Abdulmuntaqim Ad-Deen
Commutation by Barack Obama
The Case
Facts on file from the DOJ Office of the Pardon Attorney
- Offense
- Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base
- District
- District of Maryland
- Original Sentence
- 235 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release (Terms: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 180 months' imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment)
- 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
Abdulmuntaqim Ad-Deen was convicted in the District of Maryland of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base. He was originally sentenced to 235 months (approximately 19.5 years) in prison followed by five years of supervised release. His sentence was commuted to 180 months (15 years) in prison, conditioned on enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Pardon Context
A commutation reduces the length of a prison sentence but does not erase the underlying conviction or restore civil rights like voting or firearm possession. The recipient remains subject to supervised release after completing the reduced prison term and must comply with any conditions imposed, such as drug treatment programs. The clemency power is an absolute constitutional authority under Article II with no requirement for 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.