Rick Ross' Case: Applying The Three Strikes Law

In 1996, Ricky Freeway Ross, a former drug lord, was sentenced to life imprisonment under the three-strikes law. Ross, who had established a drug empire in Los Angeles in the 1980s, was convicted for purchasing over 100 kilograms of cocaine from a federal agent in a sting operation. However, an appeals court later overturned his life sentence, ruling that the three-strikes law had been erroneously applied. Ross's sentence was reduced to 20 years, and he was released from prison in 2009. The case of Ricky Ross highlights the impact and controversy surrounding the three-strikes law, a sentencing measure that significantly increases prison sentences for individuals with prior convictions for serious or violent felonies.

Ricky Ross's life sentence was overturned by an appeals court

Ricky "Freeway" Ross, a former Los Angeles drug lord, had his life sentence overturned by an appeals court in 1998. Ross was initially sentenced to life in prison under the three-strikes law in 1996 after being convicted of purchasing over 100 kilograms of cocaine from a federal agent in a sting operation. However, the appeals court found that the three-strikes law had been applied erroneously in this case.

Ross's case gained notoriety due to his alleged links to Oscar Danilo Blandón, a former leader of the Nicaraguan Contras. A series of articles published in the San Jose Mercury News in 1996 by journalist Gary Webb alleged that the CIA, through Blandón and Ross, had helped start the crack cocaine epidemic in Los Angeles in the early 1980s. These allegations sparked a public furor and led to further scrutiny of Ross's case.

The appeals court ordered U.S. District Judge Marilyn Huff to resentence Ross. The court found that Huff had made an error in counting Ross's previous convictions in Ohio and Texas as separate crimes rather than a single conspiracy. As a result, the court ruled that the life sentence was inappropriate and ordered a resentencing.

Ross's attorneys had argued for a complete dismissal of the conviction, citing outrageous government misconduct due to the alleged link between Blandón, the CIA, and the Contras. However, the three-judge appeals panel rejected this argument and upheld Ross's conviction. The judges stated that the allegations of a CIA link were unproven and did not constitute outrageous government conduct.

Despite the partial victory, Ross remained confident that more than just his sentence would eventually be overturned. He expressed his belief that the entire case against him was fabricated and called for public outrage. Ross's case highlights the complex nature of drug-related convictions and the impact of sentencing laws, such as the three-strikes law, on individuals' lives.

Ross was resentenced to 20 years in prison

In 1996, Ricky Donnell "Freeway Ricky" Ross was sentenced to life imprisonment under the three-strikes law. Ross, a former Los Angeles cocaine lord, was convicted for purchasing more than 100 kilograms of cocaine from a federal agent in a sting operation. Ross had two prior convictions for serious crimes, which included buying 220 pounds of cocaine for $169,000 from convicted drug trafficker Oscar Danilo Blandón, who was working as an informant for the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Ross appealed his sentence, arguing that the three-strikes law was unconstitutionally applied to his case. He discovered a legal loophole that would eventually lead to his release. Ross's case was brought to a federal court of appeals, which ruled that the three-strikes law had been erroneously applied and ordered that he be resentenced. The court found that the judge had erred in counting Ross's previous convictions in Ohio and Texas as separate crimes rather than a single conspiracy. As a result, Ross was resentenced to 20 years in prison.

The three-strikes law, enacted in California in 1994, mandates a life sentence for defendants with two prior convictions for serious or violent crimes as defined by the California Penal Code. The law was intended to keep violent offenders, such as murderers, rapists, and child molesters, behind bars. However, in practice, the law has resulted in life sentences for nonviolent crimes, with over half of inmates sentenced under the law serving time for nonviolent offenses. The law has also been found to disproportionately affect minority populations, with over 45% of those serving life sentences under the three-strikes law being African American.

In 2012, California voters passed Proposition 36, which reformed the three-strikes law. This reform eliminated life sentences for non-serious, non-violent crimes and established a procedure for inmates serving life sentences for minor third-strike crimes to petition for a reduced sentence.

