§ 848. Continuing criminal enterprise

(a) Penalties; forfeitures
Any person who engages in a continuing criminal enterprise shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment which may not be less than 20 years and which may be up to life imprisonment, to a fine not to exceed the greater of that authorized in accordance with the provisions of title 18 or $2,000,000 if the defendant is an individual or $5,000,000 if the defendant is other than an individual, and to the forfeiture prescribed in section 853 of this title; except that if any person engages in such activity after one or more prior convictions of him under this section have become final, he shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment which may not be less than 30 years and which may be up to life imprisonment, to a fine not to exceed the greater of twice the amount authorized in accordance with the provisions of title 18 or $4,000,000 if the defendant is an individual or $10,000,000 if the defendant is other than an individual, and to the forfeiture prescribed in section 853 of this title.
(b) Life imprisonment for engaging in continuing criminal enterprise
Any person who engages in a continuing criminal enterprise shall be imprisoned for life and fined in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, if—
(1) such person is the principal administrator, organizer, or leader of the enterprise or is one of several such principal administrators, organizers, or leaders; and
(2)
(A) the violation referred to in subsection (c)(1) of this section involved at least 300 times the quantity of a substance described in subsection 841(b)(1)(B) of this title, or
(B) the enterprise, or any other enterprise in which the defendant was the principal or one of several principal administrators, organizers, or leaders, received $10 million dollars in gross receipts during any twelve-month period of its existence for the manufacture, importation, or distribution of a substance described in section 841 (b)(1)(B) of this title.
(c) “Continuing criminal enterprise” defined
For purposes of subsection (a) of this section, a person is engaged in a continuing criminal enterprise if—
(1) he violates any provision of this subchapter or subchapter II of this chapter the punishment for which is a felony, and
(2) such violation is a part of a continuing series of violations of this subchapter or subchapter II of this chapter—
(A) which are undertaken by such person in concert with five or more other persons with respect to whom such person occupies a position of organizer, a supervisory position, or any other position of management, and
(B) from which such person obtains substantial income or resources.
(d) Suspension of sentence and probation prohibited
In the case of any sentence imposed under this section, imposition or execution of such sentence shall not be suspended, probation shall not be granted, and the Act of July 15, 1932 (D.C. Code, secs. 24–203—24–207), shall not apply.

I’ve just read a New York Times article that a certain Milorad Ulemek was sentenced for the assassination of the president of Serbia, Zoran Djindjic.

Even though he was an organized crime leader and has assassinated the pro-reform president of a country and therefore directly and negatively influenced the lives of millions of people – he received only 40 years in prison.

When I compare the crime and sentence of Ulemek to the one of George I can only be amazed. I do not understand the laws, and Serbia and USA are different cultures and countries, but still – life sentence for marijuana or 40 years for killing a president.

Serbia’s public is frustrated by the fact that Ulemek is not able to receive a harsher punishment (40 years is the maximum Serbian law allows) while we at FreeGeorge.us are frustrated by the extreme harshness of the punishment George has to suffer.

I have been visiting George ever since I met his sister – when she told me of her brother and how he was given a life no parole sentence for what amounted to about 2400 lbs of “pot”, I could not believe that the courts put people in jail for LIFE for something so minor. Some might say, well, 2400lbs, that’s alot of pot, not really, and bottomline it is JUST pot. I asked myself how many people could have possibly died from pot-after some investigating I found that NO-ONE has died from pot. So why was George given a LIFE NO PAROLE sentence??

Well, after looking into George’s case alittle and meeting with him at Coleman numerous times, it was easy to see why he was where he was, he was SCREWED!! Answer this, George plead guilty to his crime, and YES they threw ALL the conspiracy charges of intent with heroin and cocaine and this and that, bottomline is all they had was 2400lbs of pot, so why such a HARSH UNJUST sentence??

George was led to believe by his lawyer Bobby Simone that by pleading guilty, he would recieve a 10 year sentence. Do I think George should have gotten a 10 year sentence? Actually I said 10 to 15, but when you think about it 10 years is a long long time-George has been in 24 now-damn, how does he do it?? yup, You can try to answer that too. The judge said George was uncooperative and gave him the harshest of all sentences ALLOWABLE, LWOP-he plead guilty and knew nothing that they did’nt already know. how cooperative can one be?? They wanted George to “roll”-he had nothing to give them but his guilty plea-he was screwed. He knew, I know now, he needed to be punished for his crime, BUT, LIFE NO PAROLE – how can this happen in a country that prides itself on “justice” and freedoms?

George has had a “Commutation of Sentence” petition under concideration for 3 years or there about- Why does it take so long to get a yes or no answer? George is ready to come home and should be granted “time served”-if not, why doesn’t the White House or Pardon Attorney just say NO – this way George can pursue his next avenue of obtaining relief. How is it that I see cases out there where the “kingpin” was far more involved, and for much longer, yet have lighter sentences with hope?? How can ALL HOPE be takin away from someone guilty of a NON-VIOLENT crime?? This is nuts folks, or am I nuts??

I did not know George 24 years ago – but I know him today – he is ready for a second chance – he should be given that chance – he did not kill anyone – he took responsibility for his crime, he has served 24 years, he has educated himself, he has endured the deaths of his wife, his father, and his son, while imprisoned – he teaches other inmates, he’s published a book, I could go on and on, MY POINT IS…. When is enough, Enough??

I want to be safe out here – I want my 82 year old mother safe out here – I nor her or for this matter, no one is any safer because George Martorano is locked up, he is of no threat to society and has paid any and all debts to society for his crime – hell, he’s working on high interest now. I email, and mail the President, George Bush at the White House, and various other governement agencies with my support of freeing George, I ask that if you could just take 5 minutes, and send one for him too-it’s real easy, all you have to do is go to this address and express your support to release George with “TIME SERVED”… comments@whitehouse.gov.

PS (If your not going to take the 5 minutes to do that, could you take 2 minutes to tell me why at… webelievegroup@msn.com. Thanx

I am here today in medical, to find out if my surgery for a hernia has been scheduled yet. I try to stay in shape by working out daily, but that’s hard, when I suffer with this pain. A pain I have been trying to have corrected for over 2 years.

Life in prison has it’s highs and lows. Sitting here waiting is one of the lows.

As I sit waiting, I look about me at the ill, some very ill. Some have this blank expression on their face. I know, and they know it’s just a matter of time. At each prison I have been to over the last 2 decades, many have died. At one prison I quit counting at 15. Men and woman die, sitting, waiting, just as I sit and wait today. We wait because the federal system does not have any money. No money because too many of us, sit and wait.

Getting to an outside hospital, or clinic is hard, one has to be near death.

I wish not to be near death. I wish to be treated as a human being. I wonder, if I growl like a beast, will they treat me quicker, or will I just sit and wait.