Jan 15, 2026
- Net worth
- Unknown
- Crimes
- drug trafficking, conspiracy
- Convicted of
- Distribution of cocaine base; conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base (after prior felony drug offenses)
- Original sentence
- Life imprisonment; eight years' supervised release (as amended) (October 9, 2008)
- Time served
- ~17 years before commutation
Background
Zechariah Benjamin was convicted in the Northern District of Iowa on federal drug distribution charges in 2008.
The Case
Benjamin was convicted of multiple counts involving the distribution of cocaine base (crack cocaine) and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base. Because he had been convicted of two prior felony drug offenses, he was subject to a mandatory life sentence under the federal "three strikes" drug laws of that era. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and eight years of supervised release in October 2008. His life sentence was typical of the harsh mandatory minimums applied to recidivist drug offenders before subsequent sentencing reforms like the First Step Act began to address such disparities.
The Pardon
On January 15, 2026, President Trump granted Benjamin a commutation of sentence.