Ross's previous convictions were counted as a single conspiracy

In 1996, Ricky "Freeway" Ross was sentenced to life imprisonment under the three-strikes law after being convicted of purchasing more than 100 kilograms of cocaine from a federal agent in a sting operation. Ross had previous convictions in Ohio and Texas, which were counted as a single conspiracy, rather than as separate crimes. This meant that his conviction in 1996 counted as his third strike, triggering a mandatory life sentence.

The three-strikes law, also known as the "Three Strikes and You're Out" law, was enacted in California in 1994. This law imposed a life sentence for any crime, regardless of its severity, if the defendant had two prior convictions for serious or violent felonies as defined by the California Penal Code. The purpose of the law was to keep violent offenders, such as murderers, rapists, and child molesters, in prison. However, in practice, more than half of the inmates sentenced under this law were serving time for nonviolent crimes.

Ross appealed his sentence, arguing that the three-strikes law had been erroneously applied in his case. The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with this argument and ordered that he be resentenced. The court ruled that Ross's previous convictions in Ohio and Texas should have been counted as a single conspiracy, rather than as separate crimes. As a result, his 1996 conviction was only his second strike, not his third.

The court's decision to overturn Ross's life sentence was based on the interpretation of the three-strikes law and the specific details of his prior convictions. By counting Ross's previous convictions as a single conspiracy, the court followed legal precedent and the intent of the three-strikes law to target violent and repeat offenders. This decision highlights the complexities of sentencing laws and the potential for judicial discretion in their application.

Ross's case was brought to a federal court of appeals

In 1996, Ricky Donnell "Freeway" Ross was sentenced to life imprisonment under the three-strikes law after being convicted of purchasing more than 100 kilograms of cocaine from a federal agent in a sting operation. Ross's case was brought to a federal court of appeals, which found that the three-strikes law had been erroneously applied. The court ordered that he be resentenced.

Ross's attorneys argued that his conviction should be overturned because of the alleged link between his cocaine source, Danilo Blandón, the CIA, and the Contras, which constituted outrageous government misconduct. The three-judge appeals panel rejected that argument and upheld Ross's conviction. However, they ruled that Ross's life sentence was inappropriate as the judge had counted Ross's previous convictions in Ohio and Texas as separate crimes rather than a single conspiracy.

As a result, Ross's sentence was reduced to 20 years, and he was released from Federal Correctional Institution, Texarkana, on September 29, 2009.

In addition to his drug-related activities, Ross also sued rapper Rick Ross (real name William Leonard Roberts II) in 2010 for using his name. This lawsuit was dismissed, and a subsequent appeal to a federal court was also unsuccessful. However, Ross refiled the case in the State of California, and the trial was set for early May 2012. This case was also dismissed by a judge in the Los Angeles Superior Court.

Ross was released from prison in 2009

In 1996, Ricky "Freeway" Ross was sentenced to life imprisonment under the three-strikes law. Ross had been convicted of purchasing more than 100 kilograms of cocaine from a federal agent in a sting operation. However, Ross was released from prison in 2009.

Ross's release in 2009 came after he discovered a legal loophole that led to his case being brought to a federal court of appeals. The court found that the three-strikes law had been erroneously applied and ordered that he be resentenced. Ross's prior convictions in Ohio and Texas were ruled to be part of a single conspiracy, rather than separate crimes. As a result, his sentence was reduced to 20 years, and he was released from prison on September 29, 2009.

During his incarceration, Ross learned to read and studied the law. He became an American author, co-writing his autobiography, "Freeway Rick Ross: The Untold Autobiography", which was released in 2014. Ross has also started a boxing management company and owns a marijuana dispensary as of 2024.

The three-strikes law, enacted in California in 1994, mandates a life sentence for individuals with two prior convictions for serious or violent crimes. The law was intended to keep violent offenders, such as murderers, rapists, and child molesters, behind bars. However, it has resulted in life sentences for nonviolent offenses as well, with over half of the inmates sentenced under this law serving time for nonviolent crimes.

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