Post by CarolinaCutie on Sept 23, 2003 13:22:11 GMT -4
Wonder asks judge to free drug leader
DETROIT - Stevie Wonder has asked a federal judge to free a man convicted as a leader of a West Coast-to-Detroit cocaine and heroin ring.
The Grammy-winning singer came to U.S. District Court on Monday for Antonio Ameen's sentencing hearing. Ameen, 37, received 20 years in prison.
Wonder asked to speak in favor of allowing Ameen to remain free on bond during an appeal that is based on race bias. U.S. District Judge John O'Meara declined the request, saying Wonder had covered all his points in a Sept. 30, 2002, letter.
In the letter, Wonder, a former Detroiter whose legal name is Steveland Morris, said he had known Ameen for several years and was impressed with Ameen's parenting during a long and hard criminal case.
"Please look within the deepest part of your heart, spirit and history and use any discretion that you have to keep this man with his family as long as possible," the letter said.
Over the objections of U.S. Assistant Attorney John Freeman, O'Meara said Ameen and associate Steven Fantroy, 38, of Detroit could remain free until the Bureau of Prisons finds beds for them. O'Meara said he also will consider whether to allow the men to remain free pending their appeals.
Both men said they were denied a fair trial because they are black and no blacks served on their jury.
Wonder and Ameen met after Ameen became a musician and producer in Los Angeles.
Yahoo News
Oh gimme a friggin' break why don'tcha!
This isn't about race or Ameen bein' a civilized parent! It's about him committin' a crime when he chose to sell drugs. And for Stevie to say that he admired Ameen for bein' an outstandin' father is contradictin' in my opinion because I think it's safe to say that while he was supplyin' drugs to customers, it more than likely broke up their families and caused them not to be such great parents (maybe I've been workin' around these type of people in my line of work for too long 
). But anyway, Stevie really shoulda thought about this before sendin' that letter.
DETROIT - Stevie Wonder has asked a federal judge to free a man convicted as a leader of a West Coast-to-Detroit cocaine and heroin ring.
The Grammy-winning singer came to U.S. District Court on Monday for Antonio Ameen's sentencing hearing. Ameen, 37, received 20 years in prison.
Wonder asked to speak in favor of allowing Ameen to remain free on bond during an appeal that is based on race bias. U.S. District Judge John O'Meara declined the request, saying Wonder had covered all his points in a Sept. 30, 2002, letter.
In the letter, Wonder, a former Detroiter whose legal name is Steveland Morris, said he had known Ameen for several years and was impressed with Ameen's parenting during a long and hard criminal case.
"Please look within the deepest part of your heart, spirit and history and use any discretion that you have to keep this man with his family as long as possible," the letter said.
Over the objections of U.S. Assistant Attorney John Freeman, O'Meara said Ameen and associate Steven Fantroy, 38, of Detroit could remain free until the Bureau of Prisons finds beds for them. O'Meara said he also will consider whether to allow the men to remain free pending their appeals.
Both men said they were denied a fair trial because they are black and no blacks served on their jury.
Wonder and Ameen met after Ameen became a musician and producer in Los Angeles.
Yahoo News
Oh gimme a friggin' break why don'tcha!
This isn't about race or Ameen bein' a civilized parent! It's about him committin' a crime when he chose to sell drugs. And for Stevie to say that he admired Ameen for bein' an outstandin' father is contradictin' in my opinion because I think it's safe to say that while he was supplyin' drugs to customers, it more than likely broke up their families and caused them not to be such great parents (maybe I've been workin' around these type of people in my line of work for too long 
). But anyway, Stevie really shoulda thought about this before sendin' that letter.