Seventeen felons who were convicted of crimes ranging from drug distribution, embezzlement, and conspiracy were pardoned by President Obama.
On Feb. 17, for the first time during his second term Obama used the clemency powers of the Presidency to forgive the convictions of "small scale crimes", The New York Times reports, adding that twelve of the seventeen were not sentenced to any jail time.
Once awarded a Presidential pardon, a felon's criminal record is erased from the record and grants that individual rights that were previously restricted, such as owning a firearm and doing business with the government, the report says.
"As he has in past years, the president granted these individuals clemency because they have demonstrated genuine remorse and a strong commitment to being law-abiding, productive citizens and active members of their communities," said Matt Lehrich, a White House spokesman.
Five of the seventeen were to serve jail sentences ranging from 54 days to five years. The remaining seventeen were sentenced to probation, house arrest, or were fined.
According to The New York Times, the following were pardoned:
James A. Bordinaro of Gloucester, Mass., 1991, in connection with a bid-rigging conviction
Michael J. Petri of Montrose, S.D., 1989, distributing cocaine
Donald B. Simon Jr., of Chattanooga, Tenn., 1982, aiding and abetting in the theft of an interstate shipment
Lynn Marie Stanek of Tualatin, Ore., 1986, unlawful use of a communication facility to distribute cocaine
Donna Kaye Wright of Friendship, Tenn., 1983, embezzlement.
Robert L. Bebee of Rockville, Md., 1979, for misprision, or concealing a crime
Kelli Elisabeth Collins of Harrison, Ark., 1994, aiding and abetting wire fraud
Edwin H. Futch Jr., of Pembroke, Ga., 1976, theft
Cindy Marie Griffith of Moyock, N.C., 2000, distributing satellite television decryption devices
Roy E. Grimes Sr., of Athens, Tenn., 1961, forging a money order
Jon C. Kozeliski of Decatur, Ill., 1994, conspiracy to traffic counterfeit goods
Jimmy Ray Mattison of Anderson, S.C., 1969, transporting altered securities
An Na Peng of Honolulu, 1996, conspiracy to defraud the Immigration and Naturalization Service
Karen Alicia Ragee of Decatur, Ill., 1994, conspiracy to traffic counterfeit goods
Jamari Salleh of Alexandria, Va., 1989, false claims against the United States
Alfor Sharkey of Omaha, 1994, unauthorized acquisition of food stamps
Larry W. Thornton of Forsyth, Ga., 1974, possession of an unregistered firearm and a firearm without a serial number