Thank God for Unexpected Detours: How a Major Life Detour Rerouted Weldon Angelos Life in the Best Way Possible

My name is Joshua Bevill. I’m currently serving my 14th year of a 30-year federal sentence for a low-level, nonviolent offense—I made misrepresentations to 3 wealthy investors, causing a total loss of $106,000, which I took full responsibility for. At my sentencing hearing, I received a very tough lesson about the federal system of justice.

To increase my U.S. Sentencing Guideline range by decades, the court held that, about 7 years before my crime of conviction, I was responsible for entirely separate crimes that I was never charged with, tried for, or convicted of. That is, I was convicted of a relatively minor nonviolent offense; however, I was given decades in prison primarily for separate uncharged, untried 2004 crimes that had nothing to do with my 2011 crime of conviction.

I learned that injustice comes in many different forms—in the federal system, it’s typically in the form of a disproportionately long, needlessly harsh, excessively punitive sentence, usually the product of an abusive systemic practice.

Now, I spend my days fighting for my freedom and helping fellow prisoners identify and articulate arguments regarding post-conviction litigation, Clemency, and other post-First Step Act motions, namely, 3582 motions. (Notably, prisoners do not have a right to an attorney at those stages.)

Through my journey, I’ve learned the value of storytelling. Behind every unfair sentence is a real person with a story. In addition to helping fellow prisoners, I also write about amazing people who tirelessly and selflessly devote their lives to assisting prisoners who have suffered some form of injustice—usually a disproportionately long prison sentence.

I’ve written about the amazing and brilliant MiAngel Cody and Brittany K. Barnett, the wonderful Amy Povah (CAN-DO Foundation), the thoughtful and generous Mark Osler (University of St. Thomas), and Rachel Barkow (NYU), the exceptionally talented JaneAnne Murray, and many more. These people are the best of humanity.

Next is a man who took a nightmare situation and used it to create untold good in the world.

With that said, It’s not every day that far-right conservatives and liberals call a truce and unite around a common cause. But that’s precisely what happened after a low-level cannabis case brought an abrupt halt to Weldon Angelo’s life and budding career in the music industry.

At just 23, Angelos had made a name for himself as a recording artist and music producer, working alongside stars like Snoop Dogg, 2Pac, Nas, and P!nk. While the young father of three’s dream of music stardom was on its way to becoming a reality, it wasn’t quite paying the bills. And so Angelos began selling a little weed on the side, just until his musical aspirations really took off.

Fate Meets a Confidential Informant

If two things were going to make the local authorities in Angelos’ hometown of Salt Lake City take notice of him, it was the combination of selling marijuana and his connections in the so-called “gangsta rap” music industry. Soon, federal agents would have Angelos in their crosshairs. 

Weldon sold small amounts of weed to a confidential informant, an old childhood acquaintance, on three occasions, totaling just $300. The informant testified that a gun was present (however, it was never used nor brandished) during two of the three pot deals. That was enough for the Feds to throw the proverbial book at Angelos, who had never been in trouble with the law. He was looking at 20 distinct federal crimes, including five counts that mandated 105 years of prison time if convicted. 

Angelos was arrested, tried, and convicted in federal court on 16 of the 20 counts and was sentenced to a mandatory 55 years in federal prison without the possibility of parole. He had been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison for selling $300 worth of weed. Had Angelos been charged and convicted in a state court instead of a federal court, his sentence would have most likely been no more than seven years instead of the 55 he had been given. 

Cruel and Unjust

Paul Cassell was the federal judge forced to impose the mandatory sentence on Angelos. He has described the sentence as “cruel, unjust, and even irrational” and courageously spoke out against the sentence at the time, pleading for a presidential commutation.

As the years ticked on, Cassell was haunted by the case and his own conscience. He eventually resigned from a lifetime appointment to the federal bench to advocate for Angelos’s release.

Many don’t understand that mandatory sentences tie the presiding judge’s hands. Though Cassell knew in every fiber of his being that 55 years for $300 worth of weed sold was cruel and unjust, he had no alternative, thanks to this country’s mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines. 

Mandatory sentences are used to send a message to criminals, but often, this message gets lost and comes at the expense of lives. 

Cassell has said, “If he had been an aircraft hijacker, he would have gotten 24 years in prison. If he’s been a terrorist, he would have gotten 20 years in prison. If he were a child rapist, he would have gotten 11 years in prison. And now I’m supposed to give him a 55-year sentence? I mean, that’s just not right,”

Not only do these draconian life sentences ruin the lives of individuals and families, but they also create a heavy burden for the American taxpayer. For every conviction in this country, there is a considerable price tag attached. Had Angelos served his entire sentence, it would have cost an estimated $1.5 million. 

“I thought the sentence was utterly unjust to Weldon Angelos but also unjust to the taxpayer,” Cassell pointed out. “I think it’s just a waste of resources to lock him up for 55 years; I don’t really think anyone believes that’s an appropriate sentence.”

Roughly 210,000 prisoners are serving extreme and unjust sentences for nonviolent drug crimes. No redemption, no second chance, and we’re all paying for it.

The WELDON PROJECT is Born

In 2016, after serving 13 years of his 55-year sentence, Angelos found himself at the center of this country’s criminal justice reform movement. His unjust case brought together politicians from both sides of the aisle, celebrities, business leaders, and numerous media outlets, including the New York Times and the Washington Post.

In addition, Angelos’ case was championed by the group Families Against Mandatory Minimums, former FBI director Bill Sessions, and even billionaire Charles Koch. All came together and signed a letter urging Obama to grant Angelos commutation. Angelos would have to wait another four years to finally be pardoned under President Trump.

Since being released, Angelos has been an outspoken advocate in the criminal justice reform movement. He was instrumental in passing The First Step Act and helped secure the releases of former Bad Boy Records rapper Loon and the co-founder of Death Row Records, Michael “Harry O” Harris. Angelos also played an integral part in President Trump’s final clemency grants of nearly a dozen people who were serving life sentences without parole for marijuana charges. 

Angelos now works with the Biden administration, helping with the creation of a clemency program for cannabis offenders. He has also testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee at the first-ever hearing on ending federal cannabis prohibition. 

Angelos is also trying to right a very obvious wrong, and that is while thousands rot in jail due to cannabis-related sentences, cannabis companies across the United States are making astronomical profits from the medical and recreational cannabis industries. And so THE WELDON PROJECT was born, with the mission of funding social change and financial aid for those still serving time on cannabis charges.

THE WELDON PROJECT has made extensive partnerships throughout the legal Cannabis industry, which allows both cannabis businesses and consumers the chance to provide relief to those who have been negatively impacted by prohibition.

“Human nature dictates that everyone makes mistakes. I am responsible for the bad choices I made and deserved punishment,” Angelos said. “However, we have a system that excessively punishes thousands of people like me by locking us up and—in essence—throwing away the key. Many lose hope because they lose the chance to lead a fulfilling and meaningful life after serving time. I’m grateful I now have that chance. But many others deserve it, too.”

Anyone who reads my blogs knows that I consider the following to be part of my dream team of super criminal justice warriors: MiAngel Cody, Brittany K. Barnett, Amy Povah, Mark Osler, Amber Baylor, Jason Hernandez, Alice Maria Johnson, Jessica Jackson, Kim Kardashian, JaneAnne Murray, Karen Morrison, Bryan Stevenson, and Rachel Barlow.

I now add Angelos to that group, a remarkable man who should inspire us all.