Monday, July 18, 2011

Danielle Metz, A Prisoner of the US Drug War

In 1993, at the age of 26, Danielle Metz was sentenced to serve three life sentences plus twenty years for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. It was her first conviction. Evidence suggests that Danielle never knew that her husband, Glenn, was involved in drugs. When they married, he was 30 years old and she was 18.

A Cry for Freedom, by Barbara Mae Bernard, Danielle's mother

I will never forget the day I awoke and the DEA had kicked my door in at the home I lived in for over 26 years. I had never experienced such a traumatic and embarrassing moment. It was as devastating as I later discovered Hurricane Katrina to be 13 years later.

I am the mother of nine children. I grew up in New Orleans, LA. The farthest I had traveled from that city was to Montgomery, Alabama, when I was a little girl with my grandmother who would take two of her grandchildren to Alabama on the train each summer when school was out. We lived a pretty decent life and my parents and grandparents were a hardworking, close-knitted family as was our neighbors in the community.

Danielle is the youngest of my children. She wasn’t there on that awful day when the DEA arrived and how thankful was I, that she wasn’t. I didn’t have a clue that my daughter would be facing such a sentence, 3 life sentences plus 20 years. I have traveled for 18 years twice a year, in June her birthday month and December for Christmas, to visit her in Dublin CA. I haven’t been with my family for Christmas since Danielle’s incarceration. However, that is just one of the many sacrifices mothers make when their children are in prison.

Danielle is a wonderful daughter and a beautiful mother. She wasn’t a young girl that ran the streets and got into difficulties. She strived to do things that would please her dad and I. Of course, I always expressed my feelings about people I met and I can’t ever say I was happy about Danielle dating an older man 13 years her senior. She tried to convince me that he was a gentleman and would help provide for her and her baby boy, Carl.

This was an experience I wouldn’t wish upon any Mother. I endured family members that were trying to convince me that my youngest sister, Angela, would testify against my daughter. I loved my sister and I didn’t believe the rumors until the trial began and I witnessed her take the stand for the government. She had great influence on Danielle and I warned Danielle numerous of times to separate herself.

I was forced to retire after working at G.H. Leidenheimer Bakery for over 41 years after Hurricane Katrina. My home and all of my worldly possessions was destroyed. For the first time in my life I was displaced and living from one place and one daughter to the next one for approximately 3 years. God blessed me to move back into my home that was refurbished in November of 2009.

I have matured into my senior years and my only desire is to see my baby, Danielle, free and home to share a laugh or two with me and her children before the Lord call me home to Glory. I have kept the faith throughout this ordeal and I believe that God is going to grant me my wish. With your Help you can join us by contacting your State Senators, and representatives and asking them to eliminate the Mandatory Sentencing Guidelines that are gravely affecting the African American communities. My sincere cry is for the freedom of my daughter.

21 comments:

Corey said...

Keep praying Bob's! Love u guys....

Anonymous said...

I have you and your family in my thoughts and prayers keep the faith !!!-S. Betters

Byron said...

May Gods will be done ,in Jesus name.



I'm Wilbert Daggs Nephew

Anonymous said...

#Just becasuse...

I Thank God for bring you to Life,
I Pray He correct your wrongs and continue to show you your Rights.

It's God who Knows,
It's was God the reason you rose.

I Know God will always bring Laughter to your sorrow,
Today Is already a Bless day, so let's not worry about tomorrow.

I though of you and to show you some Love,
I had to - #Just because.

There's "NO" where you can go
Or "NOTHING" you can do
That God don't know, for
He Is The "ALL Seeing Eye" that watch's over you.

God Is a "AWESOME GOD" -
So show your Neighbor some LOVE -
You don't need a reason - do It #JustBecause.

(The Real "P.O.L.O." - I have always kelp Danielle and her family In my prayer, may God continue to look over you and I pray God give you your wish...I would have left a number, but I thought this was a way to touch basic)

Anonymous said...

