BREAKING: President Obama commutes sentences of three El Paso-area men

President Obama Tuesday commuted the prison sentences of three El Paso-area men.

German Gallegos, of Fabens, Texas, was convicted of “Importing a quantity of marijuana greater than 100 kilograms and “Possessing, with intent to distribute, a quantity of marijuana greater than 100 kilograms.”

On July 16, 2008, Gallegos was sentenced to 20 years in prison and eight years of supervised release. Under the commutation grant, Gallegos’ sentence was commuted to a term of 188 months’ imprisonment. He will have to enroll in a residential drug treatment.

Raul Portillo, of Tornillo, Texas, was convicted of “Aiding and abetting possession, with intent to distribute, more than five kilograms of cocaine.” On November 28, 2005, Portillo was sentenced to life in prison. His sentence was commuted to 21 years in prison.

Alfred Leonard Williams, of El Paso, Texas, was convicted of “Conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine and cocaine base.” Williams was sentenced to life in prison, but his sentence was commuted to 30 years in prison.

The president commuted the prison sentences of 209 inmates and pardoned 64 others Tuesday.

“These 273 individuals learned that our nation is a forgiving nation,” said White House counsel Neil Eggleston, “where hard work and a commitment to rehabilitation can lead to a second chance, and where wrongs from the past will not deprive an individual of the opportunity to move forward.”

Commutations reduce sentences being served but don’t erase convictions. Pardons generally restore civil rights, such as voting, often after a sentence has been served.

Most of the other people receiving commutations were serving sentences for nonviolent drug offenses.

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