Sentence reduction filing by Broward prosecutor could release 16 drug-trafficking offenders
Responding to a change in Florida’s prescription pill drug-trafficking laws, Broward State Attorney Mike Satz’s office will file for 21 people to have their prison sentences reduced.
All 21 are serving 15, 25 and 30 years for prescription pill drug-trafficking. If the reduction is accepted by the court, 16 of the 21 will be released as having served out their sentences. None of the 21 were in on other charges or had a sentence cut for another reason.
“Although these prior sentences remain lawful under the law that existed at the time they were convicted, the Legislature has decided to treat new offenders differently,” Broward Chief Assistant State Attorney Jeff Marcus said. “Therefore, we believe that it was an issue of fundamental fairness to initiate a review of these cases and reduce the sentences when appropriate.”
Before a 2014 change in the law, those caught with more than 4 grams of oxycodone or hydrocodone could be prosecuted on a drug-trafficking charge rather than just possession. The change raised the trafficking levels to 7 grams for oxycodone and 14 for hydrocodone.
Sentencing changes raised the level of oxycodone to 25 grams and 50 grams of hydrocodone before the offender faces a 15-year mandatory minimum sentence.
The 21 people, in alphabetical order:
▪ Seeram Boodram, 37, Coral Springs. Expected to be eligible for immediate release.
▪ Pamela Braswell, 58, Fort Lauderdale. Expected to be eligible for immediate release.
▪ Nilton Dacosta, 43, Lauderdale Lakes. New release date to be determined by the Florida Department of Corrections.
▪ Sidney Filsaime, 41, Lauderhill. New release date to be determined by the Florida Department of Corrections.
▪ Andre Harold, 52, Fort Lauderdale. Expected to be eligible for immediate release.
▪ Kelly Jackson, 45, Pompano Beach. Expected to be eligible for immediate release.
▪ Matthew Kennedy, 55, Miami. Expected to be eligible for immediate release.
▪ Alexander Llaguno, 38, North Lauderdale. Expected to be eligible for immediate release.
▪ Dennis Miller, 50, North Miami Beach. Expected to be eligible for immediate release.
▪ Rosa Noriega, 48, Hallandale Beach. Expected to be eligible for immediate release.
▪ Robert Pereira, 56, Pembroke Pines. Expected to be eligible for immediate release.
▪ Amanda Powell, 40, Hollywood. Expected to be eligible for immediate release.
▪ Cynthia Powell, 58, Pompano Beach. Expected to be eligible for immediate release.
▪ Michael Rand, 61, Pomano Beach. Expected to be eligible for immediate release.
▪ Herbert Rappaport, 84, no listed home city. Expected to be eligible for immediate release.
▪ Nicole Reliford, 47, North Miami Beach. Expected to be eligible for immediate release.
▪ Kevin Sauve, 49, Fort Lauderdale. New release date to be determined by the Florida Department of Corrections.
▪ Kenneth Steffen, 71, Erieck, Oklahoma. Expected to be eligible for immediate release.
▪ Michael Stidham, 64, Stanton, Kentucky. New release date to be determined by the Florida Department of Corrections.
▪ Joshua Toombs, 38, Fort Lauderdale. New release date to be determined by the Florida Department of Corrections.
▪ Cephus Wade, 58, Miami. Expected to be eligible for immediate release.
This story was originally published June 18, 2020 at 12:25 PM.
