David Morris Barren
Commutation by Donald J. Trump
The Case
Facts on file from the DOJ Office of the Pardon Attorney
- Offense
- Conspiracy to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine; conspiracy to structure financial transactions; concealment money laundering (31 counts); structuring (two counts); money laundering-avoid reporting requirements (six counts); money laundering over $10,000 (eight counts); promotion money laundering (two counts)
- District
- District of Maryland
- Original Sentence
- 360 months' imprisonment (as amended by executive clemency on January 19, 2017); five years' supervised release (August 11, 2010)
- 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
David Morris Barren was convicted in the District of Maryland of conspiracy to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine, conspiracy to structure financial transactions, and multiple counts of money laundering offenses including concealment, structuring, and promotion money laundering. He was sentenced to 360 months' imprisonment and five years' supervised release in August 2010, with his sentence previously reduced by executive clemency in January 2017.
Pardon Context
A commutation reduces or eliminates the remainder of a prison sentence but does not erase the underlying conviction or restore civil rights that may have been lost. The recipient's criminal record remains intact, and any supervised release conditions typically remain in effect unless specifically modified. Under Article II of the Constitution, the presidential clemency power 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.