Congratulations to LUCKY #7 Weldon Angelos who walked out of prison on June 3rd, after a long journey. CAN-DO Founder Amy Povah spoke to Weldon recently and was happy to hear that Weldon will be speaking out on behalf of others who are still waiting to receive similar good news. It is long overdue for so many waiting in the pipeline.
Please consider contributing to Weldon’s fundraiser on change.org so he can buy a car!
Watch the news story of Weldon Angelos’ release on KUTV:
Weldon Angelos feels ‘blessed’ after unexpected release from prison
By Daniel Woodruff, JUNE 3RD 2016
Weldon Angelos
Sentence: 55 years
Age: 36
Year Sentenced: 2004
Served: 12 years
Offense: 3 counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; 13 additional drug, firearm, and money laundering charges
Priors: Convicted for the possession of a handgun as a juvenile and received 3 months probation
Projected release date: 11/18 2051
Supporters: Endless list of supporters include:
Elizabeth Ainslie – AUSA for Eastern Dist. of Pennsylvania
Ross Anderson – Mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah
Judge Williams Bassler – U.S. Dist Judge of Nevada
U.S. Attorney James Brady – (Western Dist of Michigan 1977-1981)
U.S. Attorney B. Mahlon Brown III (Dist. of Nevada 1977-1981)
Access the Open Letter supporting Weldon’s clemency and list of additional names with titles (10 pages) here:
About Weldon’s case:
Weldon Angelos, the son of a Greek immigrant and founder of a rap record company, was accused of selling marijuana to a police informant on several occasions worth a total of $350; the witness stated that Angelos had a firearm strapped to his body. Between May and June 2002, Salt Lake City police set up a series of controlled buys from Weldon, whom they suspected was a member of the street gang Varrio Loco Town. Police arranged for an acquaintance of Weldon’s to act as a confidential informant (CI), hoping to prove Weldon’s involvement in trafficking large amounts of marijuana. The CI purchased ½ pound of marijuana from Weldon on two separate occasions. According to the CI, a firearm was visible in Weldon’s car during the first buy. During the second controlled buy, the CI alleged that Weldon was wearing an ankle holster holding a firearm. Police searched Weldon’s home in November 2003 and found additional guns, drug paraphernalia, and other evidence that officers claimed indicated his involvement in drug trafficking and money laundering.
At trial, the jury convicted Weldon of 13 drug, firearm, and money laundering charges, as well as three counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Two of the three counts of possession of a firearm resulted from the gun he allegedly carried during the buys with the CI. The third count stemmed from a handgun found in a bag in Weldon’s home. Although one charge was dismissed and he was acquitted of three others, Weldon was sentenced to a mandatory 55 years in federal prison. Weldon received a 5-year mandatory minimum for the first charge of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; a consecutive 25-year sentence for the second, and another consecutive 25-year sentence for the third. With a two-point firearm enhancement, Weldon’s adjusted guideline level was 78 to 97 months, to be served concurrently with the firearms mandatory minimums
At sentencing, Judge Paul G. Cassell called Weldon’s punishment “unjust, cruel, and even irrational,” comparing it to much shorter federal sentences given to repeat child rapists and airplane hijackers. Judge Cassell wrote a 67-page opinion urging President Bush to commute Weldon’s sentence to 18 years or less. Unfortunately, none of these efforts proved fruitful.
Post Incarceration:
Despite health issues, Weldon has taken classes in computers, psychology, philosophy, public speaking and history, and has completed the Dental Laboratory Manager program. Weldon’s relationship with his wife suffered as a result of his sentencing and the two are no longer together.