Man who served more than 20 years in marijuana case has sentenced commuted by governor Updated Feb 05, 2021; Posted Dec 22, 2020 Michael Alonzo Thompson, who has been incarcerated in state prison since 1996 on charges related to a drug and weapons incident, is shown in this photo from the Michigan Department Of Corrections' web site Facebook Share FLINT, MI — After serving 25 years behind bars, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has granted Michael Thompson’s request for clemency. Thompson, 69, is serving a 42- to 62-year sentence after he was convicted of selling three pounds of marijuana to an undercover informant in December 1994. On Tuesday, Dec. 22, Whitmer granted Thompson’s and three others requests for clemency after reviewing the applications and recommendations by the Michigan Parole Board.