Why am I not surprised with that being in the state of Louisiana?!!

Anonymous said...

free Danielle Metz I pray everynite that she be able to go home to her children and family.... special prayers for her wonderful loving mother may god bless u all

Anonymous said...

i served time with daniel in dublin she is sich a nice person..i will keep her in my prayers

Anonymous said...

Is there a petition to sign.... stay strong..

Anonymous said...

Well my brother have been driving me to find this petition, to bring back parole and more good days..So with the grace of God i believe it and receive it...I cant find the petition for nothing, but i wont give up trying...Prayers are with you and your family!!

Unknown said...

danille we serve a big god i am praying for you one thing for sure i am glad i had a chance to get to know youthrough times like this we really need trust god thru good times and bad times hang in there ok

Anonymous said...

God bless this young lady, she has a strong will and God will see you through. .

Anonymous said...

It is a shame your aunt lied on you 2 be with her kids , but took you from your kids . The FEDS busted your aunt not you . So the aunt got busted and Danielle get life ! Injustice .

Anonymous said...

Please visit Danielle Metz on facebook ,to sign her petition! President Obama pardoned Clearance Aaron for the same charges ! Please pray for Danielle metz..

Anonymous said...

If it happened for Clearance Aaron , it can happened for Danielle Metz .
Please visit Danielle Metz on FB and sign her petition for freedom !

Anonymous said...

My God open doors with the key he holds oh mighty God let your blessings come threw for Danielle and her family in Jesus name Amen

Unknown said...

I only hope that her case was presented to Barack Obama so he may have mercy on her and grant her clemency

Anonymous said...

As I sit back and read this about Glenn and Danielle. I can remember the the day that they arrested Glenn. He was in Las Vegas. It was breaking news on every TV station in New Orleans for about a week straight. "The Metz Organization" I knew both of them personally. The only thing I can say is I was so surprised when they found Danielle guilty and gave 3 life sentences try the sentence as they gave Glenn. Which was not fair. It's time for that women to come home. She served enough time already. That fact that they was husband and wife got her convicted as equal as her husband is dead wrong. If the Federal Government claim they had Glenn under investigation for how ever many years they claimed then they would know how long Glenn and Danielle was even together. She's done enough time already. Let her go. Free Danielle Metz its only rite.

Unknown said...

Free Danielle Metz I'm reading all this and I can't believe that her aunt lied ND testify on her WOW THATS COLD ND HOW IS IT THAT SHE GETS ALL THAT TIME LIKE THAT AS A 1ST OFFENDER NEVER BEEN IN TROUBLE BEFORE I DNT CARE TO HEAR THAT THEY HUSBAND N WIFE THE FED KNO EVERYTHING SO THEY DAM SURE KNO THAT DANIELLE DIDNT DO R KNO 90% OF WHAT HER HUSBAND DID ND ANGELA YOU IS SO DOWN BAD FOR PUTTING YOUR YOUNG NIECE IN THIS PREDICAMENT YOU WRONG YOU WANTED TO BE DWN TAKE YOUR LICK MAN LOOK FREE THAT YOUNG LADY TO HER MOTHER ND KIDS PLEASE SHE DID TIME THAT SHE WASNT EVEN SUPPOSE TO BE DOIN ANYWAY BEHIND THEM OK IF SHE WHEN RODE WITH ANGELA THEY SHOULD HVE GAVE ATLEAST 2 AT THE MOST AS A 1ST OFFENDER OBAMA PLZ FREE HER ND YES I SIGN THE PETITION

Unknown said...

I don't know Danielle but I hear nothing but good things about her I have her in my prayers God is an awesome God and he will soon bless U with freedom keep your head up...love always kia

Unknown said...

I don't know Danielle but I hear nothing but good things about her I have her in my prayers God is an awesome God and he will soon bless U with freedom keep your head up...love always kia

Anonymous said...

Obama commuted her sentence.