March 27, 2008

(AP) President Bush has reduced the sentence of a Portsmouth woman who has been in federal prison since 1992 on drug charges and for illegal food-stamp use.

Patricia Beckford will be released July 24 after serving 16 years of a 23-year sentence.

The 48-year-old Beckford is in a federal prison in Florida for conspiracy and attempt to distribute more than 50 grams of crack cocaine and for unauthorized use of food coupons.

U.S. Justice Department spokesman Erik Ablin said Beckford applied for the sentence reduction herself. The department would not comment on why the decision was made to commute her prison time.

The Justice Department said after she leaves prison, Beckford still must complete a five-year supervised release.

Ablin said sentence reductions like the one granted Beckford are rare.