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From tokesignals.com
Antonio Bascaro: Americas longest serving marijuana prisoner
Meet Antonio Bascaro, the Nations Longest Serving Marijuana Prisoner
By Cheri Sicard On September 8, 2015
Antonio Bascaro, who has served more than 35 years behind bars for a nonviolent marijuana conspiracy offense, holds the dubious honor of being the nations and perhaps the worlds longest serving marijuana prisoner. A former Cuban naval pilot who participated in the Bay of Pigs invasion, Bascaro fled Castros Cuba shortly thereafter.
Now 83 years old, Antonios de-facto life sentence is almost over and he will be eligible for release in in the summer of 2019. However, his daughter Aicha, who lost her father to prison when she 12 years old, fears that may be too late.
The octogenarian grandfather is in poor health and suffers from severe back problems, glaucoma, and other ailments. Back surgery left him confined to a wheelchair for a period of time, but with the help of a walker and a lot of determination he is slowly starting to get back on his feet.
Antonios crime involved no violence and no drugs aside from marijuana, and his part in it was that of a minor player. Antonio Bascaro had no prior convictions. Thats right, a first time offender can be sentenced to life or de-facto life, for a nonviolent marijuana offense, not in Castros Cuba, but right here in the so-called land of the free.
Aicha and her dad
Everyone involved in Antonio Bascaros case, including the true kingpin who ran the operation that used Cuban fishing boats to smuggle marijuana, have long been released. The only reason Antonio received such a harsh sentence is that he refused to cooperate and testify against others. Antonio Bascaro, who has been a model prisoner, is the only person from this case who remains behind bars.
In one of the most ironic, cruel and downright nonsensical twists of fate ever, the fact that his case is so old and he has been incarcerated for so long disqualifies Antonio Bascaro from any of the sentencing reduction and compassionate release programs recently put into place. Those who wrote the laws failed to take into account the possibility of inmates who have been warehoused away as long as Antonio. So while others might get Compassionate Release or a reduction in sentence, this nonviolent, first time marijuana offender must serve out his entire sentence (which will be over 39 years, if he makes it that long).
Nonetheless, Antonios family and supporters are lobbying for the President to grant him clemency, so he can spend what little time he has left with his loved ones. Antonio anxiously awaits each new announced round of clemencies, hoping against hope that his name will be among the lucky few.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Follow Antonios Facebook page (managed by his daughter Aicha at Free Cuban Hero):
www.facebook.com/FreeaCubanHero
Antonio loves getting cards and letters from supporters. Write to him here:
Antonio Bascaro #03846-021
FCI Miami
PO Box 779800
Editors note: Cheri Sicard is a dedicated cannabis activist, the author of Mary Jane: The Complete Marijuana Handbook for Women (2015 Seal Press) and The Cannabis Gourmet Cookbook (2012 Z-Dog Media). Her blog is www.CannabisCheri.com.
http://www.tokesignals.com/meet-ant...ongest-serving-marijuana-prisoner/#more-22924
Miami, FL 33177
Antonio Bascaro: Americas longest serving marijuana prisoner
Meet Antonio Bascaro, the Nations Longest Serving Marijuana Prisoner
By Cheri Sicard On September 8, 2015
Antonio Bascaro, who has served more than 35 years behind bars for a nonviolent marijuana conspiracy offense, holds the dubious honor of being the nations and perhaps the worlds longest serving marijuana prisoner. A former Cuban naval pilot who participated in the Bay of Pigs invasion, Bascaro fled Castros Cuba shortly thereafter.
Now 83 years old, Antonios de-facto life sentence is almost over and he will be eligible for release in in the summer of 2019. However, his daughter Aicha, who lost her father to prison when she 12 years old, fears that may be too late.
The octogenarian grandfather is in poor health and suffers from severe back problems, glaucoma, and other ailments. Back surgery left him confined to a wheelchair for a period of time, but with the help of a walker and a lot of determination he is slowly starting to get back on his feet.
Antonios crime involved no violence and no drugs aside from marijuana, and his part in it was that of a minor player. Antonio Bascaro had no prior convictions. Thats right, a first time offender can be sentenced to life or de-facto life, for a nonviolent marijuana offense, not in Castros Cuba, but right here in the so-called land of the free.
Aicha and her dad
Everyone involved in Antonio Bascaros case, including the true kingpin who ran the operation that used Cuban fishing boats to smuggle marijuana, have long been released. The only reason Antonio received such a harsh sentence is that he refused to cooperate and testify against others. Antonio Bascaro, who has been a model prisoner, is the only person from this case who remains behind bars.
In one of the most ironic, cruel and downright nonsensical twists of fate ever, the fact that his case is so old and he has been incarcerated for so long disqualifies Antonio Bascaro from any of the sentencing reduction and compassionate release programs recently put into place. Those who wrote the laws failed to take into account the possibility of inmates who have been warehoused away as long as Antonio. So while others might get Compassionate Release or a reduction in sentence, this nonviolent, first time marijuana offender must serve out his entire sentence (which will be over 39 years, if he makes it that long).
Nonetheless, Antonios family and supporters are lobbying for the President to grant him clemency, so he can spend what little time he has left with his loved ones. Antonio anxiously awaits each new announced round of clemencies, hoping against hope that his name will be among the lucky few.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Follow Antonios Facebook page (managed by his daughter Aicha at Free Cuban Hero):
www.facebook.com/FreeaCubanHero
Antonio loves getting cards and letters from supporters. Write to him here:
Antonio Bascaro #03846-021
FCI Miami
PO Box 779800
Editors note: Cheri Sicard is a dedicated cannabis activist, the author of Mary Jane: The Complete Marijuana Handbook for Women (2015 Seal Press) and The Cannabis Gourmet Cookbook (2012 Z-Dog Media). Her blog is www.CannabisCheri.com.
http://www.tokesignals.com/meet-ant...ongest-serving-marijuana-prisoner/#more-22924
Miami, FL 33177
