My name is Tammie. I am a 51 yr. old African American woman, serving a 12-year sentence for Conspiracy to Trafficking over 500 grams of cocaine.  I was asked to pick up a family member, who had missed his flight going into Miami from South Carolina, and after me saying no so many times, I decided to take the three-hour drive and return home by night fall. I got out of my bed and made the trip. He treated me to dinner and wine and by the time I was due to hit the road, I was too sleepy to travel.  We returned to his hotel room and I fell asleep, by morning we were up and on the road.  He made a couple of phone calls and had me to drive to Hardees for breakfast. I phoned James and told him I was dropping him off at the airport and then I would be on my way back to Charlotte. He got out of the truck and got into a vehicle with some guy, returned to me and asked me if I could go over to the storage, which was next door, and retrieve James traveling bag, and he was going to catch a ride with his friend. No time did I think to open the bag, and once retrieving it with the storage key, I headed home. I was later stopped by troopers who requested to search my vehicle and I was arrested after they retrieved the bag. I later found out the extent to what was going on and that this was a 15-month investigation, and I would be charged with the drugs retrieved inside the bag. I was the only American charged and the only woman on this case. I have two priors’ convictions, the first being when I was 21 years old, (Conspiracy to trafficking cocaine base, Possession with intent to distribute 190.6 grams).  My second offense was in 2000 while on probation for a possession of 20-35 grams of cocaine base.   While released and completing my probation time, I worked for the next six years until the time I turned myself in.  When I was released, I worked at a Thrift Store, as well as putting myself through school and became a Certified Nursing Aide, working 12 hours each day.    I was later hired at Mercy Hospital in Charlotte, NC., as a Nursing Assistant, and later trained and became a Healthcare Tech.  I continued working in nursing; training, assisting, and taking care of patients daily.  Nothing makes me happier than taking care of people. I have been incarcerated for over four years and I have applied myself learning all I can about me and striving to make peace with yet another mistake that has cost me my freedom away from my family and loved ones.  I could tell you “this would never happen again” and one could easily say “well it did happen again”.  Now being older, I have had time to not only reflect on my life, but to analyze who “Tammie” really is and begin to value my worth, my identity as a woman and mainly, my God-given purpose!  I have a passion for cooking, I enrolled and completed two vocational training classes, Electrical and Culinary.  I obtained certificates in Safe SERV and Management.  The knowledge, skills and training I acquired will enable me to become self-employed, having my very own food truck, which has been a dream of mine for years.  This incarceration has restored my self confidence in myself to know that nothing is impossible for me to accomplish with everything I learned.  The mistakes and bad choices I made prior will not keep me from fulfilling the destiny. I have a strong, support system, with family and friends.  Upon release from prison, my family will help me pursue my dream of owning my business, (my food truck business), and become productive and move forward with my life, to make my family proud, as well as my community.  I never received any relief for my prior convictions for cocaine base.  I am asking for the opportunity to be free and become a citizen once again.  I now suffer with obesity, hypertension, diabetes, chronic bronchitis, and asthma as well. Thank you for your time, Sincerely, Tammie Diggs

My name is Tammie Diggs