Delaware man among those receiving commutations from Obama

A convicted drug dealer from Delaware is one of 58 people whose prison sentences are being commuted by President Barack Obama.

Leonard Mason of Claymont was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2011 after being convicted in Pennsylvania federal court of distribution of cocaine and conspiracy.

Mason argued unsuccessfully on appeal that a Pennsylvania state judge lacked jurisdiction to order wiretaps that resulted in his being stopped in a van containing drugs. He also argued that the evidence was insufficient to support a conviction, and that his lawyer was ineffective.

Last year, a federal judge denied Mason’s motion to vacate, set aside, or correct his prison sentence.

But the White House said Thursday that Obama had commuted Mason’s sentence, which will now expire on Sept. 2 of this year.