I met Carlos Sanchez through a political prisoner letter-writing campaign several years ago and we have been pen pals ever since. Carlos was wrongfully convicted of drug possession and trafficking in 1995. Carlos is from Colombia. He was visiting the US when he was 25. While traveling from Miami to New York City, his bus was stopped and all passengers were removed. Carlos did not speak English at the time and was unsure about what was happening. Confused and afraid, he was taken into custody by the police. He later learned that he was being charged with possession and trafficking of cocaine. A small bag of cocaine was found in a bag with women's and baby clothing on the bus and although there was no physical evidence linking Carlos to the drugs, he was held accountable. The whole case rested on circumstantial evidence based on the statement of a single police officer. As a Colombian man, Carlos was profiled and assumed to be guilty because the route between Miami and New York is often used for trafficking drugs from Central and South America.

When it came time for the case to be tried, Carlos was encouraged by his public defender (PD) to plead not guilty rather than accept a plea bargain that would have carried a lighter sentence (44-62 months). His PD was convinced that with the evidence being so flimsy, the clear indication of racial bias, and the fact that Carlos had never been convicted of a crime and had no history of violence, he would not be convicted. Carlos went to trial and was given a shocking sentence of 30 years for two crimes, possession and transportation of an illicit substance, based on mandatory minimum sentencing requirements. In addition to this sentence being disproportionate to the supposed crime, it is important to remember that it was a crime that Carlos did not commit. Additionally, Carlos did not have money or access to resources that could provide him with more effective legal aid, was unfamiliar with the US legal system, had little ability to connect with family for support and/or advice and could not speak English, limiting his ability to speak for and defend himself. It was also the first legal offense Carlos was ever accused of, in either the US or Colombia, making it even more irrational that he would be given such a harsh sentence.

Carlos has now been in prison for over 29 years. In that time, Carlos has learned to speak and write English fluently, participated in college-level courses and completed a dental certification program. He has worked in prison as a prosthodontist, making dentures for the general public and prisoners. Carlos has been a model inmate. He once intervened in a fight between prisoners which saved the life of a prison guard on duty. He has done his best to remain positive and make the most of his time while incarcerated. Despite his best efforts, Carlos has continued to experience additional injustices throughout his incarceration, some of which he believes to be racially motivated.

Carlos does not deserve to be in jail. He has already lost his youth and he should be released, but his repeated requests for clemency have been denied. Carlos is scheduled for release in November 18, 2023. He will need money to support his return home to Colombia, including a bus ticket home to his mother, clothing and a bit to get settled and process the trauma he has experienced for almost 3 decades before he can re-establish his life outside of the US prison system.

Please consider making a donation as restitutution for his unjust imprisonment and to help him get stable once he is released.

Thank you!