First-Time Drug Conviction Nets 55-Year Sentence

According to the Deseret News, U.S. District Judge Paul Cassell imposed a 55-year mandatory-minimum sentence on first-time drug offender, Weldon Angelos, 25. The majority of the sentence resulted from mandatory minimums established by Congress for multiple firearms violations occurring during drug transactions. Judge Cassell openly disagreed with harsh sentencing laws and called on Congress to revisit the issue and allow more judicial discretion. He also called on President Bush to commute Angelos' sentence to 18 years.

It should be noted that Angelos was convicted of 16 criminal drug, firearms, and money-laundering counts. For 13 of those convictions, Judge Cassell imposed just a one-day sentence.

This story is being portrayed as some poor guy going to prison forever for having some marijuana. There's considerably more to the case than the headlines will indicate.