BUSH - RAPPER FORTE RELEASED

RAPPER FORTE RELEASED

Rapper JOHN FORTE has vowed to help young people "understand they have options" following his release from a New Jersey federal prison on Monday (22Dec08) after his sentence for drug-smuggling was reduced by U.S. President GEORGE W. BUSH.
The Grammy-winning producer and rapper, 33, spent seven years behind bars after he was found guilty of cocaine smuggling in 2001.
Forte, an affiliate of the Fugees, was arrested at New Jersey's Newark International Airport in 2000 with a suitcase containing $1.4 million (GBP945,945) worth of the drug, and was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
He has always maintained his innocence and turned down a variety of plea deals. He learned of the American leader's commutation on 24 November (08), after a fellow inmate saw it reported on CNN.
Forte's close friend, singer Carly Simon, has also long campaigned on his behalf.
His lawyer, Aarti Tandon tells the New York Post, "He wants to help young kids understand they have options and help deter them from making some of the mistakes he made."
Forte still faces the possibility of five years of supervised probation.