Primghar, Iowa — A Primghar man is one of six convicted of narcotics offenses who received commutations of their prison sentences by President Barack Obama.
Michael Lee Roth of Primghar was convicted in 2008 of Conspiracy to manufacture and distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine actual and possess and distribute pseudoephedrine following felony drug conviction; travel in interstate commerce and aid and abet travel in interstate commerce with the intent to promote and facilitate a business enterprise involving the manufacture and distribution of controlled substances.
On December 8, 2008, Roth was sentenced to 248 months (20-years and 8-months) , and 10-years supervised release. On March 12, 2015 Roth’s sentence was amended to 240-months (20-years) imprisonment.
The commutation granted today (Friday, November 4th) reduces Roth’s sentence to 180-months (15-years) imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in a residential drug treatment.
The other five Iowans whose sentences Obama commuted were: Justin L. Border of Davenport; Zoann Brown of Rowan; Martin Godbersen of Sioux City; Mandy Martinson of Mason City; and Leonel Cano Vela of Davenport.
The latest announcement from the White House brings the total to 16 Iowans who have had their sentences commuted by the president, who has issued a record number of commutations of drug sentences.
