Obama has commuted the sentences of 348 federal inmates since he took office. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP)

President Obama granted clemency to 42 inmates Friday as part of an ongoing effort to release federal prisoners who are serving prison terms resulting from sentencing laws that the White House said were “outdated and unduly harsh.”

To date, Obama has commuted the sentences of 348 federal inmates. The White House said in a statement that the president will continue commuting the sentences of inmates through his seven remaining months in office.

Half of the inmates on Friday’s list had been sentenced to life for nonviolent drug offenses, according to the White House.

Obama has granted more commutations than the previous seven presidents combined, according to White House officials.

“Despite these important efforts, only legislation can bring about lasting change to the federal system,” wrote Neil Eggleston, the White House counsel. “There remain thousands of men and women in federal prison serving sentences longer than necessary, often due to overly harsh mandatory minimum sentences.”

One federal inmate who was released — but not under Obama’s clemency initiative — is Weldon Angelos, 36, a father of three from Utah who was sentenced in 2004 to a 55-year mandatory minimum prison term in connection with selling marijuana.

The specific circumstances of Angelos’s release are unclear because court records in his case are sealed. But after a long campaign from his supporters, including Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Angelos was quietly released Tuesday after a federal court granted him an immediate reduction in sentence. He was able to immediately go home to his family without serving three months in a halfway house, as those who receive clemency are required to do.

The release allowed Angelos to see the son he left at age 7 graduate from high school Thursday.

Angelos is one of the nation’s most famous nonviolent drug offenders and became a symbol of what advocates said was the severity and unfairness of mandatory sentences. His case was championed by the group Families Against Mandatory Minimums, former FBI director Bill Sessions, conservative billionaire Charles Koch and others. Three years ago, more than 100 former judges and prosecutors, former elected and appointed government officials, and prominent authors, scholars, activists and business leaders signed a letter urging Obama to grant Angelos commutation.

In February, former federal judge Paul G. Cassell, who sentenced Angelos, wrote a letter asking Obama to swiftly grant him clemency. Cassell said that the sentence he was forced to impose was “one of the most troubling that I ever faced in my five years on the federal bench” and that it was one of the chief reasons he stepped down as a judge.

But Obama never granted clemency to Angelos. The granting of mercy instead came from the Salt Lake City prosecutor who charged him in the case, according to his lawyer.

“After three and half years of inaction on Weldon’s clemency petition, he is free because of the fair and good action of a prosecutor,” attorney Mark W. Osler said. “He returns to citizenship because of the actions of one individual — just not the individual I was expecting. Weldon’s freedom is a wonderful thing but remains just one bright spot among many continuing tragedies.”

A White House spokeswoman said that the White House cannot respond with details about any individual clemency case.

Julie Stewart, president of Families Against Mandatory Minimums, called the release of Angelos “fantastic news and past due.”

According to the Justice Department, those whose sentences were commuted by Obama on Friday were:

Eric E. Alvarez, New York, N.Y.

Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base (crack); conspiracy to commit money laundering. Eastern District of North Carolina

Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (April 18, 2000)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016.

Dale Baldwin, Largo, Fla.

Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (three counts). Middle District of Florida

Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (June 28, 1995)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016.

Delaine F. Berg, Imboden, Ark.

Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. Eastern District of Missouri

Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (May 26, 1998)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016.

Phillip Blackwood, Ridgewood, N.Y.

Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; distribution and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Eastern District of New York

Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (Nov. 21, 2008)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016.

Wilhemina Bryan, Orlando

Offense: Conspiracy to import five kilograms or more of cocaine; conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Middle District of Florida

Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (May 21, 2001)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016.

Charrell Franklin Burrage, Davenport, Iowa

Offense: Possession with intent to distribute; possession of firearm in furtherance of drug-trafficking. Southern District of Iowa

Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (November 29, 2004)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016.

Christopher Shawn Collier, Midland, Tex.

Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute more than five grams of methamphetamine. Western District of Texas

Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (May 10, 2002)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire June 3, 2018.

Richard Eugene Dains, Porter, Tex.

