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Timothy L. Tyler

December 15, 2023

For the British military officer with the same name, see Timothy Tyler.

Timothy Leonard Tyler (born 1968) is an American who was sentenced to life in prison for possession and distribution of LSD (or "acid") under the federal three-strikes law.[1][2] In August 2016, after serving 24 years and 27 days behind bars, Tyler was granted clemency by President Barack Obama. He was released on August 30, 2018.[3]

Timothy Leonard Tyler in 2013.

Background edit

Tyler was raised in Connecticut and Florida, where he attended Lakewood Senior High School, graduating in 1986. His parents were divorced and he was physically and emotionally abused by his stepfather. He suffered from depression as a child and had episodes that resulted in at least six emergency mental health hospitalizations.[4][1][2]

After graduation, he toured the country attending Grateful Dead concerts, where he sold fried dough, fruit smoothies, beer, and soda. He also consumed and sold marijuana and LSD. He was first arrested in Panama City, Florida for LSD possession and released on his own recognizance. A second arrest occurred that resulted in three years of probation. Tyler resumed touring with the Grateful Dead and sent LSD to a friend who was arrested for marijuana possession who turned into a confidential informant for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).[4][5] During a two-month period, this informant, working with the DEA, asked Tyler to mail him LSD five times, which Tyler did. Tyler sent the package to his father's address, implicating him in the crime.[1]

Sentencing edit

According to a pre-sentencing memorandum, Tyler was charged with selling 1,300 hits of acid, found on 13 sheets of paper and equivalent to several grams of liquid. According to the memo prepared by his probation officer, he netted about $3,000 from "a very loosely woven conspiracy" that involved selling acid to "friends, family and business acquaintances". Tyler pleaded guilty to drug distribution.[1]

In 1992, at age 24, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole because of his two prior drug convictions (for which he did not serve prison time) under the federal three-strikes law.[1][2] Under the law's stipulations, the judge was not able to consider Tyler's drug addiction, lack of violent conduct, mental health issues, or youth when determining his sentence.

Because the packages of LSD were sent to Tyler's father, he was convicted of conspiracy. He received a 10-year sentence and died in prison.[2] His friend who worked as a confidential informant served 10 years.[1][5]

Life in prison edit

After his conviction, Tyler was incarcerated in United States Penitentiary, Canaan in Pennsylvania. As of 2016, he was held in Federal Correctional Institution, Jesup, a medium-security federal prison.[6] Because of prison prohibitions against music, Tyler went 20 years from the time of his initial arrest without listening to any Grateful Dead music, except what his sister could play for him in the limited phone time he was allocated. In 2012, inmates were permitted to purchase digital music players.[1][2]

In 2013, Senator Rand Paul highlighted Tyler's case, writing that he "should have been punished for selling drugs, but he shouldn’t have to spend the rest of his life in prison for it. Today, Timothy is 45 and will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars, not because a judge thought it was a proper punishment, but because an arbitrary federal law demanded it."[7]

More than 400,000 people signed a petition on Change.org calling on President Barack Obama to grant Tyler clemency.[8] In August 2016, he was granted clemency, and subsequently released on August 30, 2018.[3][9]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Silvestrini, Elaine (2013-07-29). "Mandatory minimums keep many nonviolent people behind bars". Tampa Tribute. Retrieved 2013-11-14.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ a b c d e Fuchs, Erin (2013-07-29). "The Heartbreaking Story Of A Harmless Deadhead Sentenced To Die In Prison". Business Insider. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  3. ^ a b "President Obama Grants Commutations". 2016-08-30. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
  4. ^ a b "Tim's Story". Drug War Prisoners. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  5. ^ a b Gill, Molly (2013-02-15). "Op-Ed: Snitching Shouldn't Be Required for a Fair Sentence". Takepart.com. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  6. ^ "Inmate locator, 99672-012". bop.gov. Bureau of Prisons. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2016. TIMOTHY L TYLER Located at: Jesup FCI Release Date: LIFE
  7. ^ Paul, Rand (2013-08-16). "PAUL: The madness of mandatory minimums". The Washington Times. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  8. ^ Bruer, Wesley (2015-05-14). "Sentenced to life in prison, man hopes new clemency rules will get him out". CNN. Retrieved 2015-09-14.
  9. ^ "Grateful Dead Fan Timothy Tyler Has Been Granted Clemency By President Barack Obama". 2016-08-30. Retrieved 2016-08-30.

