Obama commutes East St. Louis man’s 29-year prison sentence

An East St. Louis man convicted in 2000 for distributing 28,000 grams of crack cocaine in a drug operation he ran from his home will be going home early from prison.

Ernest Spiller, now 63, was one of 61 federal prison inmates to have their sentences commuted by President Barack Obama Wednesday.

Two individuals from the St. Louis area also will see their prison terms end early.

A press release from the White House stated Spiller was convicted on two distribution of crack cocaine charges and one charge each of maintaining a crack house, possessing a firearm in the furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of a gun. His 29-year prison sentence began on Aug. 3, 2000.

Police in 2000 said Spiller had distributed about 28,000 grams — almost 62 pounds — of crack cocaine from a home where he lived with his wife and children. Spiller also had 15 guns in the house, two of which were assault-style rifles.

Spiller’s sentence will expire on July 28. He will have spent just shy of 16 years in prison. He’s most recently been housed in the medium security prison in Greenville, according to Federal Bureau of Prisons records.

St. Louis residents whose sentences were commuted include:

▪  Corey R. Thomas, who was sentenced to life in 2004 for possession with intent to distribute cocaine

▪  Terry Brown, who was sentenced to 20 years in 2005 for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and PCP

This story was originally published March 30, 2016 at 11:40 AM with the headline "Obama commutes East St. Louis man’s 29-year prison sentence."