Black Man Serving Life: Dion Walker, Nonviolent Drug Offender
Written by William Bryant Rozier and co-interviewed by Virginia Richardson
Fort Wayne son Dion Alexander Walker attended Lane Middle School then, naturally, Snider High School, across Reed Road. He had a pretty good upbringing, he said. His mother, who has worked in the same field for 40 years, “did the best she could, raising me and my siblings.” Her job kept her away from home… away from the state, driving coast to coast. Walker’s father died when he was born due to a work-related accident.
In October 2005, Walker made what he described as “the worst mistake in my life,” when he sold cocaine to a lifelong friend, Jafus Fields, who had informed on Dion to the Drug Enforcement Agency. It was his third offense… a juvenile offense should’ve been precluded from the three strike rule but was included, unlawfully his lawyer contends.
Walker received two federal life sentences for the drug charges — nonviolent drug charges. Seven times he’s been denied on appeal. Recently, he had one reduced to time served due the new First Step Act passed by the Trump Administration. But Walker says the law doesn’t do enough.
“The problem with the criminal justice system,” Walker said, “is that the system is highly racially motivated. There are more African-American males incarcerated here than any other race. The majority are serving long mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug crimes.” Walker included.
His mental health is good. He has a good support system, including a new public defender who was jointly instrumental in getting the previously-stated life-sentence reduction. “I spend my days reading and focusing on my life after incarceration. I stay in daily contact with positive people that are involved in positive situations.” With that said, he’s positive his last life sentence will be reduced.
The Fort Wayne Ink Spot, with assistance from co-interviewer Virginia Richardson, Tilde Multimedia Firm, interviewed Walker via email.
Why doesn’t the First Step Act go far enough?
Dion Walker: The problem [with the law] is that it doesn’t help most of the nonviolent drug offenders that have been incarcerated for decades. President Trump let a handful of republican senators talk him into not making the new law retroactive and, in doing so, it left thousands of deserving drug offenders still waiting for their chance to be resentenced, [allowing them] while to [re-enter] into society.
What’s been the toughest part awaiting resentencing?
Walker: The frustrating part about resentencing is waiting for a judge’s decision on your freedom. It’s a tough feeling knowing that with everything you file, the prosecution will ask the judge to deny your request, even when the law is on your side, showing that you must be resentenced. It’s just the normal practice of a prosecutor to go against the defendant no matter what the circumstances are.
I sit here day after day and watch people who are convicted of sex crimes, who are mostly white males get released on almost a daily basis. It’s very frustrating because you see nonviolent drug offenders who are mostly African-American males convicted of nonviolent drug crimes sit here for decades. I’m not making any excuses for [my] drug crimes, but it’s a sad situation drug offenders face.
During your current incarceration what has motivated you to keep working toward getting released in spite of the many denials you’ve encountered?
Walker: I am fighting for my life so that keeps me very motivated. If I don’t do or say anything that I’ll probably spend my last days in this place. Another thing that keeps me and thousands of other drug defendants motivated… there are thousands of college students across the nation are helping out with the fight. They’re reaching out to federal drug defendants by writing and representing us with sentence commutations, urging congress to change these outdated sentencing practices for nonviolent drug offenders.
I have recently had Kim Kardashian West’s attorney, Brittany Barnett, get in touch with me after noticing my harsh sentence while doing research. Ms. Barnett assured me that her and her team of attorneys are urging congress at this moment to make Section 401 of the First Step retroactive in order to release thousands of nonviolent drug offenders that have long awaited some type of relief from these life sentences.
We are seeing many incarcerated individuals being released over COVID-19 concerns? Is that happening there?
Walker: This is one of the only federal prisons that no COVID-19 cases currently exist. In order for a person to be released due to the virus, you must meet all criteria and most nonviolent drug offenders don’t qualify because they have mandatory minimum drug sentences.
The prison has applied the government’s social distancing rules. All federal inmates spend two hours a day out of their cells in small groups. The prison has supplied the inmate population with multiple face masks and other prevention sanitizers.
What’s the overall feeling towards the pandemic from the incarcerated there?
Walker: Majority of the inmates here are scared. We all watch the news; we’re all very [much] aware of the risks. If COVID-19 gets in here and starts to spread, there’ll be a lot of people left behind. When we’re out of our rooms, we contact our families.
Anything else you want to say?
Walker: I just want to add this… to all black males that think that the drug trade is a good avenue to take, I pray and hope that you all will have a change of mind. If you have the energy to do all that it takes to make it in the drug trade, then you have more than enough knowledge and energy to start you a legitimate business. Life behind these walls is not life at all.
When you sit here and watch decades of your life pass you by, you [won’t be] the same young man that you [once were]. You not only have ruined your life, but [also] the lives of people that love you. The most precious jewel in life is your connection to your family and the ones that truly love you.
Interview was condensed for length.