Murphy Pardons Dozens More Prisoners Ahead Of The Holidays

Gov. Phil Murphy has issued another batch of pardons and commutations for prison inmates and court-involved New Jersey residents – beefing up a total that now numbers in the hundreds.

On Tuesday, Murphy announced his sixth round of clemency actions, granting 19 commutations and 36 pardons.

The recipients had been charged with crimes that ranged from lesser offenses such as drug possession and probation violations, to more serious charges such as aggravated assault and murder (see the full list below).

“Each grant of clemency represents a renewed opportunity for someone who has demonstrated accountability, growth, and a sincere commitment to rebuilding their life,” Murphy said.

“As we approach the holiday season, I am grateful to play a small part in reuniting families and providing a second chance to each of these individuals,” the governor added.

Antoine Nelson, one of the 36 people who received a pardon, spoke about his experiences post-incarceration, including the work he has done in violence prevention and youth development.

According to the governor’s office, Nelson was convicted of multiple drug and weapon charges from 1997 to 2007. He has maintained a clean record since 2010.

Nelson founded a nonprofit, Sons of Someone, in 2014, and has mentored hundreds of young men across New Jersey and Philadelphia since then, facilitating social-emotional learning programs, providing reentry guidance, and mentoring high-risk youth through weekly one-on-one sessions.

“During my time in prison as a young man, I realized that if I ever got a second chance, I would spend my life building what I once helped destroy,” Nelson said.

“This pardon will not change who I am – rather, it will expand on and continue the work that I am doing in my community,” he added.

The Murphy administration has now given out 283 grants of clemency since the governor signed Executive Order No. 362 in June 2024, which created the state’s first-ever Clemency Advisory Board.

• See Related: 200+ NJ Convicts Granted Clemency, Pardons, By Governor Murphy
• See Related: NJ Gov Pardons 11 Convicted Military Service Members On Veterans Day

The wave of pardons from the governor’s office have taken place as crime continues to drop in New Jersey.

The state saw 20,684 violent crimes with a population of 9,500,851 residents in 2024 – a rate of 217.7 per 100,000 people. That’s down from 225.3 per 100,000 people in 2023. The Garden State’s violent crime totals were well below the national rate, which came to 359.1 per 100,000 people.

The state has also seen a long-term drop in violent crime over the past decades – especially from levels seen in the 1980s and 1990s, FBI data shows.

>> Read More: Is Crime Up Or Down In New Jersey? Here’s What FBI Data Says

CLEMENCY LIST

Here are the people who received clemency grants from Murphy on Nov. 25:

The following individuals were granted a pardon:

1. Acevedo, Moises: possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance within a school zone, sentenced in 2006

2. Allen, Martel: two counts of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, sentenced in 1992; two counts of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, sentenced in 1992; violation of probation, sentenced in 1995

3. Amador, Lenny: possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance within a school zone, sentenced in 2006; two counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance within a school zone, sentenced in 2010

4. Bolling, Shindon: distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, sentenced in 1994; wandering to obtain a controlled dangerous substance, sentenced in 2003; loitering to solicit prostitution, sentenced in 2002; two counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance, sentenced in 2003

5. Covington, Jonathan: possession of a controlled dangerous substance, distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, and possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance within a school zone, sentenced in 1991; possession of a controlled dangerous substance, two counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, two counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance within a school zone, sentenced in 1995

6. Dent, Timothy: possession of a controlled dangerous substance, sentenced in 1994 (amended 1995) (amended 1998); possession of a controlled dangerous substance, sentenced 1998

7. Evans, Ida: possession with intent to distribute, endangering the welfare of a child, sentenced in 1999; possession of a controlled dangerous substance, sentenced in 1999

8. Fortson, Jr., Walter: possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance within a school zone and committing a controlled dangerous substance offense while in possession of a weapon, sentenced in 2008

9. Galvis, Alex: possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance and firearms regulation violation, sentenced in 2012

10. Geofroy, Amir: theft and possession with intent to distribute within a school zone, sentenced in 2002

11. Gora, Daniel: receiving stolen property, resisting arrest, and exhibiting false identification, sentenced in 2002; two counts of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, sentenced in 2006

12. Grout, Richard: possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, sentenced in 1977

13. Hunter, Myron: two counts of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance in a school zone, sentenced in 1998; distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, sentenced in 2005

14. Johnson, Sabrina: endangering the welfare of a child, sentenced in 2000

15. Mazraani, Ralph: distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and distribution near public housing, sentenced in 2005

16. McKnight, Jasmine: possession with intent to distribute, sentenced in 2011; violation of probation, sentenced in 2013

