President Trump Commutes Sentence of Gangster Disciples Leader Larry Hoover
In a stunning move, former President Donald Trump has commuted the federal sentence of Larry Hoover, the notorious founder of the Gangster Disciples street gang.
Hoover, now 74, has been incarcerated since the 1970s, serving both a 200-year sentence for murder in Illinois and six life terms for federal crimes related to leading a criminal enterprise from behind bars. The commutation marks a controversial turn in a decades-long saga that has polarized advocates and law enforcement alike.
A Life Behind Bars
Larry Hoover was convicted in 1973 for the murder of 19-year-old William “Pooky” Young, a neighborhood drug dealer in Chicago. He was later indicted in 1995 under Operation Headache—a sweeping federal investigation targeting the leadership of the Gangster Disciples.
In 1997, Hoover was sentenced to six life terms for continuing to run the gang from prison, orchestrating a criminal empire that prosecutors say spanned 28 states and involved more than 30,000 members.
Life in Solitary Confinement
Since his conviction, Hoover has been held at ADX Florence, a federal supermax facility in Colorado often described as the most restrictive prison in the country. His attorneys claim he has spent nearly 30 years in solitary confinement.
Jennifer Bonjean and Justin Moore, Hoover’s legal team, expressed gratitude for the commutation.
“The Courts have demonstrated a complete unwillingness to consider Mr. Hoover’s considerable growth and complete rehabilitation,” they said in a statement. “Thankfully, Mr. Hoover’s pleas were heard by President Trump who took action to deliver justice.”
Bonjean added in a follow-up interview:
“Just thrilled for him, thrilled for his family, thrilled for his supporters — who have been chanting, ‘Free Larry Hoover!’ for a long time.”
Still Serving a State Sentence
Despite the federal commutation, Hoover remains incarcerated under Illinois state law. He continues to serve his 200-year sentence for the 1973 murder. While he is eligible for resentencing, Bonjean said Illinois courts have been reluctant to reconsider his case.
“He has literally done every single thing a human being could do to show that they have been rehabilitated,” Bonjean argued.
A Complicated Legacy
Supporters argue Hoover has changed. In a 1993 interview with CBS News Chicago, Hoover claimed he had turned a corner.
“Anytime you do extensive time it can have two effects — it can harden you, or it can make you think,” Hoover said. “And I’ve thought.”
Hoover spoke then about the need to curb gang violence and the senseless rivalries that plagued Chicago’s neighborhoods.
“We’re all Black people. There’s no difference.”
Yet federal prosecutors paint a darker picture.
Ron Safer, the lead federal prosecutor in Hoover’s case, expressed dismay over the commutation.
“I do not think that this is an appropriate end to the Larry Hoover story — at least the federal part of it,” Safer said. “He ran that entire operation with ruthless efficiency from prison.”
According to Safer, Hoover once instructed his followers to recruit teenagers as young as 12 to sell drugs.
“Make them know that with you, they are somebody, and without you, they are nobody,” Hoover allegedly said in a recorded conversation.
Advocates for Redemption
Despite his past, many continue to advocate for Hoover’s release. Wallace “Gator” Bradley, a former enforcer for the Gangster Disciples turned community activist, said:
“I’ve been calling for it since ’92 or ’93. I know that he has served his time. I’m happy beyond measure.”
Harold “Noonie” Ward, another former gang member turned antiviolence advocate, echoed those sentiments:
“Everybody deserves a second chance.”
A Divisive Decision
The debate over Hoover’s fate continues to divide opinion. While some see a man who has changed and paid his debt to society, others see a dangerous figure whose crimes cannot be forgiven.
As for Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, he has not yet commented on whether Hoover’s state sentence will be reconsidered.
The future of Larry Hoover remains uncertain—but one chapter of his long and complicated story has closed with a stroke of a presidential pen.