In 1989, Richard DeLisi was sentenced to a total of 90 years in prison for a nonviolent violation of the narcotics law. He was released last December after 31 years.
DeLisi, who was 71 at the time of his release, was released from the South Bay Correctional Facility in Palm Beach County in December 2020, according to CNN. He was sentenced to 90 years in prison in 1989 for racketeering, conspiracy, and trafficking and smuggling more than 100 pounds of cannabis from Colombia to Florida.
His release was thanks to the work of the charitable organization The Last Prisoner Project supports. Composed of leaders in the cannabis industry, criminal defense attorneys, experts in politics, education, social justice and drug policy reform, the coalition advocates for the release of prisoners convicted of disproportionate sentences in the war on drugs. Violations of the cannabis law play a special role here, although the plant is now legal in many states.
In a statement to The Ledger newspaper in December, he said it felt incredibly wonderful to know that he would be home with his family very soon. “What was done to me was just so unfair. I hope I can help other people in the same situation," DeLisi said.
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