Susan Taormino - Michigan

State: Michigan 
Offense: Manufacturing, Delivery, Possession of 225-650 grams of cocaine; Conspiracy to Manufacture, Deliver, Possess of 225-650 grams of cocaine
Priors: None
Year of sentencing: 2000
Year of birth: 1951

Susan abused cocaine for most of her adult life and sold small amounts of the drug to close friends to support her habit.  In 1997, a former customer-turned-informant harassed Susan for a half gram of cocaine. Susan agreed and drove to her codefendant’s house in a neighboring town about 30 minutes away, where she stored the cocaine.  When she was returning, police officers stopped Susan and arrested her.  They searched both Susan and her codefendant’s house, where they found between 340-360 grams of cocaine. 

Susan was born and raised in Michigan where her elderly parents still reside.  After a rough divorce in 1971, Susan began drinking and abusing cocaine.  She found a job bartending, but because she wasn’t receiving child support, Susan turned to selling small quantities of cocaine to provide for her two children and pay the bills.  When Susan was arrested, she had been employed as a bar manager for ten years, earning $7.00 an hour.

Susan pled guilty and received two consecutive 5-30 year sentences. She was forced to sell her home and her bank accounts were seized.  Susan’s codefendant served three years and was released in 2003. Susan’s earliest possible release date is 2010. If Susan does not receive parole, she will remain in prison until 2048.     

While in prison, Susan has dedicated herself to helping others and herself through academic and vocational training. She teaches START, a reentry program that prepares prisoners for successful employment upon their release, and is a legal writer, where she provides services to prisoners without GED’s and those with mental or physical disabilities.  Susan is taking classes at the University of Michigan and also competes regularly in the school’s Prisoner Art show, receiving 1st place in 2001. Since her incarceration, Susan has missed the weddings of both her children and the births of three grandchildren.  Her parents are too old to visit her in prison, and Susan hopes to see them one last time before they pass away. 

*Update: Susan was released from prison on March 10, 2009. She will be rejoining her family after nearly a decade behind bars.*