How the First Step Act allows Robert Courtney to be released from prison

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Disgraced Kansas City pharmacist Robert Courtney is being released after serving only 22 years of his 30-year sentence.

Courtney admitted to diluting 72 medications for over 4200 patients, affecting more than 98,000 prescriptions. But he pleaded guilty to just 20 federal counts.

Prosecutors sought the plea deal because they considered his action a public health crisis and needed Courtney to tell all. At the time of the sentencing, prosecutors and investigators believed he would die in prison.

Earlier in 2024, however, families of Courtney’s victims learned of his upcoming release. They were told by a federal victim advocate it was due to the First Step Act, a relatively new prison reform bill allowing federal inmates to earn time credits off their sentences for good behavior. Its purpose is to help reduce the prison population for non-violent offenders.

FAMILIES OUTRAGED

Sherry Carrot was diagnosed with lymphoma when she was 32 years old. Her daughter, Santana Cummings, remembered what her mom endured.

“In that year span, I watched her go from a full-figured woman to a skeleton,” said Santana. “Her eyes were sunken. She was tired all the time.”

The family blamed cancer for Sherry’s decline. Years later, they blame pharmacist Robert Courtney for her death.

And even though Santana’s children never met “Grandma Sherri,” they remember her at events and special moments in their lives.

“I believe Robert Courtney is a sociopath,” said Santana. “I believe he’s a murderer.”

But according to the Board of Prisons, Robert Courtney is a “non-violent” inmate and, under the First Step Act, federal inmates earn “time credits” for good behavior.

“I don’t know how he even qualifies for the First-Step Act,” said Santana. “That’s my first question.”

Multiple families told KCTV5 that they were told Courtney qualifies. And he’s taken full advantage — earning more than four years toward an early release and now home confinement.

“Why can’t he just serve his time?” asked Santana. “Why is he being allowed to participate in the First Step Act?”

IS THE FIRST STEP ACT BEING USED OR ABUSED?

Missouri House Representative Emanuel Cleaver, D-Missouri, is among the lawmakers supporting the First Step Act. Every Missouri and Kansas Senator and Representative voted “Yes” when it passed in 2018. It was signed into law by then-President Trump.

KCTV5 Investigative reporter Angie Ricono asked Cleaver if he thought it was appropriate for Robert Courtney to be released under the First Step Act.

“No. He should not be released on the First Step Act,” said Cleaver.

The bill was widely supported as it was designed to ease overcrowding and allow non-violent prisoners to earn time off their sentences and be released early to home confinement.

But there is a catch — the law states that prisoners won’t be eligible if they are convicted of violent crimes.

Robert Courtney pleaded guilty to:

• Eight counts of tampering with consumer products
• Six counts of adulterating drugs
• Six counts of mislabeling drugs.

“They don’t see that the same as hitting somebody with a bat or stabbing somebody,” said Cleaver. “And I think that’s where the common sense must come in.”

Cleaver added that what Courtney did, “That’s violence.”

Santana Cummings couldn’t agree more.

‘We shouldn’t even be having this discussion right now,” said Santana. “He should be serving his full time in prison. If not facing murder charges.”

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