Alice Marie Johnson

Alice Marie Johnson
Born:	May 30, 1955 Olive Branch, Mississippi
Charges:	Drug conspiracy, Money laundering, Structuring
Sentence:	Life without parole (commuted)
Facility:	FCI Aliceville
Status:	Released (Pardoned)

Alice Marie Johnson (born May 30, 1955) is an American criminal justice reform advocate, author, and former federal prisoner who served nearly 22 years in federal prison after being convicted in 1996 for her involvement in a Memphis, Tennessee-based cocaine trafficking organization. Originally sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole as a first-time nonviolent drug offender, Johnson's case gained national attention when reality television star Kim Kardashian advocated for her release, ultimately leading President Donald Trump to commute her sentence in June 2018. Trump granted Johnson a full presidential pardon in August 2020, and in February 2025, during his second term, appointed her as the administration's first-ever "pardon czar" to identify candidates for executive clemency.

Summary

Alice Marie Johnson's journey from life imprisonment to presidential pardon to White House advisor represents one of the most remarkable clemency stories in modern American history. Born into a family of sharecroppers in rural Mississippi, Johnson relocated to Memphis as a young woman, where she built a career at FedEx before personal tragedies and financial difficulties led her into the drug trade in the early 1990s. Her 1996 conviction on eight federal counts resulted in a mandatory life sentence that many critics viewed as disproportionately harsh for a nonviolent first-time offender.

During her nearly 22 years of incarceration at the Federal Medical Center in Carswell, Texas, and later at Federal Correctional Institution Aliceville in Alabama, Johnson transformed her life behind bars. She became an ordained minister, certified hospice worker, playwright, and mentor to fellow inmates, maintaining an exemplary disciplinary record that earned the support of prison staff including her warden in letters supporting her clemency petition.

Johnson's case became a focal point in national debates over mandatory minimum sentencing and criminal justice reform. Her release, followed by her visible advocacy work and close relationship with the Trump administration, positioned her as a prominent voice in the movement to reform federal sentencing practices. She founded the Taking Action for Good Foundation to assist other incarcerated individuals seeking clemency and published a memoir detailing her experiences, "After Life: My Journey from Incarceration to Freedom," in 2019.

Background

Alice Marie Johnson was born on May 30, 1955, in Olive Branch, Mississippi, one of nine children raised by sharecropper parents. Her early life was marked by the poverty and limited opportunities common to rural African American families in the mid-twentieth century South. As a sophomore in high school, Johnson became pregnant, an experience that shaped her early adult years. Despite these challenges, she pursued education and eventually relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, in 1979, seeking greater economic opportunity.

In Memphis, Johnson found stable employment at FedEx, where she worked for approximately ten years and established herself as a reliable employee. She married, raised children, and built what appeared to be a solid middle-class life. However, a series of personal catastrophes in the late 1980s and early 1990s unraveled her stability. Johnson developed a gambling addiction that contributed to her losing her job at FedEx. This was followed by a divorce and, most devastatingly, the death of her youngest son in a motorcycle accident.

Facing mounting financial pressures, Johnson filed for bankruptcy in 1991, and foreclosure on her home followed shortly thereafter. Desperate for income, she became involved with a Memphis-based cocaine trafficking organization, serving as a communications coordinator who relayed coded messages between drug dealers. Though she never personally handled drugs, her role in the conspiracy was substantial enough to attract federal attention.

Indictment, Prosecution, and Sentencing

Federal Charges

Johnson was arrested in 1993 as part of a broader federal investigation into the Memphis cocaine trafficking ring. After a lengthy legal process, she was convicted in 1996 on eight federal criminal counts related to her involvement in the drug conspiracy. The charges included drug conspiracy, money laundering, and structuring—the latter charge stemming from her purchase of a house with a down payment deliberately structured to avoid the $10,000 reporting threshold that triggers mandatory bank reporting to federal authorities.

The drug organization Johnson was connected to dealt in substantial quantities of cocaine. At her sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Julia Gibbons characterized Johnson as "the quintessential entrepreneur" in an operation that handled between 2,000 and 3,000 kilograms of cocaine. Despite Johnson's nonviolent role in the conspiracy and her status as a first-time offender, federal mandatory minimum sentencing laws left Judge Gibbons with limited discretion.

