Tiara Buskey
Commutation by Barack Obama
The Case
Facts on file from the DOJ Office of the Pardon Attorney
- Offense
- Possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base
- District
- Northern District of Florida
- Original Sentence
- 240 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release; $500 fine (Terms: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017)
- Clemency Type
- Commutation — reduces sentence but conviction stands
Case Overview & Context
Plain-English summary of the case and the legal context for this type of clemency
Case Overview
Tiara Buskey was convicted in the Northern District of Florida of possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base. She was sentenced to 240 months (20 years) in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $500 fine.
Pardon Context
A commutation reduces or eliminates the remaining prison sentence but does not erase the conviction or restore civil rights like voting or firearm ownership. The recipient remains subject to supervised release and other conditions of the original sentence. The clemency power under Article II of the Constitution is absolute and not subject to judicial review. The president's personal reasoning for this specific grant is not publicly documented.
AI-generated summary based on public clemency records. The president's specific personal reasoning for this grant is not publicly documented.
Constitutional authority: Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution grants the President “Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States.” This power is absolute for federal crimes — Congress cannot override it, and no judicial review is required. The president is not required to publish reasons for individual grants.