17. Morales, Carlos Hilario: possession with intent to distribute, sentenced 1992

18. Nelson, Antoine: unlawful possession of a weapon, sentenced in 1997; possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, sentenced in 1998; violation of probation, sentenced in 2000; possession of a controlled dangerous substance, sentenced in 2000; possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance within a school zone, sentenced in 2001; ordinance violation, sentenced in 2004; ordinance violation, sentenced in 2006; tampering with records, sentenced in 2010; possession of a controlled dangerous substance, sentenced in 2010

19. Nelson, Michael: attempted distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and attempted distribution of a controlled dangerous substance within 500 feet of public housing, sentenced in 2008

20. Newkirk, William: two counts of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, sentenced in 1989

21. Nuradeen, Khayree: distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, sentenced in 1988; two counts of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, sentenced in 1992

22. Oaklander, Stephen: distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, sentenced in 2009

23. Primo, Michael Sean: arson, sentenced in 1997

24. Ramos, Melissa: distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, sentenced in 2001

25. Raynes, Michael: failure to turn over a controlled dangerous substance to law enforcement, 2004

26. Redfern, Ularc: possession of a controlled dangerous substance, sentenced in 1997; criminal mischief, sentenced in 1999

27. Rollins, Tamika: endangering the welfare of a child, sentenced in 2011

28. Sanchez, Mario: possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, sentenced in 1991

29. Simons, Suzanne: possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, sentenced in 2004

30. Simpson, Troy: unlawful possession of a weapon, sentenced in 2015

31. Smith, David: possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, sentenced in 1979

32. Steagall, Kimberly: simple assault, theft, and contempt of court, sentenced in 1985; prostitution, sentenced in 1985; failure to turn over a controlled dangerous substance, sentenced in 1993; possession of a controlled dangerous substance, sentenced in 1996; wandering to obtain a controlled dangerous substance, sentenced in 1998; violation of probation, sentenced in 1998; prostitution, sentenced in 1998; possession of narcotics paraphernalia, sentenced in 1999; ordinance violations, sentenced in 1999

33. Streeter, David: possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, sentenced in 1995

34. Totora-Cardinali, Lauren: possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance within a school zone, and conspiracy to commit health care fraud, sentenced in 2011

35. Troia, Maria: possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, sentenced 2008

36. Ward III, John: distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance near public housing, sentenced in 2000

The following individuals were granted commutations of their prison sentences:

1. Alford, Lamar: felony murder, murder, conspiracy, robbery, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, and certain persons not to possess a weapon, sentenced in 2007

2. Bacon-Vaughters, Kenneth: felony murder, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, aggravated assault, and unlawful possession of a weapon, sentenced in 2011

3. Dudley, Anthony Carnell: conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon; conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, burglary, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon, sentenced in 2002

4. Fitch, Lashawn: murder, conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, sentenced in 2014

5. Fletcher, Tieheen: murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon, sentenced in 1998

6. Florence, John: felony murder, aggravated assault, reckless manslaughter, conspiracy, four counts of robbery, two counts of receiving stolen property, two counts of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon, sentenced in 1994

7. Jackmon, Morris: felony murder, murder, attempted murder, robbery, two counts of aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon, sentenced in 1994

8. Johnson, Derrick: conspiracy to commit robbery, five counts of robbery, two counts of burglary, five counts of criminal restraint, five counts of aggravated assault, three counts of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, three counts of unlawful possession of a weapon, and certain persons not to possess a weapon, sentenced in 2008

9. Johnson, Shawn: attempted murder and murder, sentenced in 2008

10. Jones, Malika: aggravated manslaughter and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, sentenced in 2024

11. Miller, Adrian: robbery, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, and certain persons not to possess a weapon, sentenced in 2008

12. Murphy, Tysheim: two counts of robbery, conspiracy, aggravated assault, terroristic threats, criminal restraint, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, and certain persons not to possess a weapon, sentenced in 2010

13. Prather, Franklin: felony murder, robbery, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon, sentenced in 2009

14. Saunders, Omar: murder, terroristic threats, hindering, tampering, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, and certain persons not to possess a weapon, sentenced in 2004

15. Vaughn, Jibreel: felony murder, robbery, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, sentenced in 1999

16. Williams, Jermaine: felony murder, conspiracy, robbery, reckless manslaughter, possession of a weapon unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon, sentenced in 2002

17. Wise, Jeffrey: three counts of robbery, two counts of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon, and two counts of certain persons not to possess a weapon, sentenced in 2002

The following individuals were granted commutations of their parole sentences:

1. Morris, Julius: murder and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, sentenced in 1977
2. Owen, Russell: murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon, sentenced in 1991

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