Crime & Law

Former Chicago Gangster Disciple Leader Larry Hoover Gets Commutation From Donald Trump

President Donald Trump has commuted the sentence of Larry Hoover, a former Chicago gang leader serving a life sentence at a supermax prison in Colorado.

The commutation, first reported by the news website NOTUS, was confirmed by a White House official speaking on the condition of anonymity because it had not been formally announced.

Hoover’s Chicago-based attorney Jennifer Bonjean confirmed to WTTW News on Wednesday afternoon that her client’s sentence had indeed been commuted.

Hoover, now 75, has spent the last 30 years in solitary confinement as his attorneys unsuccessfully pushed for his release.

“The Courts have demonstrated a complete unwillingness to consider Mr. Hoover’s considerable growth and complete rehabilitation,” Bonjean and attorney Justin Moore wrote in a statement Wednesday, adding that they were “thrilled” by Trump’s decision. “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.”

Hoover was imprisoned in connection with a murder in 1973, and he was convicted for running a criminal enterprise in 1998. He later renounced his criminal past and petitioned for a reduced sentence.

Hoover was the leader of the Gangster Disciple Nation and brought several gangs together under the Folks banner.

Despite the commutation of his federal sentence, Hoover is still set to serve out the remainder of his state sentence stemming the 1973 murder case. He was sentenced to 150-200 years in prison following that conviction.

But it’s not yet clear where that sentence will be served. A spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Corrections did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday afternoon.

Federal records show Hoover remains in custody as of Wednesday at the ADX Florence supermax prison in Colorado.

The Associated Press contributed. 

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