Latest news with #GangsterDisciples'
NBC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- NBC News
Trump commutes sentence of Chicago gang founder after lobbying by Ye
Many Americans may not know Larry Hoover Sr. beyond a passing reference to him in Rick Ross' 2010 hit single 'B.M.F (Blowin' Money Fast),' in which Ross sings, 'I think I'm Big Meech (Woo), Larry Hoover ...' But on Wednesday, President Donald Trump commuted the six life sentences that Hoover, a Chicago gang founder, was serving for a 1997 conviction in federal court. Trump commuted the sentences after a campaign by hip-hop artist Ye, aka Kanye West, now Kim Kardashian's ex-husband, who has lobbied Trump in the Oval Office to consider releasing Hoover. Hoover, though, will not be freed. He will be transferred from the federal 'Supermax' prison in Colorado, where is held now, to a state prison in Illinois to serve the rest of a 200-year sentence for crimes he was separately convicted of in state court. Hoover founded the Gangster Disciples, a Chicago-based criminal organization that sold cocaine and other narcotics beginning in the early 1970s. Called the 'chairman of the board' and 'the king' of the gang, he was also declared 'one of the most notorious criminals in Illinois history.' Prosecutors have said in court filings that 'Hoover directed violence and drug trafficking in Chicago from at least 1970 until 1995.' Prosecutors presented evidence at trial that the Gangster Disciples profited $109 million each year from the sale of narcotics, 'a substantial proportion of which went straight to Hoover's family's pockets.' Praise for the commutation Hoover's attorneys praised Trump's decision. 'The Courts have demonstrated a complete unwillingness to consider Mr. Hoover's considerable growth and complete rehabilitation,' Jennifer Bonjean and Justin Moore told CBS News in a statement. 'Despite the Court's unwillingness to do the right thing, Mr. Hoover has been able to keep his voice alive through the incredible work of many advocates and supporters," they added. "Thankfully, Mr. Hoover's pleas were heard by President Trump who took action to deliver justice for Mr. Hoover.' Larry Hoover Jr., Hoover's son, has called for his father's release for years and was featured in the 2021 Kanye West song 'Jesus Lord.' Hoover has said from prison that he changed the name of his group from 'Gangster Disciples' to 'Growth and Development.' He said he now discourages violence and has made education mandatory for his followers, pushing inmates to develop job skills they can use after they are released. Hoover's family has said he is no longer associated with the Gangster Disciples. Prosecutors opposed release But federal prosecutors recently have said Bureau of Prisons intelligence records show that Hoover did not want to be disassociated from the gang. In September, attorneys for the Justice Department argued in court that 'Hoover remains the heralded leader of the GDs, despite the intensive monitoring to which he is subject at Florence ADX,' which is the highest-level security prison in the United States and home to convicted terrorists and Juán "El Chapo" Guzmán. They strongly urged the court to decline any effort to release Hoover as part of the 'First Step Act' supported by Kardashian, which Trump signed into law during his first administration. 'Hoover has well earned his life sentence, and he is not the type of defendant Congress intended to benefit in enacting the First Step Act,' prosecutors wrote. During the 2108 Oval Office meeting with Trump, Ye urged him to commute Hoover's sentence. 'The reason why they imprisoned him is because he started doing positive for the community,' Ye said. 'He started showing that he actually had power, that he wasn't just one of a monolithic voice, but he could wrap people around. 'So there's theories that there's infinite amounts of universe and there's alternate universe,' Ye added. 'So it's very important for me to get Hoover out, because in an alternate universe, I am him. And I have to go and get him free because he was doing positive inside of Chicago.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
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. More from Billboard Kanye West Puts On Masterclass With Drake's Help For Larry Hoover Benefit Concert Reneé Rapp Says Her Name Was Designed for Pop Stardom John Butler Returns With New Solo Album 'PRISM' 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.' Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Yahoo
Mass. gang member gets time in federal prison after pleading guilty to kidnapping, drug charges
A Massachusetts gang member of the 'Gangster Disciples' will spend more than a decade in federal prison after pleading guilty to kidnapping, drug and gun charges, the U.S. Attorney said. Justin Suriel, 28, of Lawrence, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said in a statement Wednesday. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani handed down his sentence. Suriel pleaded guilty in August to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine and Suboxone;, possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl; distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine; and conspiracy to commit kidnapping. Suriel was charged in November 2021 along with 12 others in connection with a large drug ring centering around the Gangster Disciples gang in Lawrence, Haverhill and Methuen, Foley said. An investigation launched in August 2020 intercepted communications between Gangster Disciples' leaders, members and drug suppliers about their alleged distribution of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and Suboxone in Massachusetts, Maine and southern New Hampshire as well as into the Essex County Jail, Foley said. Calls were intercepted between Suriel and other gang members, who conspired to kidnap and assault a marijuana supplier from Maine, prosecutors said. Intercepted phone calls also uncovered Suriel's cocaine and fentanyl distribution ring, wherein he used gang members to sell drugs throughout the Merrimack Valley area of Massachusetts. The calls also revealed that Suriel offered protection to his cocaine supplier, remarking that he would 'shoot bullets' for anyone bothering his drug supplier, Foley said. Investigators later recovered a loaded firearm during a search of Suriel's home. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
