Trump commutes gang leader's sentence in flurry of pardons

May 29, 2025

President Donald Trump recently commuted the federal prison sentence of Larry Hoover, the 74-year-old founder of Chicago's Gangster Disciples, as part of over two dozen clemency actions this week. Despite this federal commutation, Hoover still faces a 200-year Illinois state sentence for murder, which the president cannot commute, making his release unlikely in the near future. Among others receiving clemency were former New York congressman Michael Grimm, who served seven months for tax fraud, and several others including reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley.

Who is affected

Larry Hoover, the 74-year-old founder of the Gangster Disciples street gang
Michael Grimm, a former New York City congressman
Todd and Julie Chrisley, reality TV stars convicted of tax evasion
Other unnamed individuals among the approximately 25 people receiving pardons or commutations
The Gangster Disciples organization and its members
Federal prison system and its inmate population
Communities impacted by the Gangster Disciples gang

What action is being taken

President Trump is commuting Larry Hoover's federal prison sentence
Trump is issuing a total of approximately 25 pardons or commutations
Prosecutors are maintaining that Hoover is still effectively leading the Gangster Disciples from prison
Hoover is publicly disavowing gang life and claiming he wants nothing to do with it
Trump is considering pardons for men charged with planning to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer

Why it matters

Hoover built the Gangster Disciples into a nationwide street gang from its Chicago origins
Despite the federal commutation, Hoover likely remains imprisoned due to his 200-year state sentence
The clemency actions represent a significant use of presidential pardon power
The commutation relates to criminal justice reform, including the First Step Act which Trump signed in 2018
There are conflicting narratives about Hoover's current relationship with gang life, with his claims of reformation versus prosecutors' allegations of continued leadership

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC