Crime & Safety

Man Whose Prison Sentence Was Commuted By Biden Faces New Charges: FL Officials

A St. Pete man whose federal prison sentence was commuted by Biden was arrested on new charges, the FL attorney general said.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A St. Petersburg man whose sentence was commuted by former President Joe Biden during the final days of his administration has been arrested on new charges, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s office said in a news release.

Oscar Fowler was taken into custody Monday by the St. Petersburg Police Department and charged with two counts of intent to sell a controlled substance and one count of felon in possession of a firearm.

“Oscar Fowler needs to be held accountable for his actions, and his arrest represents an important step in protecting our community,” St. Pete police Chief Anthony Holloway said. “St. Petersburg is safer with him off our streets.”

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Fowler is a convicted felon with a criminal history spanning more than a decade, Uthmeier’s office said. He was previously serving a 12.5-year federal prison sentence before it was commuted by autopen.

“The Biden administration’s use of the autopen is putting Floridians at risk by allowing dangerous felons back on the street, but we won’t put up with it,” Uthmeier said. “I’ve directed the Office of Statewide Prosecution to review every auto-penned commutation and pardon from the Biden administration that affects Florida. If we can bring state-level charges, we will work with every level of government to do so. Auto-pen accountability starts today.”

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If convicted of his new charges, he faces up to 45 years in the Florida Department of Corrections.

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