The President of the United States has stepped in to lessen the federal prison sentence of a Spencer man.

Bethel Cheyenne Mooneyham, 48, was among three Tennessee residents who had their sentences commuted by Biden on Tuesday.

Mooneyham had already served time in state prison for drug offenses when he was hit with federal charges for conspiracy to manufacture and distribute 50 grams or more of actual meth, and distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture of a substance containing meth.

He was sentenced in federal court in the Eastern District of Tennessee on June 13, 2011 to serve 240 months, which is 20 years. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Mooneyham was scheduled to be released on Aug. 11, 2027. Federal time is commonly served between 80-90% of the total sentence.

With President Biden commuting his sentence, Mooneyham’s expected release is now this Aug. 24. According to federal records, he is serving his time in Pine Knot, Ky., at McCreary U.S. Penitentiary, a facility with 1,585 inmates.

Federal court officials contacted Wednesday were unable to say why President Biden decided to commute his sentence. Mooney-ham’s last appeal was filed in 2015 in a motion to vacate his sentence, but that motion was denied.

Court officials were unable to provide the name of an attorney who might be representing Mooneyham and who may have contacted the White House about commuting the sentence.

Two other Tennessee men had their sentences commuted by Biden on Tuesday. They are also in prison on drug charges and have served more than nine years.

The president also issued three pardons Tuesday. A pardon is complete forgiveness of a crime and it restores full rights of citizenship, essentially wiping out the conviction.

Commuting the sentence keeps the conviction intact but reduces the sentence. This is done if the president believes the punishment is too severe for the crime. 

The White House says it’s the first time Biden has used his power to pardon or commute.