at 12:46amI think I’ll write in – I’d like to be pardoned for my toll booth tickets from Illinois. Dang I-pass Chinese commie bleepity bleeps!
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