'Florida Is Safer': Oscar Fowler Returned to Custody After Release Under Joe Biden Administration

Oscar Freemond Fowler III, a repeat criminal offender, has been taken back into custody to face state charges that has not been specified. He was repeatedly convicted by the federal for multiple criminal offenses, and was imposed for a lower sentence by the judiciary in the final days of the Joe Biden administration, said Attorney General James Uthmeier said in a post on X.

Uthmeier stated in his post on X, Fowler had been arrested and described him as a "career criminal". He said the arrest was carried out with the assistance of the St. Petersburg Police Department and the ATF Tampa, adding that cooperation between local and federal agencies had contributed to public safety.

Federal Charges and Sentencing

According to Fox News report, Oscar Fowler served a federal prison term of 12 years and six months after pleading guilty. He was charged in 2024 for criminal offenses of possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

The prosecutors sought a sentence of at least 150 months, denoting the felon's extensive criminal record and arguing that he continued to pose a risk to public safety.

Release Under Clemency Order

Among more than 2,500 inmates whose sentences were reduced under an executive clemency order issued on 17 January 2025 by Joe Biden. A commutation shortens a sentence but does not overturn the underlying conviction, and Fowler was released from federal custody as a result, despite those concerns about the danger he can bring to the public.

The president of the Oversight Project, Mike Howell, said to Fox News Digital, at the time that Fowler posed a serious public safety risk and argued he should have remained in long-term federal custody.

Prior Criminal History

The Court's record in 2024 sentencing shows that Fowler's criminal history extends back more than a decade. The most serious allegations relate to the 2013 fatal shooting of Naykee Bostic in St. Petersburg, which occurred shortly after Fowler was released from an earlier federal prison sentence.

Following the sentencing record it was also reported by NY Post that the repeat offender acknowledge the killing of Bostic, after it was revealed that the victim was found to have suffered 25 gunshot wounds and it was an indication of his readiness to turn to violence again.

According to court records in connection with the case, Fowler was charged but was released in 2017 after two separate trials ended in unfair trials. Prosecutors were unable to secure a conviction in either proceeding that lead the case being dismissed.

The remission result did not find him guilty or innocent, that can be reflected on the prosecution's failure to meet the required significant proof following the repeated attempts to bring the case to a conclusion.

Statements on Public Safety

Over at X, Attorney General James Uthmeier posted said move, confirming that Fowler has been taken into custody once again.

'Moments ago, we took Oscar Fowler, a dangerous career criminal who's sentence was lowered by Biden's autopen, into custody to face state charges,' Uthmeier stated in a post.

'Florida is safer because of our local and federal law enforcement partners!' he added.

In another post quote-posting a Fox News article of said arrest, he remarked how the Biden administration's use of the autopen is 'putting Floridians at risk by allowing dangerous felons back on the street'.

As part of this, Utheimer has directed the Office of Statewide Prosecution to review every auto-penned commutation and pardon from the Biden administration that affects Florida.

'If we can bring state-level charges, we will work with every level of government to do so. Auto-pen accountability starts today,' he concluded.

In a separate statement, Utheimer's office also noted that the arrest underscores Florida's unwavering commitment to pursuing prosecutions to the fullest extent of the law, even when federal clemency decisions—issued via autopen—attempt to override accountability and jeopardize public safety.