How Kwame Kilpatrick is Using His Second Chance to Enrich The Lives of Many

My name is Joshua Bevill. I'm serving the 14th year of my 30-year federal sentence. I committed a low-level, nonviolent offense. Through creative manipulation of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, my sentencing range was inflated from 3 - 4 years in prison to 30 years to life in prison. Even federal prosecutors were taken aback by the Probation Department's calculation, prompting prosecutors to ask for an extraordinary downward variance, based purely on the 3553 sentencing factors, from 30 years to life in prison down to a 10-year sentence, arguing that warehousing me for decades for a low-level, nonviolent offense would serve no valid purpose.

No matter. In the end, the judge imposed a 30-year sentence.  I certainly deserve prison time.  But my sentence is overkill.  

With that, I know have a heightened sense of emphathy and compassion when I see others who are affected by the harsh federal system of justice.

While serving my time, I met Ernest Howard. Ernest is serving a 35-year sentence. He's been in prison since 1998! Ernest was convicted of a $150 marijuana offense. At his sentencing for the $150 marijuana offense, the judge used an UNCHARGED, UNTRIED murder to increase his mandatory sentence from 0 - 12 months in prison to 35 years in prison. That was 25 years ago. Ernest has been in prison ever since. 

Through my work on Ernest's case, he and I developed a close friendship that will last a lifetime, which is quite rare.

I learned about a remarkable man named Kwame Kilpatrick, Ernest's ex-cellmate, through my daily conversations with Ernest. President Trump commuted Kwame's 30-year sentence. It's what Kwame did with his second chance that really resonated with me. 

Kwame Kilpatrick is an ordained minister and motivational speaker who inspires dedication, service to others, and personal excellence to all who hear his message. Born and raised in Detroit, Kilpatrick was set on a path to greatness at an early age. 

He graduated with honors from Florida A&M University, passed the Michigan Bar Exam on his first try, and at just 26, was elected to the Michigan State House of Representatives. He was then elected to head the House Democratic Caucus, becoming the youngest person and first African American to lead a party in the Michigan legislature. 

Just five years later, Kilpatrick became the youngest mayor of Detroit and was soon christened the "Hip-Hop Mayor." At the peak of his political career, and with great expectations before him, Kilpatrick soon faced public scandal and the possibility of spending the next 30 years of his life behind bars.

A Fall from Grace

In 2008, Kilpatrick began facing a series of serious criminal charges, starting with eight felony counts of alleged perjury and obstruction of justice. Later that same year, while these other court cases were still pending, Kilpatrick was charged by the Michigan Attorney General with two additional felony counts in a separate case. The young mayor pled guilty to two counts of obstruction of justice and no contest to one count of assault and stepped down from office in September of 2008.

Bad turned to worse in 2010 for Kilpatrick when he was indicted on numerous federal charges, all while in jail for probation violation of his 2008 convictions. In 2013, Kilpatrick was convicted of two dozen charges, including racketeering conspiracy, extortion, bribery, fraud, false tax returns and tax evasion. He was sentenced to 28 years in federal prison.

Perhaps more dramatic than his sentencing was his climactic fall from grace. Many of his constituents and former colleagues found the details of his case a bitter pill to swallow. Numerous people came forward and testified about Kilpatrick enriching himself and those in his inner circle by rigging public contracts, shaking down businessmen, and pocketing hundreds of thousands of dollars while running one of the nation's most distressed cities. It wasn't just his freedom on the line but his character as well. Both were heavily sentenced.

While behind bars, Kilpatrick became a changed man and a role model to other inmates. To that end, he met a fellow inmate who asked him if he knew about Jesus Christ. A conversation ensued. And that was the spark, and a fire was lit inside Kwame. 

Anyone familiar with the parable of the sower knows about the seed (i.e., the Word of God) finding rich soil that produces 100fold fruit. That's Kwame—his heart is the good soil.

In prison, he found his faith and led many bible study groups, teaching classes and spreading messages of hope and faith to the other lost souls.