Life Sentence

In 1997, Judge Gibbons sentenced Johnson to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The sentence reflected the harsh mandatory minimums that Congress had enacted during the "War on Drugs" era, which required lengthy sentences based on drug quantities regardless of a defendant's personal culpability, role in the offense, or prior criminal history. Johnson's case became emblematic of what critics characterized as the disproportionate punishment meted out to low-level participants in drug conspiracies, particularly African American defendants.

The sentence meant that, absent executive clemency, Johnson would die in federal prison. She was 41 years old at the time of sentencing, with no prior criminal record, facing permanent separation from her children and grandchildren for a nonviolent offense.

Prison Experience

Johnson began serving her sentence at the Federal Medical Center in Carswell, Texas, the federal prison hospital for women, where she trained and became a certified hospice worker, caring for dying inmates. She was subsequently transferred to Federal Correctional Institution Aliceville in Alabama to be closer to her family in Memphis.

During her nearly 22 years of incarceration, Johnson underwent a profound personal transformation while maintaining an exemplary institutional record. She never received a single disciplinary infraction throughout her imprisonment—a remarkable achievement over such an extended period. Her conduct and character earned the respect of prison staff at every level, culminating in virtually unprecedented support from institutional officials for her clemency petition. Her warden, case manager, captain, and vocational training instructor all submitted letters supporting her bid for early release, a level of institutional endorsement rarely seen in clemency cases.

Johnson channeled her energy into self-improvement and service to others. She became an ordained minister, receiving ordination through proxy at God's Millennium Women's Conference and later through an in-prison Horn of Oil Ceremony. She wrote and produced plays that engaged fellow inmates in theatrical productions, coordinated the first-ever Special Olympics event for prisoners at her facility, taught classes, and mentored countless women struggling with their own circumstances. Her hospice work brought comfort to dying inmates who might otherwise have faced their final days alone.

"I started writing plays and getting the women involved in dance, in theater, and artists emerged," Johnson later recalled of her time incarcerated. Her deep Christian faith sustained her throughout her imprisonment and informed her ministry to fellow inmates.

Campaign for Clemency

Kim Kardashian's Advocacy

Johnson's case gained national visibility through an unexpected advocate. In 2017, the digital media company Mic produced a video documentary about Johnson's case that went viral on social media. Reality television star and businesswoman Kim Kardashian saw the video and was moved by what she described as the unfairness of Johnson's life sentence for a nonviolent first offense. Kardashian posted about Johnson's case on social media, calling the sentence "so unfair," and began working behind the scenes to secure Johnson's release.

Kardashian partnered with Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law and senior advisor, who had made criminal justice reform a policy priority partly due to his own father's federal prosecution and imprisonment years earlier. Together, they worked to bring Johnson's case directly to the President's attention. In late May 2018, Kardashian traveled to Washington and met with President Trump in the Oval Office to personally advocate for Johnson's clemency.

Presidential Clemency and Pardon

On June 6, 2018, President Trump commuted Alice Marie Johnson's sentence, effective immediately, ordering her release from FCI Aliceville. Johnson had served 21 years, seven months, and six days in federal prison. The commutation meant her sentence was reduced to time served, but she retained her federal conviction and the associated civil disabilities.

On August 28, 2020—one day after Johnson delivered a speech at the Republican National Convention praising President Trump's criminal justice reform efforts—Trump granted her a full presidential pardon. The pardon eliminated her federal conviction entirely, restoring her full civil rights. "We're giving Alice a full pardon. I just told her," Trump announced from the Oval Office with Johnson present.

Post-Release Career

Criminal Justice Reform Advocacy

Following her release, Johnson dedicated herself to criminal justice reform advocacy, drawing on her personal experience to argue for changes to mandatory minimum sentencing laws and expanded clemency opportunities for nonviolent offenders. She became a visible supporter of the First Step Act, bipartisan legislation that Trump signed into law in December 2018. The law reformed certain federal sentencing provisions and expanded early release opportunities, representing the most significant federal criminal justice reform legislation in a generation.

Johnson founded the Taking Action for Good Foundation (TAG), a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping other incarcerated individuals navigate the clemency process and advocating for systemic sentencing reform. Through TAG, she has assisted numerous federal prisoners in preparing clemency petitions and raising awareness of their cases.

