WASHINGTON, D.C. – A Mason City cocaine dealer will be getting out of jail early, thanks to President Barack Obama.
Today, President Obama commuted the sentences of 330 people, and a Mason City man was one of them.
Reginald Stern Gardner was found guilty by a jury in 2004 in the Northern District of Iowa of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, cocaine, and marijuana. Because Gardner had sustained two prior felony convictions for controlled substance offenses, the district court1 sentenced Gardner as a career offender and imposed a term of 360 months’ imprisonment.
In the spring of 2003, police obtained information that drugs were being sold from an apartment at 404 Second Street N.W. in Mason City, Iowa. Police conducted surveillance and determined that there was heavy foot traffic going in and out of the apartment, a circumstance consistent with drug dealing. In June of 2003, police arrested Jennifer Boggess on unrelated theft charges. With hopes of receiving favorable treatment, Boggess told the police that she had obtained cocaine and cocaine base from an individual at the Second Street apartment on several occasions, including earlier that day. The police then obtained a warrant to search the apartment.
While executing the search warrant, the police found Gardner in the residence, and they seized a small amount of marijuana and approximately $500 in cash from Gardner’s person. A search of the apartment turned up 23 grams of marijuana prepackaged in twenty-three small bags, 122.65 grams of cocaine, and 9.98 grams of cocaine base. The prepackaged marijuana was discovered in the back bedroom where Gardner and three others were apprehended. The cocaine and cocaine base were discovered in a food container hidden in the kitchen. Additionally, police seized scales, drug packaging materials, and other drug paraphernalia. At the time of his arrest, Gardner gave the police a false name and produced false identification.
At trial, Gardner’s theory of defense was that he was at the apartment that evening to buy drugs, not to sell drugs. Gardner further argued that there was insufficient evidence directly linking him to the larger distribution quantities of drugs. Boggess reluctantly testified that she had purchased drugs at the apartment from Gardner and from others. Another witness, Katy Warren, testified that she had observed Gardner selling cocaine and cocaine base from the apartment in June 2003. To prove Gardner’s knowledge and intent to distribute, the government also introduced evidence of Gardner’s two prior convictions for drug distribution.
Gardner’s 1995 conviction was for possession with intent to distribute cocaine. At the time of that arrest, he provided a false name to police and was in possession of 57.9 grams of powder cocaine and 50.7 grams of crack cocaine. Gardner’s 1996 conviction was for selling cocaine. At the time of that arrest, he provided a false name to police and was in possession of 10 grams of cocaine and $784.
Gardner’s prison sentence today was commuted to a term of 234 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
These people Obama pardoned will be back in prison shortly after they get out and let’s hope their sentences will not be shortened next time. All we can do is they don’t kill anyone, like people who may have testified against them, before they get caught selling drugs again.
Read these articles carefully and look up big words that you don’t understand. According to the story Obama did NOT pardon this Mason City man. Rather, his sentence was commuted (shortened) to a reduced prision term. You may find Google helpful in this regard.
I beg your pardon sir, but if you are implying that some of us are just too lazy thats just not true. I for one get plenty of exercise jumping to conclusions, pushing things too far, running off my mouth and dodging responsibility.
Crescent Moon Attack: Im not a big trump supporter but when break the the f**king law and had a great time doing it then have the same fun serving the time. When I broke the law and got 7 days in jail I did every day without a bitch as I being a man not a pussy did the crime and served my crime. You f**king cry babies get in trouble and get a court attorney that I paid for and cry cause you got screwed over. Put a f**king gun to your head and end your misery for Christ sake.
Cripes Obama handed out pardons and commutations like candy at a parade. I guess he wants to leave a legacy one way or the other.
Scooter Libby anyone? Richard Nixon? Gerald Ford? Get off it Buzz. Hey aren’t you supposed to be out in Washington providing meat for the Wall?
Those old white guys fought your wars and keptAmerica safe -and millions of those patriotic OLD WHITE GUYS DIED You hippy liberal brainwahed pubic servants (serf) will have your self pity azzes kicked after today – put up with your crying corrupt BS for decades. Get a life and a job like the Trumpsters.Your like the Con from Chitcago – never held a working mans job – scuffed off the taxpayer dollar ever since he came here from Kenya.
Tell all that BS to your savior the Trumpster. Hes the one who said McCain is no hero, but a looser. Hes the one who said he knows more than the generals who lead you in war. Hes the one who said he would drain the swamp and he back filled it will billionare cronies. Don’t convince me…. tell that to Trump.
What’s Trump got to do with this article, it’s Obama who did this dumb ass
What is it with you working guys? I lift weights. You move boxes of powdered milk. Stop acting like what you do is so vitally important to anyone’s existence. It’s not.
The blue collar outrage has nothing to do with heavy lifting, you spoiled ass clown. It has to do with this younger generation that thinks they are entitled to things. They have no experience and have no idea how to earn something or work hard to meet a goal. Lazy, and the last 8 years of the Obummer has made it so much worse.
Obama you really pissed me off for your stupid decisions this week. Why in the f**k did you give these shitbags reduced terms? No wonder you didnt get anything accomplished during your term. Im glad I never voted for your stupid black/Muslim ass(where you brain must be). Man your ignorant and again worthless.
Why in the f**k do you believe someone should be rotting in prison for essentially doing the same thing the pharmaceutical companies and your local pain relief doctor are doing? Why do you think it’s your business or anyone’s business what the next guy puts into HIS / HER body? Why do you think the people should continue supporting the damage caused by black tar in the lungs of cigarette smokers? Why in the f**k a lotta things that YOU never considered when you made your idiotic poke at the 44th President of the United States….who in hindsight will be viewed as one of the greatest Presidents EVER…regardless of what your peon racist and bigoted mind may consider. And your crescent moon dig against Obama shows exactly the level of idiot propagandist you are. The kind Trump preyed on to get him into the Oval Office. Beyond retarded.
Trump is the last gasp of air from old white guys who are being planted in Elmwood. He is their great white hope, the last chance, it’s all they have left of the dream. They are hanging on by a very thin thread and it has already begun to unravel. Bend over one last time and get ready to take it in the shorts.
Thank goodness Onama will be gone
Drug dealers knowingly break the law. They knowingly sell harmful toxins to people for profit. Don’t pay taxes on their income like rest of us blue collar workers that contribute to society. The only problem with repeat offenders rotting in prison for half a century, is that taxpayers pay for them.
moving forward fighting excessive drug sentencing compared to sex offenders, and murders crimes with victims. Why do we let pedophiles out at all. Drugs like alcohol and tobacco are the leading killers yet they are legal . It’s time we End the war on Drugs , she’s done her time.
Man, didn’t anyone try and help Val Perez Sr. get out? That’s so messed up. He never hurt anyone and is doing hard time. 40 years I think. The Drug war is complete and utter bullshit. People have the right to put into their bodies what they damn well choose.
Maybe you could put a bullet in your body(head). Perez got what he deserved.