Willie Frank Peterson Faces Drug, Firearms Charges After Biden-Commuted Sentence

Willie Frank Peterson, a 52-year-old man whose prison sentence for drug offenses was commuted by President Joe Biden in January, has been arrested again on multiple drug and firearms charges in Dothan, Alabama. Peterson had previously been convicted in 2023 of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and was sentenced to 75 months, but Biden's clemency action on January 17 reduced his sentence significantly, allowing him to be released shortly after. Just weeks following his release, Peterson was charged with unlawful possession of controlled substances, marijuana possession, and drug paraphernalia, as well as firearms-related offenses. Biden's commutation initiative aimed to address disparities in sentencing for non-violent drug offenders and has been noted as the largest single-day clemency grant in U.S. history, impacting nearly 2,500 individuals. The president stated that these actions were intended to rectify historical injustices in sentencing. Peterson has since posted bond and will face the new charges in Houston County court.