Author and Speaker

In May 2019, HarperCollins published Johnson's memoir, "After Life: My Journey from Incarceration to Freedom," co-written with author Nancy French and featuring a foreword by Kim Kardashian. The book recounts her childhood, the circumstances that led to her involvement in drug trafficking, her decades of imprisonment, and her unlikely path to freedom. A Kirkus review described the work as "a moving, inspirational story that makes a powerful argument for sentencing reform."

Johnson has become a sought-after speaker, addressing audiences about her experiences, faith, and advocacy work. She was featured by UN Women as part of its "Courage to Question" series ahead of International Women's Day 2019, highlighting her advocacy for including women's voices in criminal justice reform discussions.

Role as Pardon Czar

On February 20, 2025, during a Black History Month observance at the White House, President Donald Trump appointed Johnson to the newly created position of "pardon czar," making her the first person in American history to hold such a role. The position tasks Johnson with identifying federal prisoners deserving of executive clemency and making recommendations directly to the President. To assume this role, Johnson resigned from her position at Taking Action for Good (TAG), the criminal justice reform foundation she had founded following her own release from prison.

The appointment formalized Johnson's ongoing advisory relationship with the Trump administration on clemency matters. During Trump's first term, Johnson had already submitted over 100 clemency petitions and helped secure freedom for nearly 50 individuals, working closely with figures including Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and current Attorney General Pam Bondi. The new role gave her an official capacity to continue this work from within the White House itself.

Johnson has described the position as coming with "specific marching orders" from President Trump, who instructed her to "find people just like you that should not—this should not have happened." Her role specifically focuses on identifying candidates who have been "victims of lawfare," reflecting the administration's broader priorities regarding what it characterizes as prosecutorial overreach.

Appointment Context and Reception

President Trump announced Johnson's appointment during remarks at the White House, telling her: "You've been an inspiration to people, and we're going to be listening to your recommendation on pardons." Johnson accepted the position with gratitude, writing on social media: "I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve as Pardon Czar and for the trust placed in me to help those impacted by our criminal justice system. This role is a chance to offer second chances and restore hope to individuals who have paid their debt to society."

The appointment received praise from some quarters, including former Obama advisor Van Jones, who called it "very good" and noted that Johnson was "somebody who has actually been incarcerated, been in the federal system, understands how the Department of Justice screws over people who should be coming home."

However, the unprecedented nature of the position has also raised questions among criminal justice reform advocates. Insha Rahman of the Vera Institute of Justice noted that having a pardon czar "should cause some concern for people in the criminal justice reform" community, given the lack of clarity around the role's formal responsibilities and relationship to the established Office of the Pardon Attorney at the Department of Justice. Andrea James, founder of the National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls, expressed cautious optimism: "We're excited that one of us, a formerly incarcerated woman, has received this new position. But we aren't quite sure how to engage with it."

Stated Priorities and Criteria

Johnson has outlined several key priorities for her clemency recommendations:

• Community Safety: Johnson has emphasized that ensuring "safety in the communities" where prisoners may be released is a top priority when making pardon recommendations.

• Reentry Support: Rather than simply securing release, Johnson aims to guarantee that those who receive commuted sentences have "their best chance of success." She has stated: "I don't want to help people come home and then at the same time they're set up for failure."

• Follow-up Check-ins: Johnson has indicated that clemency recipients would receive ongoing support and check-ins—not conducted to "catch them doing something wrong but to make sure that they have things that will help them make right decisions," including mental health support and family and faith-based resources.

• Solid Reentry Programs: Johnson has noted that President Trump "wanted to know if they have a solid reentry program in place" when considering clemency cases.

• Focus on Nonviolent Offenders: Johnson has stated her intention to find people who "deserve this second chance who are similarly situated, not just like me, but who have served enough time, who have paid their debt to society."

Johnson has also indicated that she collaborates with Pastor Paula White Cain, who is involved in Trump's "Faith Office" promoting Christianity-based prisoner support initiatives.

Notable Cases and Progress

Since assuming her position, Johnson has been involved in numerous clemency decisions. In late May 2025, she celebrated a batch of 26 clemencies and pardons, writing on social media: "Today 26 deserving individuals were granted clemencies and pardons. Each one represents a story of redemption, rehabilitation, and resilience. Their second chance is a second shot at life." Johnson described her working relationship with DOJ Pardon Attorney Ed Martin as "tag teaming freedom."

