NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office on Friday announced she has granted nine pardons and commuted one prisoner’s sentence just in time for Christmas.
The nine who received pardons all have finished serving their sentences, Hochul said, and have led law-abiding lives since being released.
“As Governor, I have a unique and solemn responsibility to carefully use the power of clemency to address individuals in the criminal justice system who have made mistakes and have taken extraordinary steps to rehabilitate themselves,” Hochul said.
“I am granting clemency to these deserving individuals who have exemplified rehabilitation, and I am committed to increased transparency and accountability in this process going forward,” she added. “No one should be defined by their worst mistake, and these individuals have worked tirelessly to atone for theirs.”
In nearly every instance, the individuals who were granted clemency were not documented citizens and were facing the risk of deportation due to their criminal records.
Meanwhile, the individual whose sentence was commuted has been hoping to return to his home country of Jamacia.
Hochul’s office said he had been given a 125-year prison term after being convicted on drug offenses in 1989.
He has already served 30 years behind bars and the governor’s office stressed that if he was one trial today, “he likely would not have faced such a lengthy sentence.”
Hochul said in a press release that she will be appointing an advisory panel to help evaluate appeals for clemency and will allow her office to make decisions on a rolling basis throughout the year.
Traditionally, New York governors only announce pardons once a year, typically in December.
The following individuals were granted clemency Friday:
Ana Sanchez Ventura, 64, was convicted of attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in 2002. She served her prison sentence and has lived a crime free life for 19 years, and is an active member of her local community, including a local senior center where she has organized trips and helped sew and donate hundreds of masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. A pardon will help her remain in the U.S. with her family and community.
Juan Vinas, 56, was convicted of two counts of criminal facilitation in the second degree in 1991. since his release, he has lived a crime free life for 30 years and has been gainfully employed at a garage management company in New York City for close to 25 years. A pardon will help Vinas obtain a green card so that he can remain in the United States with his family.
Faustino Reyes, 60, was convicted of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree in 2012. He has been crime free for nine years, has lived in the United States for more than 35 years, and has been married to a U.S. citizen for more than three decades. A pardon will ensure he can remain in the U.S. and safely travel outside the country to visit family abroad without fear of being denied re-entry.
Sandra Williams, 65, was convicted of prostitution, criminal sale of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a controlled substance, attempted criminal possession of stolen property and loitering unlawful use of a controlled substance between 1974 and 1996. She has lived a crime free life for 25 years and has worked as a home health aide since 1999. A pardon will help ensure she can remain in the United States with her family.
Francisco Vargas, 53, was convicted of attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance and attempted offering a false instrument to file. Since his release, he has lived a crime free life for 18 years, has maintained employment as a parking attendant and is an active member of his local church. A pardon will help him seek U.S. citizenship and remain with his family.
Orlando Fernandez Taveras, 46, was convicted of petit larceny, attempted petit larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal trespass, attempted resisting arrest, trespass and unauthorized use of a vehicle between 1998 and 2008. He has lived crime free for 12 years. A pardon will help him return to the United States.
Hanley Gomez, 41, was convicted of criminal possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest, DWAI and attempted criminal mischief between 1998 and 2011. He has been crime free for seven years and has lived in the United States since he was eight years old. He currently works for a New York City-based meal delivery company, volunteers at a local food pantry and is the primary caretaker and provider for his 10-year-old child. A pardon will help ensure he can remain in the United States with his son and extended family.
Juan Suazo, 54, was convicted of criminal possession of a controlled substance in 1986. He has lived a crime free life for 34 years and is an active member of his local church. He also works as a carpenter with a roofing and waterproofing company. A pardon will help Suazo obtain a green card and remain in the U.S.
Edilberta Reyes Canales, 56, was convicted of criminal contempt, resisting arrest, assault, endangering the welfare of a child, falsely reporting an incident to law enforcement and petit larceny between 2007 and 2009, during a time in her life when she was trying to escape an abusive relationship. She was also convicted of attempted petit larceny in 1993. However, she has lived a crime free life for 12 years and has worked as a home health aide for several years, including throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. She is also a survivor of domestic abuse and has lived in the United States since fleeing conflict in her home country in 1988. A pardon will help Reyes avoid deportation, for which she is facing an upcoming hearing.
Roger Cole, 55, was originally sentenced to 125 years-to-life in prison, having been put on trial during the Rockefeller Drug Law era during which extremely lengthy prison sentences were handed down for drug-related convictions. In 1989 and 1992, he was convicted of five counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance criminal sale of a firearm and criminal possession of a weapon. His sentence was subsequently reduced on appeal to 85 to 100 years, of which he has now served more than 30 years.
While incarcerated, Cole has earned his GED and an associate degree, and has completed numerous vocational training and certification programs, including legal research and law library management. He also earned a certificate for completing a three-year business course while incarcerated. Upon his release, Cole will be reunited with his mother and other family members in his home country of Jamaica.
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