December 15, 2023
timothy, tyler, british, military, officer, with, same, name, timothy, tyler, timothy, leonard, tyler, born, 1968, american, sentenced, life, prison, possession, distribution, acid, under, federal, three, strikes, august, 2016, after, serving, years, days, beh. For the British military officer with the same name see Timothy Tyler Timothy Leonard Tyler born 1968 is an American who was sentenced to life in prison for possession and distribution of LSD or acid under the federal three strikes law 1 2 In August 2016 after serving 24 years and 27 days behind bars Tyler was granted clemency by President Barack Obama He was released on August 30 2018 3 Timothy Leonard Tyler in 2013 Contents 1 Background 2 Sentencing 3 Life in prison 4 ReferencesBackground editTyler was raised in Connecticut and Florida where he attended Lakewood Senior High School graduating in 1986 His parents were divorced and he was physically and emotionally abused by his stepfather He suffered from depression as a child and had episodes that resulted in at least six emergency mental health hospitalizations 4 1 2 After graduation he toured the country attending Grateful Dead concerts where he sold fried dough fruit smoothies beer and soda He also consumed and sold marijuana and LSD He was first arrested in Panama City Florida for LSD possession and released on his own recognizance A second arrest occurred that resulted in three years of probation Tyler resumed touring with the Grateful Dead and sent LSD to a friend who was arrested for marijuana possession who turned into a confidential informant for the Drug Enforcement Administration DEA 4 5 During a two month period this informant working with the DEA asked Tyler to mail him LSD five times which Tyler did Tyler sent the package to his father s address implicating him in the crime 1 Sentencing editAccording to a pre sentencing memorandum Tyler was charged with selling 1 300 hits of acid found on 13 sheets of paper and equivalent to several grams of liquid According to the memo prepared by his probation officer he netted about 3 000 from a very loosely woven conspiracy that involved selling acid to friends family and business acquaintances Tyler pleaded guilty to drug distribution 1 In 1992 at age 24 he was sentenced to life in prison without parole because of his two prior drug convictions for which he did not serve prison time under the federal three strikes law 1 2 Under the law s stipulations the judge was not able to consider Tyler s drug addiction lack of violent conduct mental health issues or youth when determining his sentence Because the packages of LSD were sent to Tyler s father he was convicted of conspiracy He received a 10 year sentence and died in prison 2 His friend who worked as a confidential informant served 10 years 1 5 Life in prison editAfter his conviction Tyler was incarcerated in United States Penitentiary Canaan in Pennsylvania As of 2016 he was held in Federal Correctional Institution Jesup a medium security federal prison 6 Because of prison prohibitions against music Tyler went 20 years from the time of his initial arrest without listening to any Grateful Dead music except what his sister could play for him in the limited phone time he was allocated In 2012 inmates were permitted to purchase digital music players 1 2 In 2013 Senator Rand Paul highlighted Tyler s case writing that he should have been punished for selling drugs but he shouldn t have to spend the rest of his life in prison for it Today Timothy is 45 and will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars not because a judge thought it was a proper punishment but because an arbitrary federal law demanded it 7 More than 400 000 people signed a petition on Change org calling on President Barack Obama to grant Tyler clemency 8 In August 2016 he was granted clemency and subsequently released on August 30 2018 3 9 References edit a b c d e f g Silvestrini Elaine 2013 07 29 Mandatory minimums keep many nonviolent people behind bars Tampa Tribute Retrieved 2013 11 14 permanent dead link a b c d e Fuchs Erin 2013 07 29 The Heartbreaking Story Of A Harmless Deadhead Sentenced To Die In Prison Business Insider Retrieved 2013 11 14 a b President Obama Grants Commutations 2016 08 30 Retrieved 2017 04 09 a b Tim s Story Drug War Prisoners Retrieved 7 November 2013 a b Gill Molly 2013 02 15 Op Ed Snitching Shouldn t Be Required for a Fair Sentence Takepart com Retrieved 2013 11 14 Inmate locator 99672 012 bop gov Bureau of Prisons 4 February 2016 Retrieved 4 February 2016 TIMOTHY L TYLER Located at Jesup FCI Release Date LIFE Paul Rand 2013 08 16 PAUL The madness of mandatory minimums The Washington Times Retrieved 2013 11 14 Bruer Wesley 2015 05 14 Sentenced to life in prison man hopes new clemency rules will get him out CNN Retrieved 2015 09 14 Grateful Dead Fan Timothy Tyler Has Been Granted Clemency By President Barack Obama 2016 08 30 Retrieved 2016 08 30 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Timothy L Tyler amp oldid 1147204906, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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