Notable cases associated with Johnson's recommendations include:

• Carlos Watson (March 2025): The Ozy Media founder thanked Johnson for her role in securing a commutation of his sentence hours before he was scheduled to report to prison.

• Todd and Julie Chrisley (May 2025): Johnson was credited by President Trump for making possible the pardons of the reality television stars, who had been convicted of financial fraud and tax evasion in 2022. Johnson defended the pardons by claiming the couple were victims of "a weaponized justice system."

• Larry Hoover (May 2025): Johnson was involved in the commutation of the federal life sentence of the Chicago Gangster Disciples co-founder. Hoover's son and rapper NBA YoungBoy both credited Johnson for the clemency. Hoover remains in state prison serving a 200-year sentence for a separate murder conviction.

• NBA YoungBoy (Kentrell Gaulden) (May 2025): The Louisiana-based rapper received a pardon for weapons charges. Johnson told Fox News that her office considered Gaulden's upbringing in an impoverished neighborhood and the circumstances surrounding the firearms charges before recommending the pardon.

Criticism and Controversy

Johnson's role has attracted scrutiny, particularly regarding some of the clemency decisions with which she has been associated. Some political strategists have characterized her position as symbolic, with Ameshia Cross noting that Trump is "using somebody who can speak to the Black community, but it's also as a symbol." Critics have pointed to pardons of white-collar criminals and political allies that appear to deviate from Johnson's stated focus on nonviolent offenders who have rehabilitated themselves.

Former DOJ Pardon Attorney Elizabeth Oyer, who was dismissed in March 2025, has been critical of the broader clemency process under the current administration, testifying before the Senate in April 2025 about alleged "ongoing corruption" and claiming that the DOJ leadership "appears to value political loyalty above the fair and responsible administration of justice."

How to Contact Alice Marie Johnson or Submit a Clemency Petition

There are multiple pathways for submitting clemency petitions or seeking Johnson's attention:

Official DOJ Process

The traditional method for seeking federal clemency remains through the Department of Justice's Office of the Pardon Attorney:

• Pardon applications (for those who have completed their sentences): Available at https://www.justice.gov/pardon/apply-clemency
• Commutation applications (for those currently serving sentences): Also available through the same DOJ website
• Mailing address: Office of the Pardon Attorney, Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20530

Note: Standard DOJ guidelines suggest waiting at least five years after release from confinement before applying for a pardon, though these requirements may be waived in exceptional circumstances.

Taking Action for Good Foundation

Although Johnson resigned her formal role at TAG upon becoming Pardon Czar, the organization continues to operate and may serve as a resource:

• Website: https://takingactionforgood.org/
• Contact form: https://takingactionforgood.org/contact/
• Mailing address: Taking Action For Good, 5865 Ridgeway Center Pkwy., Suite #300, Memphis, TN 38120

Social Media

Johnson maintains an active social media presence and has historically engaged with clemency cases brought to her attention through these platforms:

• X (formerly Twitter): @AliceMarieFree (https://x.com/AliceMarieFree)

White House Contact

General White House correspondence may be directed to:

• White House website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
• Mailing address: The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is a "pardon czar" and is this an official government position?

The term "czar" is informally used in American politics to describe officials appointed by the president to oversee specific policy issues. The pardon czar position is not a formal cabinet position or established government office but rather an advisory role created by President Trump in February 2025. Johnson is the first person to hold this title. Her role involves making clemency recommendations to the President, working alongside but separately from the Department of Justice's Office of the Pardon Attorney.

Q: Does Alice Marie Johnson have the authority to grant pardons?

No. Under Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, only the President has the power to grant pardons and commutations for federal offenses. Johnson's role is advisory—she reviews cases and makes recommendations to President Trump, who makes all final clemency decisions.

Q: What types of cases does Johnson prioritize for clemency recommendations?

Johnson has stated she focuses on individuals who: (1) have served substantial time and "paid their debt to society"; (2) are nonviolent offenders; (3) have demonstrated rehabilitation; (4) have solid reentry support systems in place; (5) pose no threat to community safety; and (6) may have been victims of "lawfare" or prosecutorial overreach. She has also expressed interest in cases involving excessive mandatory minimum sentences.

