James Wynne -- #07361-051

10 Years -- Methamphetamine Conspiracy

Dear Brothers and Sisters of The Drug War,

This is a photo of a visit I had almost seven years ago with my wife and son. When I caught this case I left a wife and three children behind in the aftermath.

At the time they were ages 10 (Stephanie), 6 (Krystle) and 4 months (James Il). I have missed all of my sons' birthdays to date. I was sentenced to a minimum mandatory ten years for possessing over 100 grams of methamphetamine. I make no excuses for my crime or my sentence. I do feel my sentence was a bit extreme, however.

I knew what I was doing was wrong and I also knew that if caught I would go to jail. I was brought up to take responsibility for my own actions. This situation was no exception. Aside from the harsh sentencing guidelines, what angers me more is that people are not standing up to take responsibility for their own actions. People get busted and want to sell the farm and all their friends with it; in some cases life long friends. If it were not for the "snitch" this "Drug War" would not have advanced as far as it has as fast as it has. There is a tremendous lack of integrity and honor in this country.

The D.A.R.E program and others like it are doing their part to make sure these rare commodities are lost forever. They are nothing short of "rat" breeders for the government. If we continue to allow this to take place we are doomed as a nation. The First Lady wrote a book entitled, "It Takes a Village to Raise a Child." Wake up, America! It takes parents to raise a child. We need to teach our children ourselves and quit putting the responsibility on the school system and programs such as D.A.R.E.

There is nothing I can do to change what my actions have done to my family. They may not like the fact that I did not tell on my friends to get a reduced sentence, but they will have to respect me for the values I hold so dear. Honor and integrity are things no one can take from you. You have to give them up. Qualities the growing majority of prisoners have no right to lay claim to. I'm glad I can look my kids in the eye without feeling like I sold out my beliefs. I have let my family down in the worst way imaginable. I put a higher price on my drug dealing way of life than I put on them. That pains me to no end. For that I will be forever regretful. What's done is done.

I am now prepared to move on and do my part to make sure this does not happen to the next family. I feel it's my responsibility to educate my community and encourage parents to talk to their kids honestly. We need to encourage people to vote and vote wisely. That is the only way we can combat this monster. We can beat them at their own game by getting people like Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura into office. I believe the tide is turning in this country. The people may be waking up to this front they keep shoving down our throats about how they're doing this and that "For our children." Our children are NOT what they're concerned about. You can bet the farm on that one. I've been doing this number for almost eight years now. I'm approaching the end of my sentence and will soon be reunited with the family I left behind. I want to remind those few brothers and sisters who stood up and took their licks while remaining loyal to their values, don't make life easy on the snitches that are housed in your dorms or units.

It makes me sick when I hear, "Well, they didn't tell on me." or, "He doesn't do that anymore." Hey, guess what? Somebody is doing time somewhere because of his/her cooperation. There's a family somewhere without their loved one because this person helped put them away. Don't be a rat-sympathizer!! They don't need your sympathy. By giving sympathy you give them the rationale they need to make themselves feel better about what they have done. Surround yourselves with like minded people and let them pamper themselves.

A Drug War Prisoner (1991-Present)

My best wishes to the brothers and sisters in prison and their families.