Florida man jailed in drug crimes gets a break from Biden
President Joe Biden reduced the federal prison sentence of a former Tallahassee street-level crack cocaine dealer as part of his effort to “uphold the values of redemption and rehabilitation” for those “serving unduly long sentences for non-violent drug offenses,” the White House said Friday.
Esaias J. Tucker, who went by the nickname “Scoo Boo,” was sentenced in 2013 to 20 years on charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, and possession with intent to cocaine and cocaine base, records show.
Now, he will be released from a minimum security facility in Yazoo City, Mississippi, by Feb. 20, 2024. Tucker still must serve 10 years on what is called “supervised release,” during which time he’ll have to report to a probation officer.
Tucker, 35, is one of 11 people whose sentences got commuted by Biden; another Floridian is Leroy Lymons of Pensacola, according to the White House press release.
Just last month, Tucker sent a letter to the court to ask about a motion for compassionate release he had filed.
“If I had been sentenced today I would not have received the same sentence,” he wrote. “I’ve been incarcerated over 11 years now, I have low custody (meaning he’s in a low-security federal correctional institution) and low recidivism, and also have been clear of disciplinaries.”
Tucker was arrested on Sept. 4, 2012, after several cooperating defendants identified him as their cocaine powder and crack cocaine supplier, according to court documents.
The same day, investigators obtained a search warrant for a residence he was seen leaving. They found approximately three ounces of powder cocaine and approximately eight ounces of crack cocaine in “cookie” form.
Several large trash bags with hundreds of bags containing cocaine residue also were recovered, court records show.
Investigators said the total of the cocaine “seized and/or distributed” by Tucker was approximately 10,443 grams (or 23 pounds) of powder cocaine and 4,478 grams (nearly 10 pounds) of crack cocaine.
According to a motion for compassionate release filed in January, Tucker has “proved himself with the rehabilitation efforts (that) he has completed through various education courses while in prison. Defendant has dedicated himself to this rehabilitation and preparation for life after incarceration, in addition to taking full responsibility for his wrongdoing.”
This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. USA Today Network-Florida First Amendment reporter Douglas Soule is based in Tallahassee. He can be reached at DSoule@gannett.com. On X: @Douglas Soule.