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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Notorious Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover pardoned by Trump
Larry Hoover, the famed founder of the Gangster Disciples, had his life sentence commuted Wednesday by President Trump. Though Trump used his power to clear 74-year-old Hoover of federal charges, he will remain behind bars on a state murder conviction. Hoover's case has long been a cause célèbre in the hip-hop industry. Before his pivot to Nazism, Kanye West held a 'Free Larry Hoover' concert in 2021 and gave Hoover's son, Larry Hoover Jr., a lengthy speech to advocate for his father's release on the song 'Jesus Lord.' Hoover was first arrested in 1973, convicted in the killing of William 'Pooky' Young and sentenced to 150 to 200 years in Illinois prison. A few years earlier, he co-founded the Gangster Disciples and built the operation into a drug selling powerhouse, first in Chicago and then elsewhere. Two decades later, Hoover — once declared 'one of the most notorious criminals in Illinois history' — was convicted on federal charges after he was recorded continuing to lead the group from behind bars. For that, he was sentenced to life at a supermax prison in Colorado. In recent years, Hoover has said he turned his life around in prison, taking responsibility for and renouncing his criminal past while wanting 'nothing to do' with the Gangster Disciples. Trump has pardoned several prominent figures in recent days, including tax-evading reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, corrupt former Connecticut governor John Rowland and ex-House representative Michael Grimm, a Republican from New York. Also included in the pardons was rapper NBA YoungBoy, who'd been sentenced to nearly two years in prison on federal gun charges. He was also convicted of participating in a prescription drug ring in Utah. With News Wire Services
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Who is Larry Hoover, the gangster whose life sentence was just commuted by trump?
Credit: X Former Chicago gang leader Larry Hoover's federal prison sentence was commuted by President Donald Trump , sparking widespread discussion and renewed attention to his decades-long incarceration. Hoover, who co-founded one of Chicago's most notorious gangs—the Gangster Disciples—had been serving multiple life sentences for both state and federal convictions over nearly 50 years. Although his federal sentence was commuted, he remains behind bars serving a separate state sentence. Is Larry Hoover free now? Despite the commutation of his federal sentence, Hoover is not yet free. He remains incarcerated under his 200-year Illinois state sentence for murder. The state has not announced any plans to transfer Hoover or alter his state sentence. In the past, Illinois officials expressed concerns about his security risk if moved to a less secure facility. Hoover's criminal record spans both state and federal charges. In 1973, he was convicted in Illinois state court for the murder of 19-year-old drug dealer William 'Pooky' Young and sentenced to 200 years in prison—a sentence he continues to serve. In 1997, Hoover was convicted in federal court on charges of drug conspiracy, extortion, and running a criminal enterprise while incarcerated. For these federal convictions, he was sent to ADX Florence, the federal supermax prison in Colorado, where he spent nearly 30 years in solitary confinement. Who is Larry Hoover? Hoover, also known as 'King Larry,' was born in Jackson, Mississippi in 1950. When he was just four years old, his parents moved the family to Chicago, Illinois. By the time he turned 13, Larry was already running the streets with a gang called the Supreme Gangsters, which started off with local muggings and thefts but eventually grew into a group known for assaults and shootings. Hoover quickly rose through the ranks. By the late 1960s, he had taken full control of the gang and rebranded them as the Gangster Disciples. Even in his early twenties, he had established himself as one of the most powerful figures in the streets. In 1973, Hoover was sentenced to a staggering 150 to 200 years in prison for ordering the murder of William Young, a drug dealer. Despite being behind bars, Hoover continued to exert his influence over the gang from within the Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill, Illinois. In 1997, he was convicted again for running a continuing criminal enterprise from state prison, earning him another life sentence. Hoover has been with Winndye Jenkins for 54 years, and the two have been married for the past two years. He is father to three sons. Hoover and his family have been advocating for his release for several years, insisting that he has cut ties with the Gangster Disciples and is no longer involved with the organization. His son, Larry Hoover Jr., has been especially vocal about his father's imprisonment. In 2021, he appeared on the Kanye West song 'Jesus Lord,' which touched on his father's case. That same year, Ye (formerly Kanye West) and Drake even held a benefit concert aimed at drawing attention to Hoover's incarceration. Ye also took the case to the highest office, speaking with then-President Donald Trump in the Oval Office in 2018 to push for Hoover's release and highlight his positive work while in prison.
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
