Florida Attorney General James Usmeyer announced on Monday that Oscar Freemond Fowler III, a repeat offender whose federal sentence was reduced near the end of the Biden administration, has been taken into custody to face state charges.
Usmeyer stated via a post on X that, “We recently detained Oscar Fowler, a dangerous career criminal whose sentence was commuted by Mr. Biden’s autopen.” He expressed gratitude to the St. Petersburg Police Department and the ATF Tampa for their help with the arrest, emphasizing that the collaboration between local and federal law enforcement makes Florida safer.
Fowler was previously serving a 12-year and six-month federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to felony firearm possession and intent to distribute cocaine. Federal prosecutors had requested a prison term of at least 150 months due to Fowler’s extensive criminal history, arguing that he posed a threat to public safety.
Nevertheless, Fowler was included in a clemency measure on January 17, 2025, which saw more than 2,500 inmates have their sentences commuted under President Biden. A commutation lessens a sentence without erasing the underlying conviction, allowing Fowler’s release from federal custody.
There was notable criticism surrounding Fowler’s release, especially from the conservative Oversight Project, which claimed his criminal past contradicted the initiative aimed at nonviolent offenders. The group alerted Florida authorities, raising concerns about the risks posed by such “second chances.”
Mike Howell, director of the Surveillance Project, commented that Fowler is indeed a dangerous criminal who should remain incarcerated. His long criminal history spans over a decade, including the serious 2013 shooting death of Nike Bostic shortly after Fowler’s release from federal prison. Bostic, tragically, was found with 25 gunshot wounds. Although Fowler faced indictment, he was acquitted in 2017 after two prior trials resulted in miscarriages of justice.
There are ongoing investigations into Biden’s use of autopens for pardons and commutations during his administration, with critics questioning the legality of these actions. A federal sentencing memorandum referenced by critics claimed that Fowler admitted to the videotaped killing and indicated a willingness to commit violence again—factors that prosecutors have cited in seeking longer sentences in recent cases.
FOX News Digital has reached out to the Florida Attorney General’s Office for additional comments.
