Douglas Lindsay

Sentence: Life in prison without parole
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine and cocaine base
Priors: None
Year sentenced: 1996
Age at sentencing: 28
Projected release date: None

After graduating from high school, Douglas enlisted in the army and served his country for four years before being honorably discharged in July 1990.  Douglas committed the next stage of his life to a different type of service: working with mentally handicapped individuals. From 1991 to 1994, Douglas was employed at the Whitten Center as a Mental Retardation Specialist.  To further his education, Douglas earned his Associates degree in human services in 1992. Douglas found his work extremely important and rewarding and went on to complete his Bachelor’s degree in social work in 1995. Unfortunately, Douglas had difficulty securing a job in his field and worked for several months at Avery Dennison Company as a packer earning $6.50 an hour.  Douglas finally found a position with the Laurens County Disability and Special Needs Department where he worked as a counselor from April 1996 until his incarceration.
 
In 1996, Douglas was implicated in a 14-person crack cocaine conspiracy.  While all of the coconspirators pled guilty and cooperated with the government in exchange for reduced sentences, Douglas opted for a trial. Seven coconspirators testified that Douglas was one of the leaders of the conspiracy and that he ran a crack house from 1990 to 1994.  Douglas was held accountable for at least one kilogram of crack. Douglas’ lawyer, who was distracted and ill prepared for his trial, was later sentenced to ten years in prison for bribing witnesses in an unrelated case. 
 
Douglas’ fate would be much worse. A first-time nonviolent offender, Douglas was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.  No guns were involved in the conspiracy nor were any drugs ever found on Douglas.  The crack house the conspirators said he operated for four years belonged to his aunt, who was an addict.  Douglas’ sentence was enhanced after he was charged with obstructing justice for submitting signed affidavits from two of his codefendants stating that he was not involved with the case. Douglas, the alleged kingpin, had no financial assets and was exempted from paying all monetary penalties upon conviction. 
 
Douglas does not claim complete innocence.  As a young man in 1991, he admits he occasionally sold crack to addicts in his neighborhood.  During this time, Douglas was attending college during the day and working full-time as a Mental Retardation Specialist at night.  Admittedly, he exercised poor judgment when he chose to sell drugs for supplemental income.  When his family later became addicted, Douglas saw firsthand the devastating consequences of the drug.  Douglas writes, “Sometimes it has to hit home before one can really see the damage he has caused.” It was this realization that Douglas credits with his decision to reject the easy money that came from selling drugs and to try to help his family overcome their addictions.
 
Douglas, a man with a record of admirable service to his country and his fellow Americans, has now sat in a prison cell for over a decade. He will spend the rest of his life behind bars for a poor decision he made as a kid, desperate to finance his college education. 

*Update: Douglas recently benefited from the crack retroactivity amendment. His projected release date is now March 8, 2023*