A Friendly Hand Reaches Out

Alice Marie Johnson had been serving a life sentence without parole for a nonviolent drug offense back in 1996. After serving 21 years in prison, she was finally released after Donald Trump granted her Clemency. Dedicating her life to helping others behind bars, Johnson championed the release of Kilpatrick, recognizing his transformation and passion for helping others. Kilpatrick was granted Clemency on President Trump's final day in office, ending his sentence 20 years early.

Since his release, Kilpatrick has set his sights on offering a helping hand to others. He began Movemental Ministries with a mission to spread the word of God through prayer, encouragement, bible study, workshops, and seminars and inspire others in their spiritual transformations.  

Kilpatrick was also recently named executive director of Taking Action for Good (TAG), a justice reform nonprofit started by Alice Johnson that has already advocated for more than 100 clemency and pardon applicants and helped 46 people get a second chance at life.

Kilpatrick has had a profound character arc, experiencing life's most scathing setbacks and glorious blessings. He understands he could not be in his current position, able to help others dealing with the severe ramifications of poor decisions, if not for his own fall from grace. "I don't believe you can have resurrection without crucifixion."

Haters are Going to Hate

Kwame's remarkable inward transformation has resulted in equally impressive outward results. This is the fruit. Yet some people refuse to acknowledge the transformative power of God at work in Kwame's life.

For instance, when Kwame recently filed a motion to end his supervised release early, he was attacked by his sentencing judge and prosecutor.

In a five-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds said that Kilpatrick "flatly" denies responsibility for his crimes and still owes $854,000 in restitution to the city of Detroit as of February, never mind that Kwame paid $1.5 million in restitution. 

Edmund also wrote in her opinion that a since-scrapped effort by Kilpatrick and his wife to raise more than $800,000 in donations for a home in a gated, luxury community in Florida "demonstrates a desire to resume his former lifestyle, rather than a focus on repaying the debts he owes."

Johnson said the so-called bid to raise $800,000 for housing was "twisted into something else."

Alice Marian Johnson had something to say about this gross mischaracterization. Johnson rightly describes this as a judicial officer's anger that Kilpatrick was given a second chance. "That is so untrue," Johnson said about the assertion that Kilpatrick has not changed. "So many times, people will be angry with you about the crime without looking at who he is today. Some judges and prosecutors are angry they got a second chance, and they end up trying to make life even more difficult."

Beautifully put, Ms. Johnson. I agree.

Let's face it. If Kwame sold all of his possessions and donated every penny he made so he could feed the poor, these same people would still attack him.  It doesn't matter what he does right—the haters are going to hate.  It's just what they do. 

I don't see a man who hasn't changed and is fixated on money; I see a man on fire for the Word of God who through his good works is earning and storing eternal treasure, that is, eternal rewards.  

Let's not forget that Kwame served 7 years in federal prison.  The President of the United States clearly saw flaws in his case, hence a sentencing commutation, 20 years early.

A Clemency grant is routinely used as a backstop for injustice that plays out in the courts.  Clemency is used to rectify unjust convictions and/or sentences doled out in federal court.  The President’s fresh, objective eyes can spot problematic aspects of a conviction and/or sentence, which is what happened here.

Remember, the same justice system who is still trying to cast Kwame in a bad light is the same justice system who sentenced Alice Maria Johnson to death by imprisonment, a first-time nonviolent offender. They wanted her to die in prison. Ruthless! 

The man faced adversity and came out of it bringing glory to God. 

Hate. Criticize. Judge him. But no judge, prosecutor, or anyone else can close a door God wants to open. And God is opening doors for Kwame. Kwame's certainly doing his part, so God is blessing the work of his hands.

I see a remarkable man who has used his second chance for good, who is living a crime-free life centered on enriching people's lives and helping his community.

The truth is, if he were so bad, he would be back in prison. But he's not. Instead, he's preaching full sermons and using the platform to bring a message of hope to people.

Kwame should be applauded. He's a walking, talking billboard for the use of Clemency. 

Keep doing what you're doing, Kwame. When people are hating, you know you're doing something worthwhile.