The United States Sentencing Commission, has repeatedly urged Congress to, "eliminate mandatory "stacking" of penalties under 924(c)." This policy, 924(c), is a firearm enhancement provision that permits "stacking" 25 year prison terms upon individuals  who have committed multiple offenses that were charged in the same indictment and prosecuted together in one proceeding.

This policy has led to approximately three thousand people receiving sentences that do not come close to fitting the crimes they've committed. The legislative history of 924(c) clearly reveals that it was created to impose a harsher penalty upon those who are RECIDIVIST and or REPEAT OFFENDERS of this policy, not FIRST TIME OFFENDERS.  

Two members of Congress, (Representatives Robert Scott-VA 3rd and John Conyers-MI 14th), have, in two separate congressional terms, submitted legislative bills seeking to amend this policy's severe sentencing structure. Bill's H.R. 2933 and 2398-(The Firearm Recidivist Sentencing Act of 2009 and 2011) were drafted to ensure that, "the 25 year mandatory minimum for REPEAT OFFENDERS apply only to individuals if they have been PREVIOUSLY CONVICTED of and SERVED a PRISON SENTENCE for a 924(c) offense."

Do you remember the "Holloway" case out of New York? (U.S. District Court Judge Gleeson) He had 30 years left under 924(c) stacking. Lorretta Lynch (she was a U.S. Attorney then) released him based on his prison record. Ms. Lynch is our current U.S. Attorney General and her Deputy Attorney General Sally Quillian Yates both oppose the use of the 924(c) stacking! 

Our petition is in support of Maurice Brooks, who received 200+ years under the 924(c) stacking law. Maurice as you can imagine, was a FIRST TIME OFFENDER. Maurice doesn't deny his crimes he committed during his early 20's, and he wishes he could do things all over again. But, he didn't murder anyone. He doesn't deserve to spend the rest of his life, in jail. His sentencing was beyond inhumane. I can't stand by, and watch this man die in prison, because of a law created in 1968. Hoping, you can't stand by either!

Maurice is now an accomplished mentor, wellness coach, certified nutritionist and personal trainer. He is helping to change the lives of other incarcerated men and women through positive publications and fitness programs. Maurice Brooks is serving an unjust 226 year sentence under the 924(c) stacking law. Help change the life of a man who’s helped so many others. Be the change!

Please visit our website for more information on other stories and to contact Maurice directly. Change 924c. Or Email us directly at: info@change924c.org 

A LETTER TO THE VICTIMS: 

I've never had an opportunity to express to the victims of my crimes, my remorse and deepest apologies for the mental anguish that I inflicted when I entered into those banks. I was young then. Since being incarcerated, I've participated in Government endorsed Federal Bureau of Prisons Re-Entry programs such as the:

​1) Challenge Program - addressing criminal thinking

2) Victims Impact - addresses viewing crime from the victims standpoint

3) RDAP: Residential Drug Program - unveils how drugs influences poor decisions and how sobriety heals you mentally, helping you move forward

4) Threshold Program - bridges the gap between religions, helping one maintain a positive interaction among all faith groups.
 

With these re-entry programs and the personal assistance of Staff Members who mentored me upon my journey inside the system, along with positive inmates, and the support of my family and children, I've become a man.The mistakes that I made led me to a 226 year first time prison sentence for the robbery of nine banks in Louisville, Kentucky. For those who I impacted emotionally I apologize totally for my actions and disregard for the property of others.

I haven't used any drugs or alcohol in nearly 19 years. I maintain a steady job and participate in educational courses and institutional programs that'll benefit not only myself, but other inmates around me as well. Especially the younger inmates coming into the system who I mentor and influence to set out on the right path from this day forward as I did when I came into the system.

We all make mistakes. Robbing those banks was the worst mistake that I ever made. And there's not a day that goes by that I am not sorry for my actions and to those I hurt emotionally.

Please accept my apology and see me for who I am today and not the hurt confused young man I was yesterday.

​Sincerely,

Maurice NaVaro Brooks