President Joe Biden has granted clemency to nearly 1,500 individuals, including five Indian Americans, in one of the largest acts of clemency in recent years. According to New India Abroad, the individuals were convicted of offenses ranging from fraud to drug-related charges.

The American Kahani compiled a list of the five Indian Americans granted clemency. They are:

Shelinder Aggarwal was sentenced to 15 years in 2017 for illegal prescribing of opioids, and health care fraud.

Meera Sachdeva, the founder of the Rose Cancer Center in Mississippi, was sentenced in 2012 to 20 years in prison and ordered to repay $8.2 million after being convicted of healthcare fraud, New India Abro

Babubhai Patel, convicted in 2013, was sentenced to 17 years for healthcare fraud conspiracy and drug-related violations.

Krishna Mote, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2013, was convicted of conspiring to distribute over 280 grams of crack cocaine and more than 500 grams of cocaine.

Vikram Dutta, in 2012, was sentenced to over 19 years for laundering millions of dollars for a Mexican drug organization through his perfume distribution business.

President Biden emphasized the importance of providing second chances to individuals who have demonstrated rehabilitation and remorse, saying, “America was built on the promise of possibility and second chances.” The clemency initiative also included pardons for 39 individuals who have shown positive contributions to their communities following their convictions.

This sweeping act of clemency highlights the administration’s commitment to addressing sentencing disparities and offering pathways for rehabilitation to individuals who have paid their debts to society.

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