We are deeply saddened to announce that LPP constituent Kevin Allen has been failed by the Louisiana judicial system yet again. On Wednesday, May 31st, Kevin was dealt a devastating blow as the court imposed a new sentence of 35 years of hard labor.

His crime? Selling $20 worth of cannabis to an undercover informant.

In 2014, Kevin was found guilty by a split jury and initially sentenced to 10 years of hard labor but the state filed for an enhancement of punishment under the state’s habitual offender laws. Because Kevin had previous drug charges (none of them violent), Kevin was resentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.

Given Louisiana has passed legislation eliminating the possibility of jail time for low-level marijuana possession offenses like Mr. Allen’s, (as well as the fact that the state is currently raking in taxes from its booming medical marijuana industry) we feel strongly that Mr. Allen’s punishment is still not commensurate with the seriousness of the crime. 

Kevin Allen should be a free man. Instead, he’s been repeatedly denied justice by the state of Louisiana. We cannot let this continue.

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While District Attorney J. Schuyler Marvin has the power to set Kevin free, his office has instead been uncooperative — and required Kevin to go back to court to argue his case yet again, resulting in this unjust decision.⁣

This weeks resentencing comes after the Louisiana Supreme Court (LASC) vacated Kevin Allen’s life sentence on November 1, 2022. LASC reversed Kevin's trial court ruling, which denied his application for post-conviction relief, and remanded his case to the 26th Judicial District Court, instructing them “to re-sentence Mr. Allen to a term of imprisonment that is not unconstitutionally excessive.”

Kevin's resentencing reveals the deep-rooted flaws and inconsistencies within the legal system, particularly when it comes to non-violent cannabis offenses. 

Since we launched our #FreeKevinAllen campaign, Louisiana has expanded the number of medical dispensaries in the state (medical sales are expected to reach between $90 million and $110 million by the end of the year) and enacted legal protections for state workers who use cannabis. In fact, some Louisiana politicians are even applying for licenses themselves. 

The Last Prisoner Project will continue to tirelessly highlight the urgent need for comprehensive reform to address the disparities and bring about a fairer and more just approach.

We are grateful for the work of Kevin’s legal team and of all advocates who have helped shine a light on Kevin’s story. 

We will provide further updates on how you can best help advocate for Kevin in the coming weeks.