Published: November 20, 2025
Author: Staff Writer
Kelvin Leshawn Adams, currently incarcerated at Johnson State Prison in Georgia, is serving a 43-year sentence for multiple convictions, including influencing a witness, pimping, possession of marijuana and methamphetamine, a false report of a crime, and racketeering under Georgia’s RICO laws.
While the offenses are serious, advocates are raising concerns that Adams’s sentence is excessive given significant mitigating circumstances, procedural irregularities, and issues with evidence handling. Adams was detained on February 20, 2019, after being a passenger in a vehicle traveling to Atlanta with three adult women. Allegations indicate he may have been racially profiled, as he was the first to be removed from the vehicle despite the driver lacking a valid license.
Adams spent approximately 38 months in Coweta County Jail without bond or scheduled court appearances. His attorney at the time reportedly visited only three or four times over four years and was unprepared for trial. Despite Adams submitting over seventy letters seeking updates and clarification, responses were minimal. The lack of preparation and communication with counsel likely affected the defense strategy and contributed to the severity of the sentence.
Questions regarding evidence handling have also emerged. Dash-cam footage and weather records conflict with officer testimony about road conditions during the traffic stop, and text messages used at trial may have been altered or mismanaged. Additionally, investigators allegedly interfered with witnesses, raising concerns about misconduct that could have affected both the charges and sentencing.
“Kelvin’s case is a stark example of how excessive sentences can result from systemic issues within the justice system,” said an advocate with Injustice Spotlight. “Procedural delays, mishandled evidence, and investigatory misconduct all played a role here. NPCS is actively pursuing a commutation for Kelvin because no one should serve decades for circumstances that could have been mitigated with fair representation and proper handling of evidence.”
Since his incarceration began in June 2022, Adams has pursued vocational and educational programs, including Culinary Arts and the comprehensive Craft Program, and has earned his GED. His disciplinary record is minimal, demonstrating his commitment to rehabilitation and readiness to reintegrate into the community. The length of his sentence has also resulted in prolonged separation from his family and children, adding personal hardship to the procedural issues already identified.
The National Parole and Commutation Services (NPCS) is actively preparing a commutation petition on Adams’s behalf, highlighting both procedural irregularities and the disproportionate nature of his sentence. Advocates hope that bringing attention to Adams’s case will encourage a review and provide him a path to return to his family and community.