President Joe Biden has pardoned a Capital Region resident and commuted the sentence of a Hudson Valley resident who were sentenced for drug-related offenses.
The White House announced that Stacy Lynn Wilder, 49 of Albany, was pardoned after serving a sentence for a non-violent drug offense. Margaret Ann Vandyke of Ellenville saw her sentence for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine and fentanyl commuted to end in late August.
Wilder, according to a White House press release, would have gotten a smaller sentence "under current law and sentencing practices today" under the terms of a guilty plea. She has completed both the sentence and supervised release, and the White House said she has since worked in state government.
"She contributes money and goods to organizations that support the unhoused, animals, and veterans," the release reads. Community members and neighbors describe her as trustworthy, hard-working, good-hearted, and someone who is always willing to help others."
Vandyke is serving a 60-month sentence followed by three years of supervised release; that supervision remains intact, with the sentence commuted.
In all, 11 pardons were granted by the president, as well as five commuted sentences for people convicted of non-violent drug offenses.
"Many of these individuals received disproportionately longer sentences than they would have under current law, policy, and practice," Biden said in a statement Wednesday. "The pardon recipients have demonstrated their commitment to improving their lives and positively transforming their communities. The commutation recipients have shown that they are deserving of forgiveness and the chance at building a brighter future for themselves beyond prison walls."