Dear family and friends,

President Barack Obama granted 95 clemency petitions and 2 pardons in December. My name was not on the list. We are very thankful for the 97 families and their extended family that have been blessed with the wonderful news that one of their own will return home soon. Happy holy-days for real!!!

This is not the last list of people that President Obama will grant pardons and clemency to, and I know that patience is preached, but I have been away from my family and friends for almost 23 years. Prison is not for the human spirit. When discipline becomes cruelty, the people must demand justice. We are the people!!!

There is a bill in Congress right now that will take one step toward correcting an unjust law that has existed for over 25 years. Despite the fact that Congress knows and has known this law disproportionately affects African Americans. The Sentencing  Reform and Corrections Act of 2015 (S.2123 and H.R. 3713). The Sentencing Reform Act will make the mandatory minimum portions of the Fair Sentencing Act retroactive. The passing of this bill would give myself and many others the relief we need.

I ask that you flood your Congress member with phone calls, letters, emails, and tweets and urge them to pass the bill. Tell House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Leader Mitch McConnell to schedule a vote on bills H.R. 3713 and S.2123 in January. Lawmakers must take smart action for smarter sentencing.

Thanks to everyone who wrote to Pardon Attorney Deborah Leff on my behalf. Please change the heading of that letter and forward the same letter to President Obama. President Obama could grant my immediate release. You can also tweet President Obama and ask him to grant clemency to Vincent Gamboa, a father of three who has been in prison for 23 years for 96.6 grams of crack-cocaine. Please make sure to include Case Number CR93-2090 and BOP #23079-086.

Sincerely,

Vincent Gamboa #23079-086

United States Penitentiary Big Sandy
P.O. Box 2068
Inez, KY 41244