In a stunning blowback to Joe Biden’s controversial clemency spree, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Monday that career criminal Oscar Freemond Fowler III has been taken back into custody to face new state charges, months after his 12-plus-year federal sentence was commuted by the Biden administration using the autopen.
Fowler had been serving a 12-year-and-6-month federal sentence after pleading guilty in 2024 to:
- Felon in possession of a firearm
- Possession with intent to distribute cocaine
Federal prosecutors had reportedly pushed for at least 150 months behind bars, citing his extensive criminal history and warning that he posed an ongoing public safety risk.
DOJ wrote at the time:
According to court records, in October 2023, officers from the St. Petersburg Police Department and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives executed a search warrant at Fowler’s residence. During their search, they located cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana. On the floor next to Fowler’s bed, agents located a loaded 9mm pistol that contained an extended magazine and 29 rounds of ammunition. At the time, Fowler had multiple prior felony convictions including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, aggravated assault, and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
“This is another example of how the ongoing collaboration with our state and federal partners assisted us in removing a dangerous felon and reducing gun violence in our community,” said Anthony Holloway, St. Petersburg Chief of Police.
“This is a major victory for the St. Pete community,” said ATF Tampa Field Division’s Special Agent in Charge Kirk Howard. “We’re proud to have contributed to putting this notorious and violent triggerpuller in federal prison for a long time.”
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David P. Sullivan.
Despite those warnings, Fowler was included in a January 17, 2025 executive grant of clemency that commuted the sentences of more than 2,500 federal inmates.
Hellbound and Down 