#08656-023
 
Federal Sentence: 20 years mandatory minimum
Offense: Conspiracy to Manufacture Marijuana
(3698 plants)
Court: District of Idaho
Date of Birth: 3/15/56
Date of Sentencing: 11/30/92
Priors: Cocaine Possession, Two Misdemeanor
Marijuana Possessions
Projected Release Date: 9/1/2009
 
Nature of Offense: Steve became involved in growing marijuana with two other men so he could help his brother, who was suffering from AIDS.  Marijuana helped relieve his severe nausea and kept him from losing weight.  The plants Steve and his partners grew were small (1-2 feet high in 6 inch pots) and all fit into one 1600 sq. ft. room.  The actual weight of the marijuana was 7 grams per plant, but under the standardized system of the federal government, each plant was assigned a weight of 1,000 grams. 
 
Steve was sentenced to a 10-year mandatory minimum, which was automatically doubled to 20 years because of his prior felony conviction.  If he had been charged under the sentencing guidelines, he could have received a reduced sentence based on the 1995 amendment, which changed the standard plant weight of marijuana from 1,000 grams to 100 grams per plant.  This change had no impact on the mandatory minimum.
 
Personal Background:  Before his conviction, Steve worked as a building contractor.  He was active in the community and coached several sports teams.  When Steve was arrested he was married and had an 18-year-old son.  He and his wife have since separated, but he remains in weekly contact wih his son who is now in his twenties.  In 1993 while Steve was in prison, his brother died of AIDS.  In addition to this, Steve also suffered the loss of both of his parents, with whom he was very close, while in prison. 
  
Compiled from inmate information, motions, and briefs
10/15/96 dl updated 1/04/06 ba