President pardons two area residents
Updated: March 4, 2013
Update: 4:17 pm, 3/4/13, Monday
DECATUR -- After 20 years, a pair of business owners breathes a sigh of relief. Their records are wiped clean after a pardon from President Obama.
The President's only done this for a handful of people since he took office, so it's pretty rare. That's why these local business owners feel pretty good right now.
In 1993, John Kozeliski and Karen Ragee got in trouble for selling counterfeit goods. They own a screen printing shop and used logos without permission. They were each fined and served terms of home confinement.
But, they say that was a long time ago and wanted to put it all behind them. The only way to do that was a presidential pardon. John and Karen say they knew a pardon was a long-shot, but they took their chance and it worked.
President Obama pardoned 15 other people around the country as well. It means their records are wiped clean as if nothing ever happened. John and Karen say, even though they've still been in business in Decatur the whole time, this feels like a fresh start.
Original: 10:04 pm, 3/1/13, Friday
DECATUR -- President Obama granted pardons to 17 people Friday, two of whom are from Decatur. The President has only granted 39 pardons while in office.
Jon Kozeliski was charged with conspiracy to traffic counterfeit goods. He was sentenced to a year of probation and fined $10,000.
Karen Ragee was convicted on the same charge. She was sentenced to a year of probation and fined $2,500.
DECATUR -- After 20 years, a pair of business owners breathes a sigh of relief. Their records are wiped clean after a pardon from President Obama.
The President's only done this for a handful of people since he took office, so it's pretty rare. That's why these local business owners feel pretty good right now.
In 1993, John Kozeliski and Karen Ragee got in trouble for selling counterfeit goods. They own a screen printing shop and used logos without permission. They were each fined and served terms of home confinement.
But, they say that was a long time ago and wanted to put it all behind them. The only way to do that was a presidential pardon. John and Karen say they knew a pardon was a long-shot, but they took their chance and it worked.
President Obama pardoned 15 other people around the country as well. It means their records are wiped clean as if nothing ever happened. John and Karen say, even though they've still been in business in Decatur the whole time, this feels like a fresh start.
Original: 10:04 pm, 3/1/13, Friday
DECATUR -- President Obama granted pardons to 17 people Friday, two of whom are from Decatur. The President has only granted 39 pardons while in office.
Jon Kozeliski was charged with conspiracy to traffic counterfeit goods. He was sentenced to a year of probation and fined $10,000.
Karen Ragee was convicted on the same charge. She was sentenced to a year of probation and fined $2,500.
