On Monday, November 24, 2008, President George W. Bush commuted the sentences for John Forte and Russell Harris. Forte and Harris were both convicted of cocaine offenses and subject to mandatory minimum sentences under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Forte is known as a member of hip-hop’s Refugee Camp. His best known work is on the Refugee Camp All-Star’s “We Trying to Stay Alive.” Carly Simon and her son, Ben Taylor, both worked to have Forte’s mandatory sentence reversed.
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081124/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_pardons;_ylt=Am9IwtRqJ1jcG_AnoQ3ARtGs0NUE
http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE4AO9BH20081125