Former Presidio County Sheriff Richard Dee Thompson who was sentenced to life in prison in 1992 for drug smuggling may be released as early as 2018 the Gazette has learned.
In February 1992 Thompson pleaded guilty to “Conspiracy to Import an Excess of 5 Kilograms of Cocaine into the United States in violation of 18 U.S.C. S. 963.”
In a plea agreement reached in 1992, Thompson agreed to having imported no more than 2,400 pounds of cocaine.
On May 8, 1992 United States District Judge Jerry Buchmeyer sentenced Thompson to life in prison,
Fast forward to May 11, 2015. In a Motion for Sentence Reduction filed by Thompson’s attorney Michael King of Lubbock, Thompson and his attorney request a reduction for sentence based on new federal sentencing guidelines. Thompson “respectfully requests the Court reduce the sentence originally imposed to 360 months imprisonment.”
On November 18 of last year, the motion for the reduction was granted by Judge Robert Junell, United States District Judge and the “defendant’s previously imposed sentence for imprisonment” is reduced from LIFE to 360 months.
King told the Gazette the Federal Bureau of Prisons has a release date of April 18, 2018 set for Thompson and he is currently held at the Oklahoma City FederalTransfer Facility. Thompson, 69 will be in his early 70’s when released.
According to King, the Bureau of Prisons may grant Thompson a “good time credit” and receive as much as 15% off of his current 360-month sentence.
In the Motion for Sentence Reduction filed by King and obtained by the Gazette, Thompson has completed 76 classes while in prison as a testament to his good behavior including, Seven habits of Highly Ellective People, Get A Job, Creative Writing, Middle East History, Investments (x2) Stocks Bonds, and About Mexico.
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