Topeka Sam

Topeka Kimberly Sam is an American advocate for criminal justice reform and a former federal prisoner. She was sentenced to over 10 years in prison in January 2013 after pleading guilty to her role in a drug trafficking conspiracy. She was released early from the Federal Correctional Institution, Danbury (FCI Danbury) in 2015 and became involved in helping women transition back into society after incarceration. President Donald Trump granted a full pardon to Sam on December 23, 2020.

Early life, crime, and sentence Sam grew up in a predominantly white neighborhood in Long Island, New York. She attended a historically black college and university (HBCU) in Baltimore, Maryland. While in college, Sam became involved with a romantic partner who sold drugs, exposing her to drug dealers. She was accused of involvement in facilitating the acquisition of cocaine, including a transaction involving 80 kg of the substance. Sam pleaded guilty on January 11, 2013, and she was sentenced to over 10 years imprisonment (130 months) at the Federal Correctional Institution, Danbury (FCI Danbury).

A judge later reduced her sentence after she wrote a letter, filed an appeal, and participated in a drug program; she received an early release in 2015.

Activism After her release from federal prison in 2015, Sam began helping women transition back into society after incarceration. In 2017, she founded the non-profit The Ladies of Hope Ministries. The Hope House remained vacant at first because the state corrections department deemed it unsuitable due to neighbors’ concerns about safety. As of December 2023, the Hope House is operational in New Orleans, LA, and Prince George's County, MD, with an on-site coordinator that helps residents to obtain IDs, apply for public assistance, and receive training.

Other advocacy by Sam includes her efforts to bring attention to the case of Alice Marie Johnson. Johnson was serving a life sentence for a nonviolent drug offense, and Sam produced a video about advocating for her release. The video inspired Kim Kardashian to lobby the Trump Administration for Johnson's clemency and pardon, which he granted.

Sam has also advocated for The First Step Act. This legislation aimed to reduce the mandatory minimum sentences for certain non-violent offenses. It also sought to improve the conditions of prisons and to provide better support for individuals re-entering society post-incarceration. The White House Prison Reform Summit invited Sam to speak at 2018. Her speech included insights from her experience in federal prison. She talked about conditions and challenges faced by incarcerated women, including challenges with obtaining sanitary pads.

Presidential pardon

On December 23, 2020, President Donald Trump granted a full pardon to Sam, citing her efforts in criminal justice reform. This pardon was facilitated by businessman Daniel Loeb, who lobbied the White House on Sam's behalf. The award was bestowed for her work to reduce rates of incarceration among women. The award included a $100,000 grant. She received an Honorary Doctorate in Divinity from New York Theological Seminary in May of the same year.

She has been a fellow at Columbia University Sam has also worked as a filmmaker for 44 Blue Productions.