My friends dad has been in prison since 1989 for non-violent cannabis offences. He was sentenced to 98 years when prosecution recommended 12-17. Sign this petition and let Richard know we haven't forgotten him!

The short story:  Richard DeLisi DC#087624 One of the ringleaders of a large pot smuggling group in Florida during the late seventies, Richard was recently married with two young children , he was working fixing cars at the only thing that was not used up in lawyers fees or taken by the State due to his first conviction for trafficking pot, his fathers auto repair business in Pompano Beach, Fl., when he was approached by an old acquaintance, and also a pilot who had flown several of those planes with Cannabis from Columbia ,James "J.J" White, who unbeknownst to Richard was now a confidential informant working for the F.D.LE.(Florida Department of Law Enforcement) Years earlier while "borrowing " an old WW2 Beechcraft valued in 1979 at about $200,000, that belonged to Richard ," JJ",who at that that time was the group's airplane maintenance guy ,as well as running pot in from Columbia. Trying to do a side deal, "JJ" took the Beechcraft to Jamaica and crashed on takeoff with a full load of pot , on board that plane was also Frank DeLisi , Richards younger cousin and a a future pilot with U.P.S. , I think "JJ"broke some bones and spent a few weeks in a Jamaican jail. As that flight wasn't authorized by Richard, and JJ went and crashed the plane he now owed Richard $200,000, a lot of money in 1979 Well good thing for "J.J.". Richard got indicted and was sent to prison for 5 years for his part in that pot smuggling ring mentioned earlier. Fast forward to the recently paroled Richard circa 1987, 38 years old just married with three young children, enjoying his Freedom, even though it wasn't the jetset lifestyle he was used to , family suited Richard just fine, business was a little slow one day when up pulls a brand new black jaguar and in walks "JJ ", says he's doing great ,flashing a diamond rolex, and talking about how he's just in town to pick up some parts for his new Piper twin Navajo, which is over at the hanger at Pompano executive airport.  "JJ"comes right out after a few minutes and says how bad he feels for never paying Richard back for the plane, but now that he's doing good he will get $50,000 within the month, he had a deal he was working on and he told Richard he knew he was in the wrong for taking that Beechcraft down I know because I was there that day, I'll tell you about me later. A few visits from "JJ" later, always showing up wanting to talk about his plane, that twin Navajoe that apparently he needed to rip the interior out for a job he was doing, and by the way, that 50k will be in any day Rich, don't worry pal. I kind of thought it was unusual how someone would flaunt their behaviour that way if they were real, something seemed off to me but back to that later. 2 -3 months and "JJ" hasn't come up with any of his promise to pay off his old debt. But...... The piper interior is stripped out now, "Richard; I know you got connections in Columbia, my Piper will hold 1200 lbs of pot ,and you know I'll just land it in my backyard , 'cause I live in a fly in community in Martin county. C'mon Richie. This will be easy, you call up your guy in Columbia, I'll go down there, pick it up and we'll split the profit 50/50." Trusting "JJ" as he did Richard said, okay, I'll make the call and send some  one down to Columbia to meet you. That someone was me , his 21 year old brother in law, David McCarthy. Bottom line is after over a week of having to arrange the shipment of 1200 lbs, which was brought to the Northern tip of Columbia where we had a landing strip in the juajira desert.  After waiting there for what to me seemed like an eternity but was really only about 4-5 hours the plane never showed up.  After realizing that "JJ" wasn't showing up I drove to the nearest town where I could call Richard. I guess in hindsight that was my "aha" moment and I just knew something was not quite right. When I arrived at Miami airport and was picked up by Richard my mood was somber, I had just risked my life and to me this was the end of the deal. Far from being somber, Richard proceeded to tell me what sounded like it was , out of a fairy tale then as now.  The story that was told to Richard by "JJ "was that there were military helicopters off the coast of Columbia and after nearly colliding with one, he decided to turn back to Jamaica, as the Piper needed fuel and guess what?? While he was refueling in Jamaica he happened to bump into a friend who would front him the 1200 lbs, and it was better weed to boot. Do you want to go pick it up ,he will be at Lake Wales airport in a few hours. Don't worry, he even called me from the airport in Jamaica. (F.D.L.E. had flown James White to Jamaica and put him up at a hotel just to make the call in case Richard had the ability to trace the call.) After telling Richard and his brother Ted, who was in the car with him that that was the craziest story, and that this was an obvious trap, Richard told me to shut up and don't worry, he'll have his nephew Chuckie pick it up. As scripted ,when "JJ" arrived with his plane full of "evidence room" Jamaican pot in Lake Wales, shortly after unloading it Chuck DeLisi, Richard's nephew and his companion Terry Johnson, were arrested 2 miles from the airport where the Polk county sheriff's deputies were waiting. (count 1; trafficking in cannabis) 30 years state prison Now I think is where the story gets almost preposterous, "JJ" tells Richard he didn't see any cops at all, just flew off like nothing, ah, or maybe the national guard base down the street called the cops ??  After posting their bail, oh and I think I forgot to mention earlier that I personally watched Richard give "JJ"$100,000 in cash to pay for the fuel and bribe money for the Jamaicans, as he was planning on stopping in Jamaica to refuel on both the trip there and back.  I was done, I told Richard, see that could have been me,can't you see "JJ" is setting you up? It was so damn obvious to me, it was almost as if "JJ" was saying "look!, I work for the cops" Richard said that he trusted "JJ" like a brother and maybe it was the national guard that spotted the plane and called the cops. "JJ" called to tell Richard that now we owe the Jamaicans $350,000, but as long as we can show them a newspaper clipping that the load got busted and they weren't ripped off they were willing to front another load. (count 2 ; conspiracy to traffic in cannabis) 30 years state prison "JJ" says he's game but he's gonna need some fuel money , Richard took his brothers gold Rolex watch and a rather large diamond ring, along with $50,000 in gold coins and gave that to "JJ". ( count 3; R.I.C.O) 30 years state prison I do attest to the best of my recollection and I do consider this a firsthand account without heresy. Obviously I'm biased however there is such a thing in the legal field known as proportionality. In this regard the justice system completely failed Richard. Upon his conviction, but before the judge issued his sentence, the state attorneys office conducted a pre-sentence investigation (P.S.I.) report as required by law to assist judges in their sentencing decision. Accordingly, the States attorneys office recommended for a a range of between 12-17 years State prison. At the sentencing ,for reasons known only to the judge, the presiding State  circuit court judge for the county of Polk, decided unilaterally to circumvent the States own recommended sentence and impose an upward departure. Sentencing Richard DeLisi to the maximum penalty allowed by law. 30 years for each count, for a total of 90 years State prison, resulting in a de facto life sentence. Proportionality was not even considered.  That it has been over 26 years sometimes makes me doubt that justice will ever be truly served, and then I will speak to or hear about Richards renewed efforts to get free and his faith that someone will hear his pleas and all doubts are removed. After all this is America, the land of the free. Now I could go into much more details obviously as those days in the summer of 1987 have been seared into my memory. I have relived every moment either through troubled memories, nightmares, newspaper clippings or reading court transcripts many times over the years myself, so some prodding might be necessary for further details. Thanks for your interest. Sincerely  David McCarthy

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