Donald Trump Commutes Life Sentence of Former Chicago Gang Leader Larry Hoover
President Donald Trump has commuted the sentence of Larry Hoover, as the former Chicago gang leader was set to spend the rest of his years behind bars in Colorado.
Trump has dished out quite a few pardons in recent weeks while in the Oval Office, and he commuted the multiple life sentences of the Gangster Disciples' founder on Wednesday (May 28), according to the Chicago Sun–Times.
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However, CBS News reports that the 74-year-old will still have to serve the remainder of his 200-year sentence for the murder of drug dealer William 'Pooky' Young in 1973.
Federal prosecutors accused the drug kingpin of running a 'criminal enterprise' from behind bars, which helped him still oversee gang activities while imprisoned. Hoover was hit with 40 additional charges and found guilty in 1997.
Ye (formerly Kanye West), who is a Chicago native, has long advocated for Hoover's freedom. He spoke about Hoover during a White House visit with Trump in 2018 and then headlined the Free Larry Hoover Benefit Concert with Drake in December 2021 at the Coliseum in Los Angeles.
West was overjoyed to learn that Trump commuted Hoover's sentences. 'WORDS CAN'T EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR OUR DEVOTED ENDURING PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP FOR FREEING LARRY HOOVER,' he wrote to X on Wednesday.
Ye even showed love to Drake for joining him onstage in 2021. 'Thank you to Drake for helping to bring Larry Hoover home,' Yeezy added.
West gave Larry Hoover's son, Larry Hoover Jr., a guest appearance on his 2021 Donda album and shouted out Hoover on 'Jesus Lord' as well as Vultures 2's 'River.' Hoover Jr. also joined Ye during his Drink Champs interview in 2021.
Hoover has continued to petition for a criminal sentence, and U.S. District Judge John Blakey heard a mercy bid from the former gang leader in 2024. 'We did what so many said was impossible,' Hoover's attorney, Justin Moore, told the Sun-Times. 'We got Larry Hoover out of federal prison.'
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