(localmemphis.com) – The U.S. Attorney for the West Tennessee is asking the court to deny Alice Marie Johnson’s request to end her probation, calling her request “audacious.”
Johnson’s sentence was commuted by President Trump on June 6, 2018 after serving 21 years of a life sentence for non-violent drug charges. Reality TV star Kim Kardashian West took the case to the President after Johnson fought for years for release.
According to a federal court motion, Johnson was placed on five years of supervised release after being giving clemency. Based on her attorneys and probation officer’s comments, Johnson should be granted a release from probation based on her good behavior and work in prison reform.
The responding motion from U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant says the court should deny her request based on the seriousness of the nature of the offense for which she was imprisoned. Johnson was accused of being the leader of a cocaine distribution ring.
The motion also says there is a need for more time to be served to deter criminal conduct, and provide restitution to any victims of the crime she’s accused of committing.
The motion mentions that Johnson minimized her role, never fully admitted to her actions, and even called herself a “first time non-violent offender,” although they say that she was distributing drugs over the course of 4 years.
The responding motion also mentions that her release would cause disparities among defendants with similar records who were found guilty of similar conduct. The motion goes on to say that Johnson has “already received an extraordinary remedy. Now, she wishes to gain further extraordinary relief from supervised release, based upon celebrity status” that she received for her clemency.
Attorneys say the court should consider terminating her probation if it is satisfied by her actions and conduct during her supervision.
Since her release from prison last year, Johnson was invited to the White House as a guest of President Trump during his State of the Union on February 5, 2019. She has also received numerous awards and is said to have helped many women during her incarceration. President Trump has used her case as the catalyst for the “First Step Act” to help rehab and help incarcerated women.
Johnson has been traveling the country working with prisons and organizations concerning prison and sentencing reform. She has also written a book titled, “After Life: My Journey from Incarceration to Freedom,” and even spoke about her book while being honored at the National Civil Rights Museum in June.
Johnson is currently serving her probation in Arizona, and lives with her daughter and grandchildren.
Right now, a court date has not been set to take up Johnson’s request.
