REST IN PEACE CHARLES CUNDIFF
When Charles “Fred” Cundiff got a commutation from Obama and was released his first call was to VOWD Secretary Beth Curtis. He said: MIss Beth, I never should have gotten out.” He was about 70 then. Beth went to Florida to visit him in the half-way house. According to Beth, it was such that she “would not keep my dog in it.” He was there for a year and then we got the Stanford Project to get him into a residence hotel in Ocala, Florida. When inside of prison he constantly said he just wanted to get out and see his kids and grandchildren before he passed; however, once out they abandoned him and he died alone. We saw to it that his ashes were spread onto the Ocean in his beloved Florida.
THANKS TO CAN-DO FOUNDATION.COM & LIFE FOR POT,COM FOR THE FOLLOWING:
Charles Frederick Cundiff, #643011-112
Offense: 2 Counts of Conspiracy to Import and Distribute Marijuana
Sentence: Life Without Parole – Natural Death
Incarcerated Since: 1991
Date of Birth: 7/3/46
Family: 2 Daughters, 1 Son, 9 Grandchildren; 5 Great-Grandchildren; 2 Great-Great Grandchildren.
Charles Cundiff was traveling to Tallahassee to buy some marijuana in 1991. He was working at Windy Pines Plant Nursery and had a wife and three children. By anyone one’s definition, he was a family man. When Charles arrived he was arrested in what can only be described as a reverse sting involving 9 individuals.
Charles was by no means a principle in this sting, and did not feel he should be charged for all the elements of the conspiracy, he said he was only going to buy some pot. He decided to go to trial. When all the prosecutions were over it was not surprising that Charles was the only conspirator who received a sentence of life without parole. He had set his sights on justice and taken his chances with a jury. Co-conspirators testified against him per their plea agreements.
The conspiracy statute that holds one person responsible for the crimes of others, set the stage for the guilty to go free at the expense of anyone who goes to trial.
Charles had three minor priors in the 70s and 80s for growing and possessing marijuana, but aside from that he had basically supported himself and his family through employment. He had been a construction worker, managed a stereo store, mortgage sales and most recently the plant nursery.
As Charles lived out his final days behind bars and razor wire, all those participants in the conspiracy were free, even the individual identified by authorities to be the principal distributor and broker for the ring. He did not roll the dice with a jury swayed by prosecutorial over charging.
Fred Cundiff paid the ultimate price for exercising his Constitutionally guaranteed right to a trial by jury.
REST IN PEACE CHARLES.
