With Ron Isley preparing to report and serve his sentence on August 7, time is running out to get the ailing singer a presidential pardon.
Isley was convicted of five counts of tax evasion and one count of failing to file a tax return.
He’s also extremely ill.
He’s also one of our cultural icons.
Does he deserve three years of incarceration?
I received the following letter from Def Jam:
LEND YOUR SUPPORT TO AN EXECUTIVE PRESIDENTIAL PARDON FOR THE LEGENDARY RON ISLEY AKA MR. BIGGS.
Join Def Jam today in helping to spread the word for the pardon of legendary American musician Ronald Isley. As a member of The Isley Brothers, Ronald Isley's career spans over 50 years, with countless accomplishments and a legacy of uniquely American music that has influenced everyone from the Beatles to Notorious B.I.G.
In an effort to protect Mr. Isley from incarceration for non-payment of taxes, we urge his fans to call, fax or email the White House immediately to help Ronald stay out of prison.
The situation is especially urgent because Mr. Isley is currently scheduled to report to begin serving a 3 year sentence on August 7th of this year.
In lieu of the recent charges brought against Mr. Isley, he is currently in the process of a total restitution of his financial obligations to the IRS. Mr. Isley has also offered to perform for troops at various military bases to help heal the country and show his support for their tireless efforts to protect this country.
It is important to point out that Ronald Isley has no prior criminal record, and has been a law-abiding, taxpaying employer since 1956. There is also concern that due to a variety of health issues, (Mr. Isley suffered a stroke in 2004 and was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2006) without proper care Mr. Isley's health could decline further and there is genuine concern as to whether he could survive a lengthy incarceration.
Ronald Isley & The Isley Brothers are an important part of this country's musical history and a part of the Def Jam family so let's band together to keep one of our living legends out of jail.
See the links and numbers below for ways you can show your support:
1. To contact the President of the United States:
Call: 1-202-456-1414
Fax: 1-202-456-2461
Email: president@whitehouse.gov
2. To contact The Congressional Black Caucus:
Go to www.congressionalblackcaucus.net
Click on “meet reps” and find your representatives.
3. To contact your local senator or congressperson: www.congress.org
Take Action
There is, at this point, little over a week to take action if you want to help Ron Isley avoid prison time. If Scooter Libby can be pardoned, why not Ron Isley? Hasn’t Isley done more for our society?
