Empire State Today

Since President Donald Trump granted clemency to a handful of federal inmates, criminal justice advocates continue raising awareness of other inmates deserving of clemency. Chad Marks, having served 17 years of a 40-year sentence for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and two possession of weapons convictions, deserves clemency, say his family and friends, the CAN-DO Foundation and his sentencing judge.

The federal judge who presided over Marks' 2006 trial, David Larimer, has written a letter to the office of the pardon attorney—something judges rarely do. In the letter, Judge Larimer praises Marks for his accomplishments while incarcerated, including obtaining a college degree.

The judge says he would never have imposed the excessive sentence if the law's "stacking" provisions had not mandated him to do so.

“I urge his sentence be reduced to an aggregate term of 15 years, plus five years supervised release,” Judge Larimer writes in his letter.

All of Marks' co-defendants have completed their sentences, having received less than 12 years each.

The CAN-DO Foundation supports Marks in his bid for a sentence reduction, stating Marks has taken responsibility for his actions and errors in judgment.

CAN-DO says Marks has been a model prisoner. He completed over seventy rehabilitative life skills training programs, created reentry courses for inmates and teaches GED classes with all of his students so far earning their diplomas.

CAN-DO says, "Chad has also reached out to his community with a program he designed (STEM), Stimulate Train Educate Mentor. The program is designed at targeting at risk youth, and saving them from life imprisonment, and premature death."

Marks has a plan in place for life after his release, with family support and multiple job offers.