Sharon King
Commutation by Donald J. Trump
The Case
Facts on file from the DOJ Office of the Pardon Attorney
- Offense
- Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and a quantity of marijuana; distribution and possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine; distribution and possession with intent to distribute a quantity of marijuana; using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime
- District
- Southern District of New York
- Original Sentence
- 180 months' imprisonment (as amended by order of October 24, 2012); five years' supervised release (December 9, 2008)
- 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
Sharon King was convicted in the Southern District of New York of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and marijuana, distribution and possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine and marijuana, and using and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. She was sentenced to 180 months in prison (amended in October 2012) and five years of supervised release in December 2008.
Pardon Context
A commutation reduces or eliminates the sentence imposed but does not erase the conviction itself, meaning the recipient's criminal record remains intact. In this case, the commutation would reduce the prison term while leaving the conviction and supervised release conditions in place, and King would still be subject to the obligations of her supervised release upon completion of her reduced sentence. The clemency power under Article II of the Constitution is absolute and requires no judicial review or approval. 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.