The Cleveland 4 were four Occupy Cleveland activists, Brandon, Connor, Doug and Joshua “Skelly” Stafford. They were arrested on April 30th, 2012. They were accused of plotting a series of bombings, including that of an area bridge. However, the real story is that the FBI, working with an informant, created the scheme, produced the explosives, and coerced these four into participating.
Connor, Doug, and Brandon took non cooperating plea deals and plead guilty to all charges. The judge applied a “terrorist enhancement” charge to each of them, elongating their sentences as well as subjecting them to harsher prison conditions. Doug is serving 11.5 years, Brandon 9 years 9 months, and Connor 8 years 1 month.
Skelly took his case to trial. He went pro se and acted as his own lawyer. The FBI offered him a non cooperating plea deal with a 3 year sentence, if he would have plead guilty. Josh refused to plead guilty to something he wasn’t guilty of doing. He was found guilty on all counts by his jury and sentenced to 10 years. Even though Skelly had the most minimal role, he got the second longest sentence because he took his case to trial.
Doug, Brandon and Connor plead without an agreement while facing the threat of life in prison. On appeal of there sentencing they were primarily fighting against the life long probation that was handed down at sentencing. Doug also fought against being branded the leader. After months of waiting for a verdict on the appeals, we got word back. The appeal have been denied.
Due to the delay in taking his case to trial pro se, Josh’s initial direct appeal is yet to be heard.
They all continue to fight against the government’s attempt to brand them as terrorists and to expose the techniques of entrapment employed by the FBI and their informants.
ALL of the defendants are in need of a variety of post-conviction support. Visit the support site for more info.
Brandon Baxter
#57972-060
FDC Oakdale
P.O. BOX 5010
Oakdale, LA 71463
Connor Stevens
#57978-060
FCI McKean
PO Box 8000
Bradford, PA 16701
Doug Wright
#57973-060
USP Coleman 1
PO Box 1033
Coleman, FL 33521
Joshua Stafford
#57976-060
USP Tucson
P.O. BOX 24550
Tucson, AZ 85734
Solidarity with the Cleveland 4!