Q: How is Johnson's role different from the Office of the Pardon Attorney?

The Office of the Pardon Attorney (OPA) is an official Department of Justice office that has existed since 1894. It processes clemency applications through a formal review process involving FBI background checks and input from prosecutors and victims. Johnson's pardon czar role operates outside this traditional system, allowing the President to receive recommendations through an alternative channel. President Trump has frequently bypassed the OPA process during his administrations.

Q: Can state prisoners apply to Johnson for clemency?

No. Presidential clemency power extends only to federal criminal offenses. Individuals convicted of state crimes must seek clemency from their state's governor or pardon board. For example, Larry Hoover received a federal commutation but remains incarcerated on a separate Illinois state conviction.

Q: What is Taking Action for Good (TAG) and is it still connected to Johnson?

Taking Action for Good is a nonprofit foundation that Johnson created after her 2018 release to help incarcerated individuals obtain clemency and support reentry. Johnson resigned from her role at TAG when she became Pardon Czar in February 2025 to avoid conflicts of interest. The organization continues to operate independently and may be a resource for those seeking clemency assistance.

Q: Does Johnson charge fees for clemency assistance?

Johnson has not publicly discussed fees associated with her work as Pardon Czar, which is a White House position. The DOJ Office of the Pardon Attorney does not charge fees to submit clemency applications. However, the broader clemency landscape has seen the emergence of private attorneys and lobbyists who charge substantial fees to advocate for pardons on behalf of clients.

Q: How long does the clemency process take?

Processing times vary significantly. Traditional DOJ applications can take years to receive a decision. Cases brought directly to the President through alternative channels like Johnson's recommendations may move more quickly, though there are no guaranteed timelines. Some clemency grants during the current administration have come relatively quickly after cases gained attention.

Q: How do I contact Alice Marie Johnson?

The best approach to reach the pardon czar is through individuals who are regularly in communication with her or her office. Prison consultant Sam Mangel, who has worked with Johnson on numerous clemency cases, maintains ongoing contact with her office and can help facilitate communication for appropriate cases. Alternatively, working through your criminal defense attorney—particularly one experienced in federal clemency matters—provides another pathway. You can also submit clemency petitions through the official DOJ Office of the Pardon Attorney or contact the Taking Action for Good Foundation that Johnson founded. Direct outreach via her social media presence on X (@AliceMarieFree) has occasionally resulted in engagement, though this is not a reliable method for formal clemency requests.

Public Statements and Positions

Johnson has consistently credited her Christian faith for sustaining her through imprisonment and facilitating her release, which she attributes to divine intervention. She has described the series of events leading to her clemency—the viral video, Kim Kardashian's intervention, the meeting with President Trump—as providential.

On criminal justice reform, Johnson has been an outspoken advocate for ending mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenses, arguing that such sentences are disproportionate and counterproductive. "I am proof that you can serve time, be rehabilitated, and come out and give back to society," she has stated in numerous public appearances.

Johnson has praised the First Step Act while noting that more reform is needed, particularly for those sentenced under the harsh drug laws of previous decades who remain incarcerated. "This legislation reformed sentencing laws that have wrongly and disproportionately harmed the African-American community," she said of the law.

In her memoir and public speaking, Johnson emphasizes the importance of maintaining hope and using incarceration productively. She encourages currently incarcerated individuals to develop skills, help others, and prepare for eventual reentry into society.

Terminology

• Clemency: Executive action by the President to reduce or eliminate punishment for federal crimes, including commutation of sentences and pardons.

• Commutation: A form of clemency that reduces a sentence, including release from imprisonment, while leaving the underlying conviction intact.

• Pardon: A form of clemency that forgives the offense entirely, eliminating the conviction and restoring civil rights lost as a consequence of the conviction.

• Mandatory Minimum: A statutorily required minimum sentence that judges must impose regardless of mitigating circumstances, limiting judicial discretion in sentencing.

• Structuring: The federal crime of breaking up financial transactions to avoid triggering the $10,000 reporting threshold for currency transactions.

• First Step Act: The 2018 federal criminal justice reform law that modified certain sentencing provisions and expanded early release programs.

See also

• Prison Consultants
• First Step Act: Overview and Implementation
• Presidential Clemency and Pardons
• Federal Good Time Credit Policies