President Bush issued 14 pardons on Monday (November 24), and among them was rapper/producer John Forte, famous for his work with multi-platinum group the Fugees.

Forte was arrested at the Newark International Airport in 2000 on possession with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to distribute charges, after police discovered two briefcases filled with liquid cocaine that were estimated to be worth $1.4 million.

The rapper was sentenced to a mandatory minimum sentence of 14 years. But, due to the pardon, he will be released December 22 after serving just over seven years.

He will, however, be required to serve five years of supervised probation.

Forte, now 33, has previously co-wrote two songs on the Fugees breakout 1996 album, The Score, and also went on to release two solo albums.