Lamar Jackson asks President Trump to commute sentence of imprisoned rapper Kodak Black
With President Donald Trump handing out pardons to war criminals and corrupt political allies, Lamar Jackson put in a request on behalf of a friend.
The Baltimore Ravens’ quarterback tweeted at Trump on Tuesday, asking for a commuted sentence for rapper Kodak Black.
Hey @realDonaldTrump @potus my friend @KodakBlack1k deserves to be commuted. The system punished him way to hard for a paperwork crime #freekodak
— Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) January 5, 2021
Black and Jackson are childhood friends and attended the same elementary school in Florida.
Why Kodak Black is in prison
Black is serving a 46-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to federal weapons charges in Florida in 2019. In his plea, Black admitted to falsifying information on background checks for gun purchases in two separate incidents.
Prosecutors said that two of the guns purchased were found at crime scenes, while Black was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and criminal possession of a firearm when crossing the Canadian border into New York in 2019.
Black was out on bond for an unrelated sexual assault charge in South Carolina when he was arrested in 2019. That trial has been delayed multiple times.
Federal prosecutors deny Black’s request
Black and his legal team have fought to have his sentence reduced, with his latest request for a reduction reportedly denied last week.
“With all due deference, I come in truth," Black wrote in his request to federal prosecutors, according to a VladTV report. “I acknowledge my mistakes and I take full responsibility for my actions. I am not a evil or demented person. I am salvageble (sic) and I have the ability and potential to live a prosperous and positive life.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce O. Brown wrote that Black didn’t provide a compelling reason to have his sentence reduced in denying the request, according to the report.
"(Kodak Black) has not presented ‘extraordinary and compelling reasons’ supporting his request for release,” Brown wrote in a response to the rapper's motion. “Stated more correction, (Kodak Black) has not presented ANY reason supporting his request for release. He merely states he is not an evil person and promises to participate in community-based programs aimed at helping the ‘younger generation.’ That simply is inadequate pursuant to the statute.”
With Black failing to persuade prosecutors, Jackson ran the request by a higher authority. As of the time of this post, Trump has not responded.
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