President Barack Obama pardoned nine people Friday for offenses ranging from conspiracy to defraud the United States to distribution of cocaine.
The list included four men who were convicted of drug charges, one man who was sentenced in 1960 for felony liquor law violation and a man sentenced in 1972 for illegal possession of government property.
Perhaps the most unusual charge was against Ronald Lee Foster of Beaver Falls, Pa. Foster was convicted in 1963 of mutilating coins. For that he got a year’s probation and a $20 fine.
White House Spokesman Reid Cherlin explained the reasons behind Obama’s decision to choose the nine individuals from what is likely to have been a large list of applicants.
“The president was moved by the strength of the applicants’ post-conviction efforts at atonement, as well as their superior citizenship and individual achievements in the years since their convictions,” Cherlin said.