ERIC MCCAULEY

Incarcerated: 2008   |  Sentence: 23 years

Compassionate Release on 6/24/21

Eric McCauley is a first-time marijuana offender serving 23 years in federal prison. When Eric was sentenced in 2012, his son, Ethan, was only 5 years old. Today, Ethan, along with Eric’s mother, is advocating for Eric’s release with help from The Weldon Project. 



A federal jury convicted Eric McCauley on four counts of marijuana trafficking and 26 counts of money laundering as part of his role in distributing marijuana in Boone County, Missouri. In the time since McCauley was convicted and sentenced, most states, including Missouri, have legalized cannabis in some form.


“To have my dad back in my life would be the best gift I could ever get,” said Ethan McCauley. “My dad was taken from me when I was in Kindergarten, and I've dreamt of him being able to see me graduate. Before he became incarcerated, he was a huge part of my life. Even during his time away from me, he has kept our relationship strong and made sure I feel loved. I look forward to the day I can hug my father and we can talk without a time limit."

In 2020, advocates with the nonprofit The Weldon Project included Eric's name on a list of 25 marijuana offenders sent to the Trump White House as part of a clemency campaign supported by Republicans, Democrats, law enforcement and various celebrities. 


Although President Trump granted nine of the requested pardons, Eric's request was not granted.


In April 2021, former U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom filed a motion on Eric’s behalf for compassionate release under the First Step Act, a criminal-justice-reform law enacted in 2018. 


“We hope to see Eric granted release through this pathway and hope to see further systematic action by the Biden administration on marijuana-offender clemency,” said Weldon Angelos, president and co-founder of The Weldon Project.

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Lend your voice to call for justice reform. Learn some simple things you can do to help advocate for those serving time for cannabis offenses.

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Donate to MISSION [GREEN] to ensure we can continue advocating for the release of individuals serving time for cannabis offenses and help create pathways to pardons or expungement. 

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