Offense: Did conspire to manufacture methamphetamine; did knowingly and unlawfully possess in and affecting commerce, a firearm and prior thereto the defendant had been convicted in a court of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year; did knowingly use and carry a firearm during and in relation to a drug-trafficking crime, namely, conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. Eastern District of Texas

Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (Oct. 16, 1992)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016.

Douglas Ray Dunkins Jr., Fort Worth.

Offense: Conspiracy. Northern District of Texas

Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (Jan. 20, 1993)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016.

Ronald Gregory Farah, Boca Raton, Fla.

Offense: Conspiracy to import marijuana into the United States; importation of marijuana into the United States; conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana; possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Middle District of Florida

Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (April 30, 1997)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016.

Joe Mack Flowers, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine; possession with intent to distribute of 50 grams or more of crack cocaine; possession of a firearm during a drug-trafficking offense; convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Middle District of Florida

Sentence: Life plus 60 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (July 1, 1991)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016.

Ronald Glinton, Boynton Beach, Fla.

Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture and possess with intent to distribute cocaine; conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; possession of cocaine with intent to manufacture cocaine base. Southern District of Florida

Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (April 2, 1993)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016.

Gregory E. Graham, Denver

Offense: Distribution of cocaine base. District of Wyoming

Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release; $1,000 fine (Nov. 1, 2005)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016.

Teresa Mechell Griffin, Orlando

Offense: Conspiracy to possess cocaine powder and/or cocaine base with intent to distribute; unlawful travel in interstate commerce with the intent to promote, manage, establish, carry on or facilitate the promotion, management, establishment and carrying on of unlawful activity; distribution of one kilogram of cocaine (two counts). Western District of Oklahoma

Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (May 6, 1994)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016.

Larry Roscoe Gunnell Jr., Hightown, N.J.

Offense: Possession with intent to distribute crack and aiding and abetting. Eastern District of Virginia

Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (July 8, 1999)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016.

Marvin Hampton, Orangeburg, S.C.

Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; knowingly using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of, a drug-trafficking crime. District of South Carolina

Sentence: 180 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (Nov. 28, 2006)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016.

Cedric Jarreau Hawkins, Chicago

Offense: Distribution of 5.4 grams of cocaine base within 1,000 feet of a protected location after two or more prior felony drug convictions. Northern District of Iowa

Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (Feb. 1, 2008)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire June 3, 2018.

Cleon Jermaine Hawkins, Baker, La.

Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Middle District of Louisiana

Sentence: 180 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (June 5, 2008)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016.

Bennit Hayes, Jonesboro, Ga.

Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and five grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine. Northern District of Florida

Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release; $800 fine (Feb. 6, 2003)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016.

Patrick Henderson, Beloit, Wis.

Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base. Western District of Wisconsin

Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (April 13, 1998); amended to 292 months’ imprisonment (March 16, 2015)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire June 3, 2018.

Tony Jones, Tallahassee

Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (two counts). Northern District of Florida

Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (May 16, 1997)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire June 3, 2018.

Everette Bryant Law, Roanoke

Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine, to distribute crack cocaine with intent of carrying on unlawful activity, to distribute cocaine with intent of concealing proceeds of unlawful activity; distributing crack cocaine, aid and abet (three counts); false financial transactions to conceal proceeds of drug-trafficking crime. Western District of Virginia

Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (March 25, 1994)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016.

Gary Allen Lott, Oklahoma City

Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine (two counts); maintaining a residence to manufacture methamphetamine (three counts); possession of chemicals with intent to manufacture methamphetamine; use of a firearm in relation to a drug-trafficking crime. Western District of Oklahoma

Sentence: Life plus five years’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (April 5, 2000)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire June 3, 2018.

Kareem Martin, River Rouge, Mich.

Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base. Eastern District of Michigan

Sentence: 276 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (Jan. 18, 2007)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire June 3, 2018.

Nolan McSwain, Altadena, Calif.

Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Central District of California

Sentence: Life imprisonment (Dec. 6, 1993)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire June 3, 2017.

