I been incarcerated for 16 years on a life+ sentence. I was charged with conspiracy to commit murder for hire, aiding and abetting murder for hire, possession of a firearm furtherance of a crime of violence and conspiracy for felon to possess a firearm. I recently filed 2255 and the appeals court allowed me to seek relief.  The court directed my case back to the District Court of 8th circuit.   I have been waiting for the judge’s decision since November 2020.   I filed my petition under the Davis case and filed for compassionate release.  I filed for clemency back in 2018 it has been pending. At the age of 25 and single, I raised 4 children, (3 boys and I girl), in Caruthersville, MO.  My mom raised 7 girls being a single mom. My dad was not present often in our lives, lacking male guidance, however I did know him.  Our family remained close with his absence.  I worked at a young age to help purchase school clothes for my siblings.  It was hard raising my children without the support of their dad, but I was determined to be the best mom I possibly could be. Quitting was not an option; my children have always been all I ever had to live for. I met my Co-defendant in 1999 of September and we dated on and off. Because he did not abuse me (as I was in other relationships), I thought he was different and “the one.”  He was willing to help with my children and help me pay my rent, which led me to trust him enough to invite him in my life.  I figured I had found the love of my life.   Things changed after being charged with a drug charge early 2000 and went to jail.  I continued to visit him as much as I could. He asked me to marry him while he was in jail and I did.  Not long afterwards I realized I had made a mistake; he began to change and became demanding and verbal abusive.  I continued to deal with it, although I could see my life as well as my children’s lives changing. Everything happened so fast without me even noticing. I was arrested in 2001, (the charge was conspiracy to commit murder), for four months.   The charge was later dismissed, and I was released.  In 2003, I moved to Powder Springs, Ga, and my family was happy.  As a single mom, again, I worked and started going to nursing school to better myself for my kids. My children were happy and participating in various school events. In 2005, I was reindicted and charged with conspiracy to murder, the previous charge dismissed.  I was told the reason why I was reindicted was because I refused to testify against my then husband and his friend. The issue was not that. The prosecutors wanted to change my story and add whatever they wanted me to add (untrue statements).   When they did not get what they wanted from me, they reindicted me.  I was on pretrial until 2006 (which at the time pretrial offered me 6 years).  I took the case to trial.  During the trial, I was offered 15 years, even 20 years, but I still proclaimed my innocence and would not agree to those terms.  I lost the trial, and the judge told me at sentencing I had plenty of opportunities to have a lower sentence.  This is the same judge where I have filed my appeals and waiting on a decision and have no clue what his ruling will be this time.     Because my case falls under a “violent” case, I am unsure if I qualify for clemency.  The man whom the government accused me of conspiring with, the one who supposedly killed the man who died, was found not guilty at trial, and only found guilty of conspiracy charges, along with my husband at the time.  In 2006, I went to trial, found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. My life was destroyed once again.  My children were so devasted, (at this time, they were older than they were in 2000 and 2001, 13,11,10 and 7, they are all grown now).  When I call home to talk to my mom and children, this is the most hurtful pain one can ever feel.  We experience a lot of crying times on the phone. My children became angry, resentful, and mentally messed up because of my incarceration. The visit has never been enough for us. I had to pull myself together because I refused to allow my LIFE sentence to be a death sentence, to me nor my family.  My children have suffered due to my imprisonment and I have missed many graduations, proms, games, meeting with teachers, etc.  I thank God my mom stepped in to take good care of my children in my absence.  My family biggest fear is the possibility of me dying in prison and my biggest fear is the possibility of me losing one of them while I am in prison.  I have grandchildren now and would love to be a part of their lives.  My family is hurting, still 16 years later, they hurt. My grandson is being bullied and I cannot talk to the parents or principle.  I have missed a lot from their life, and I feel so ashamed.  I desire a chance, a second chance, to regain what I have lost with my family, to hug my mother, to talk to her, to see her.  She worries so much about me, which is natural of a mother.   I started parenting my kids from prison.  My son Georgie chose to go to college, but he still struggles daily, carrying a hole in his heart without my presence.  I am always encouraging him to keep striving.  It would mean the world to him for me to be able to go to his football games, to see him get drafted for NFL, to see him fall in love.  I missed all those things with my 3 oldest kids.  I want to help raise my grandkids. My only daughter is hurting as well.  When we talk, I hear her pain and what she is going through without me there and it breaks my heart because she blames me for not being there for her. She was 10 when I left, now she will be 25 in July. I have stayed out of trouble while being in prison and I have kept a job during my prison sentence. I have been programming and taking courses that will help me with employment once I am released.  I look forward to helping my family and others. I plan to work and go back to school.  I am a changed woman, I think different, and I know how to make better choices for my life. I have made mistakes in the past and take responsibility for my mistakes, but I do not deserve a LIFE SENTENCE. While incarcerated in prison since 2007, I began programming and taking many classes as possible to help stimulate my mind. I started out in S.F.F in Hazelton with Ace classes and recreation classes. I took computer classes and graduated. I enrolled in college course implemented in the prison (Business Administrative).  I also was accepted in Life by Design program for a year. It was a great program with daily classes, Conflict of Interest, True Colors, Law of Attraction, etc. I worked in commissary for 4 years. I was in Hazelton for 7 years. I was transferred to FCI Aliceville in 2013, again I enrolled in Computer 1 and 2 and Ace classes.  I was also a suicide companion. I took various recreation and religious service classes. In FCI Tallahassee, I enrolled in Business Administrative Program and graduated, Culinary Arts(certified), Computer classes, and various recreation classes. I taught health class and step aerobics class.  In religious services, I took Boundary. I worked as a recreation orderly and laundry worker.  Currently I am housed at FMC Carswell and have been working in commissary for 2 years. I am enrolled in Office Management Apprenticeship, which I have almost completed.  I have taken Ace classes here. I am also an instructor and teach Fit for Life in Recreation and a Health class Instructor.  I am waiting on Orientation for LCP (Life Connection Program), which is an 18-month program. My passion is helping others.  I have always worked at hospitals, nursing homes or home health.  This is my passion of work.  In 2005, I was enrolled in LPN classes because I wanted better for myself and kids. Unfortunately, I was snatched away from my family.  What I plan to do when I go home is to go back to school in the medical field.  I want to continue to help those who are in need.  I have my Culinary Arts certificate; my sister and I are talking about owning our catering business.  My goal is to reach out to young women to tell my story or to help them not to come down this path, and with social media a new world of communication, I can tell my story on Instagram, Facebook, and You Tube. I will always fight for my dreams. Being here in prison has open my eyes to life. I have a friend in Florida, and she has a transitional home. She wants to expand it and she ask if I want to be a part of her business. I have a job offer to work at a car lot as a Secretary.  I plan to find a church to fellowship and join a praise dance team. I really want to just be reunited with my family and united with my grandkids. I have support and love waiting for me.  I will be 47 this year...my kids call it old, but my life has just begun.  I want the opportunity to prove that I can do the right thing, I am not a threat to society, I am not the woman the government portrayed me to be. I have love in my heart, I am and can be a productive citizen.  God created me for a purpose and because of this experience, it does not define me.  It made me better. I will stand. I will live. I will fight for my life and freedom. Thank you for hearing my story. Sincerely, Tonya Hyles

My name is Tonya Hyles