George Martorano

Who is George Martorano?

George Martorano is the longest-serving first-time non-violent offender in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. He is now serving his 31st year.

Martorano plead guilty to all 19 counts of his indictment of drug possession and distribution under the advice of his attorney Robert Simone. Martorano was advised by the prosecution and the judge that pleading guilty could mean receiving a life sentence. Prior to the date set for George Martorano's sentencing, Simone was indicted on tax evasion charges. The Honorable John Berne Hannum, who was the sitting judge in George's case, testified as a character witness for Simone prior to Martorano's sentencing. An article appeared in the Philadelphia Daily News criticizing the Judge and called his testimony "highly unusual."

On September 20, 1984, Martorano was sentenced to the longest prison term of any first-time non-violent offender to plead guilty: life in prison without the possibility of parole. The prosecution had only recommended 40 to 54 months. Martorano appealed this sentencing in 1987 and appeared again before Judge Hannum, receiving the same sentence. Subsequently, Martorano has filed over 35 appeals and all the new presiding judges upheld the sentence.He is currently on his 35th appeal for relief and has filed a Motion for a Compassionate release based on his extraordinary efforts to assist other prisoners with their incarceration and with re-entry. Currently the Attorney General is examining all non violent offenders serving long sentences noting that these are "not sustainable or just".