President Biden grants clemency to three Tennesseans convicted of drug charges

Natalie Neysa Alund, Nashville Tennessean
·2 min read

The White House on Tuesday announced President Joe Biden granted clemency to three Tennesseans and issued his first batch of presidential pardons since being elected.

The trio is among 75 people who had their sentences commuted for nonviolent, drug-related convictions.

The president also pardoned three people including a Secret Service agent convicted of bribery in 1964. The two other people had been convicted on drug-related charges.

Biden signs an executive order.
Biden signs an executive order.

The White House announced the clemencies as it launched a series of job training and reentry programs for those in prison or who have been recently released.

The Tennesseans are:

  • Virgil Goodman Jr. – Lexington

  • Brandon Jermaine Huguley – Chattanooga

  • Bethel Cheyenne Mooneyham – Spencer

Virgil Goodman Jr.

Goodman was convicted of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute in the Western District of Tennessee.

In June 2005, he was sentenced to almost 22 years in prison to be followed by six years of probation.

His sentenced was commuted to end Aug. 24, 2022, leaving intact his probation.

Brandon Jermaine Huguley

Huguley was convicted of conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine in the Eastern District of Tennessee.

He was sentenced in August 2012 to over 19 years in prison to be followed by five years of probation. The sentence was amended to over 15 years in prison in May 2017.

His sentenced will now expire on April 26, 2023, with the remainder to be served in home confinement, leaving intact his probation.

Bethel Cheyenne Mooneyham

Mooneyham was convicted of charges including conspiracy to manufacture and distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Tennessee.

He was sentenced in June 2011 to 20 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of probation.

The sentence was commuted to end on Aug. 24, 2022, leaving intact his probation.

For the full list of those granted clemency, visit https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/04/26/clemency-recipient-list/.

Natalie Neysa Alund is based in Nashville at The Tennessean and covers breaking news across the South for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at nalund@tennessean.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Three Tennesseans convicted of drug charges granted clemency by Biden