Sherman Ray Meirovitz, Minneapolis

Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine; conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. District of Minnesota

Sentence: Life imprisonment (Jan. 5, 1990)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire June 3, 2017.

Darran Lamar Moore, Miami

Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of cocaine base. Southern District of Florida

Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (March 22, 2005)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016.

Robert Pettway, Pensacola, Fla.

Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base. Northern District of Florida

Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release; $1,000 fine (Aug. 31, 2004)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016.

Patrick Kit Plumlee, Newport News, Va.

Offense: Continuing criminal enterprise; distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base (eight counts); use of a firearm in relation to a drug-trafficking crime; renting, leasing and making premises available for storing and distributing cocaine and cocaine base; money laundering and conspiracy (10 counts). Eastern District of Virginia

Sentence: Life plus 60 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (July 18, 1994); amended to 420 months’ imprisonment (Jan. 6, 2016)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016.

Shawn Antonio Pressley, Greensboro, N.C.

Offense: Possess with intent to distribute cocaine base (crack); carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime. Middle District of North Carolina

Sentence: 322 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (Jan. 23, 1998)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016.

Anthony Walter Puig, Land O’Lakes, Fla.

Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine; possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Middle District of Florida

Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (Dec. 18, 2002)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016.

Emlera Quince, Knoxville, Tenn.

Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (two counts). Eastern District of Tennessee

Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (June 30, 1997)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Oct. 1, 2016.

Jesus Ruiz, Kennedale, Tex.

Offense: 1. Conspiracy to distribute marijuana. Western District of New York

2. Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana; conspiracy to export marijuana. Western District of New York

Sentence: 1. 92 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (July 12, 1993);

2. 360 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (April 17, 1998)

Commutation grant: Prison sentences commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016.

Garrie Lavert Samuels, Groveport, Ohio

Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base; aiding and abetting distribution of more than 50 grams of cocaine base; aiding and abetting distribution of more than five grams of cocaine base. Western District of Texas

Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (April 8, 2003)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016.

Robert Lewis Sleepers III, South Bend, Ind.

Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; conspiracy to commit money laundering. Northern District of Indiana

Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (June 18, 2004)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016.

Almos L. Starks, Jacksonville, Fla.

Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute in excess of 50 grams of cocaine base; possession of firearms by a convicted felon. Southern District of Ohio

Sentence: Life imprisonment; six years’ supervised release; $20,000 fine (Oct. 5, 1995)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016, and unpaid balance of the fine remitted.

Phillip Maurice Thomas, Vero Beach, Fla.

Offense: Possession with intent to distribute at least five grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute at least 500 grams or more of cocaine; possession with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing MDMA or ecstasy; possession with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing marijuana. Southern District of Florida

Sentence: 292 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (April 8, 2005)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016.

Shane William Tuttle, Great Falls, Mont.

Offense: Possession with intent to distribute (three counts); use of a firearm during drug-trafficking offense (two counts); illegal use of communication facility (two counts); possession with intent to distribute cocaine. District of Montana

Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; four years’ supervised release (Sept. 14, 1994)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016.

Craig L. Watson, Jacksonville, Ark.

Offense: Conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of crack cocaine; distribution of cocaine; attempt to distribute cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base. Eastern District of Arkansas

Sentence: 276 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (July 10, 2006); amended to 240 months’ imprisonment (Dec. 15, 2011)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016.

Lawrence McArthur Webb, Salem, Va.

Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base and more than five kilograms of cocaine powder; distribution of cocaine (two counts). Western District of Virginia

Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (June 4, 2007)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016.

Danny Ray White, Garland, Tex.

Offense: Attempt to manufacture and manufacture of methamphetamine; attempt to manufacture and manufacture of amphetamine; possession of a three-neck round-bottom flask; possession of a listed chemical, ethyl ether. Eastern District of Texas

Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release; $11,000 fine (July 19, 1996)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire Oct. 1, 2016.

Julian L. Wyre, Chicago

Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base. Northern District of Illinois

Sentence: 204 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release; $250 fine (Nov. 6, 2008)

Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire June 3, 2018.