Inmate Valon Vailes is currently serving a 20 year sentence for the intent to distribute marijuana. He is 16 years into his sentence, and on his own has almost no chance of an early release. Lucky for him, Jay-Z has taken up his flag. The rapper, his team, and his lawyers, led by one Alex Sprio, have become advocates for Mr. Vailes. They believe that he has more-than qualified for a “compassionate release.” Mr. Vailes is currently fighting his second attempt at attaining freedom, but new court documents may turn this case on its head. According to TMZ, documents that they have obtained indicate that Mr. Vailes is currently being denied release because he ate some leftover chicken and used his prison uniform to workout.
The Case so Far
Why is Valon Vailes in jail in the first place? FMHipHop reported on the story when Jay-Z first became the patron of Mr. Vailes over 3 months ago. The inmate was charged with conspiracy to distribute over a ton of marijuana, over a 4 year period. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison, and will require 10 years of supervised released once his term is over. After serving 13 years of his sentence, Mr. Vailes petitioned for a “compassionate release.” Many wished him well and supported his petition, donating to Change.org 2 years ago.
However, this request was denied on the basis of his COVID vaccination status. But he’s not giving up.
Mr. Vailes, with the help of Jay-Z’s Team Roc, has request a second petition for compassionate release. I covered what exactly a compassionate release is while writing about Louis Manna, the Mafia man who tried to kill John Gotti. As a summary, a compassionate release sidesteps the warden of his current facility and seeks judicial release. To secure this, Jay-Z and Team Roc need to prove two things: First, that Mr. Vailes has exhausted administrative procedure within the facility, and secondly that there exist, “compelling and extraordinary reasons” for his release.
Compelling and Extraordinary Reasons
The classic example of a “compelling and extraordinary reason” is terminal illness, although that wasn’t enough for Mr. Manna. For Mr. Vailes this means he was denied release when his grandmother died in 2009, when his nephew died in 2020, and when his mother died of COVID later that year. These deaths have heavily impacted the Vailes family. Of particular note is Mr. Vailes’ brother, who suffers from mental illness. With the death of his mother, Valon Vailes is now the sole caretaker for his brother.
A major point of contention in the Vailes case is the increasing legalization of the substance in question. Americans as a people just aren’t as strict about weed as they once were. In the time that he has been in prison, no fewer than 24 states have legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes. 18 states have further legalized the drug for recreational purposes.
North Carolina, where Mr. Vailes was sentenced, has also specifically lessened its marijuana laws. At the time of sentencing, Mr. Vailes took a plea deal for the minimum amount for the minimum sentencing of 20 years in prison. If he were sentenced today, for the same crime, the minimum sentencing would have been 15 years.
Jay-Z is disgusted by Federal Behavior
Jay-Z and Team Roc believe Mr. Vailes meets the criteria for a compassionate release. Mr. Vailes has been an exceptional inmate. Mr. Vailes has received almost no disciplinary action since his incarceration. In fact, he has used the time to better himself, getting his GED.
The final spurs, according to Team Roc, are two minor disputes. Firstly, that Mr. Vailes snuck chicken out of the mess hall to eat while in his cell. Secondly, that he used part of his prison uniform (which is owned by the prison) during a workout routine. For these minor infractions, Mr. Vailes is still being held in prison.
Here is what Valon himself has to say:
“My family needs me home. While incarcerated, I have lost loved ones. My mother passed in 2020, my grandmother in 2009. My nephew in 2020. Also, my best friend died from COVID in 2021. I have four children, the youngest is 1.4, and 3 grand-daughters. A lot has changed in my life, but most importantly, I have a newfound view of society. Therefore, I pledge to my family, my children, and myself that my incarceration would not be in vain. This correspondence is a plea to ask for your help with the intent to campaign for my clemency. 13 and a half years is a long time to be still incarcerated over a substance that has become the ultimate green rush.”
By Chris Colasurdo
@cfcolasurdo on Twitter
