http://famm.org/cynthia-powell/
Federal prosecutors have recently been ordered to seek lengthy mandatory minimum sentences in every case they can.
Experience teaches that these laws hurt families by locking up moms and dads for too long, even when they pose no threat to public safety. Moms like Cynthia Powell, who sold 35 pain pills to an acquaintance for $300 to make ends meet one month. That acquaintance turned out to be an informant.

Cynthia Powell, who never had sold drugs nor had been arrested for anything in her life, received a 25-year mandatory minimum prison sentence! Her judge knew it was wrong, but he had no choice because it was a mandatory sentence. That was 15 years ago. Cynthia will be away from her daughter for another decade.