A man with a long criminal record, whose federal sentence was shortened by the Biden administration, has been arrested again in Florida, officials say.
Oscar Freemond Fowler III was taken into custody on Monday due to state charges that haven’t been detailed. Florida Attorney General James Usmayer shared the news on X.
“Just moments ago, we took Oscar Fowler, a dangerous career criminal whose sentence was commuted by Biden’s autopen, into custody to face state charges,” Usmayer posted late Monday.
He added that “Florida is safer thanks to our local and federal law enforcement partners!” recognizing the St. Petersburg Police Department and the ATF Tampa for their roles in the arrest.
Fowler had pleaded guilty in 2024 to being a felon with a firearm and for selling cocaine, serving a 12-and-a-half-year federal sentence which was commuted by Biden at the end of his presidency.
Federal prosecutors had sought a sentence of at least 150 months, citing Fowler’s extensive criminal history and the danger he posed to the public, as reported.
Despite these concerns, he was among over 2,500 inmates whose sentences were commuted by Biden on January 17, 2025. The commutation reduced his sentence but didn’t erase his conviction, effectively releasing him from federal custody.
Fowler’s criminal background goes back more than ten years, involving serious felonies linked to the 2013 shooting death of Nike Bostic in St. Petersburg, which occurred shortly after Fowler’s previous release from federal prison, according to court records.
While he was charged in that case, he was acquitted in 2017 following two significant legal failures. Critics have pointed to a 2024 sentencing memorandum indicating that Fowler allegedly admitted on video to killing Bostic, who had suffered 25 gunshot wounds, and hinted at future violence.
The St. Petersburg Police Department, alongside the Florida Attorney General’s Office, has not yet responded to inquiries about the reasons for Fowler’s latest arrest.
