Larry Hoover: In a controversial move, former President Donald Trump has commuted the federal life sentence of Larry Hoover, the 74-year-old founder of the Gangster Disciples, one of Chicago’s most infamous street gangs.
Hoover had been serving six federal life terms at ADX Florence, a maximum-security prison in Colorado, where he spent nearly 30 years in solitary confinement.
Despite the commutation, Hoover remains imprisoned under a separate 200-year state sentence for the 1973 murder of Chicago drug dealer William “Pooky” Young.
His legal team, led by attorney Jennifer Bonjean, praised Trump’s decision, saying it reflects Hoover’s rehabilitation and personal growth behind bars.
Hoover’s case has long drawn national attention and celebrity advocacy, including support from Kanye West and Drake, who performed in a 2021 concert pushing for his release. Still, federal prosecutors maintain that Hoover continued gang leadership from prison, with critics arguing his crimes were too severe for clemency.
Hoover will likely be transferred to a prison in Illinois to continue serving his state sentence. His release from federal custody reignites debate over redemption, justice, and the future of criminal sentencing in America