Sen. Hauschild Asks President To Rescind Clemency Of Former Duluth Headshop Owner Jim Carlson

DULUTH, Minn. — Minnesota Sen. Grant Hauschild (DFL-Hermantown) is calling on President Joe Biden to rescind his clemency ruling for former Last Place On Earth owner Jim Carlson.

Carlson is among roughly 1,500 people whose sentences have been commuted by Biden — people who were “serving sentences in home confinement during the pandemic and who have successfully reintegrated into their families or communities.”

(2017: FOX 21 Exclusive: Jim Carlson Breaks Silence From Prison)

Sen. Grant Hauschild

Carlson has been serving a 17.5-year sentence since 2014 for selling synthetic drugs, mislabeling products and money laundering.

Sen. Hauschild is among local lawmakers and public officials who are “shocked” to hear the 67-year-old convicted criminal is getting an early release.

Hauschild has written a two-page letter to President Biden that describes the pain the city of Duluth, its residents and business owners experienced during the final years of Carlson’s business on East Superior Street.

“I wish we could bring the folks that believe this clemency should have happened to the streets of Duluth during the last place on earth. I wish we could show them the folks that were lined up outside in sub-zero temperatures at the beginning of the morning to get the synthetic drugs that they needed right. I want to show them the people that were dying on the streets of Duluth due to the business that Mr. Carlson was running. I want to show them the hardship that our law enforcement went through to try to make sure that the streets were clean due to the impacts of what he did,” Hauschild told FOX 21 Monday.

St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay

Meanwhile, St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay, who was Duluth’s police chief during the crisis at LPOE, called the decision to commute Carlson’s sentence “concerning and frustrating.”

Below is Ramsay’s full statement on the issue:

“This case significantly impacted downtown Duluth while affecting countless individuals and families, strained public resources, and undermined the strength of our business community.

The decision to commute the sentence is concerning and frustrating, given the damage caused by Carlson’s actions.  It contributed to the spread of addiction, increased crime and hurt the safety of our neighborhoods. Local businesses, bore the brunt of the disorder that stemmed from his illegal activity.

Those on the front lines of public safety see firsthand the devastation caused by illegal drugs and drug related crime. Accountability is a cornerstone of justice, and leniency in cases like this sends the wrong message to those who exploit our communities for personal gain.

I want to reaffirm my commitment to combating drug related crime in St. Louis County. This decision will not stop us from continuing to pursue justice for victims, supporting those in recovery, and working with our business and county leaders to build a safer and healthier future.

As we move forward I urge lawmakers and judges to consider the voices of the families and communities most affected by those selling and distributing illegal drugs when making decisions about justice – prioritizing the safety and well-being of our communities and those we serve must come first.”