Governor Kathy Hochul granted clemency to 19 individuals convicted of crimes over the last week ranging from robbery and burglary to attempted arson, drug trafficking, fraud and homicide—the latest wave of pardons issued as part of an increasingly aggressive use of executive clemency under her administration.
The pardons, announced Friday, May 8th, cover individuals convicted over several decades for offenses that included criminally negligent homicide, attempted robbery, weapons charges, narcotics trafficking, identity theft and forgery.
Hochul’s office said all 19 individuals had completed their sentences and demonstrated rehabilitation while living crime-free lives, in many cases for decades.
Still, the move is likely to intensify criticism from opponents who argue New York’s Democratic leadership continues prioritizing leniency toward offenders while ordinary residents remain deeply concerned about crime, public safety and the state’s broader criminal justice direction.
“Since taking office, my administration has taken a number of steps to bring more effective, fair, and thorough analysis to New York’s clemency program,” said Hochul in a statement.
“After careful consideration and analysis by a panel of independent experts, I am granting clemency in the form of a pardon to 19 individuals who have demonstrated remorse and rehabilitation, and have made positive changes in themselves and their communities,” added the governor.
The pardons were issued in consultation with the state’s Clemency Advisory Panel.
According to Hochul’s office, she has now granted a total of 139 acts of clemency since becoming governor, including 119 pardons and 20 commutations.
The newest group of pardoned individuals includes people convicted of crimes dating back to the 1970s through the 2010s.
Among them was 75-year-old Dr. Mikal Abdul-Mateen, convicted of attempted robbery in the third degree in 1971.
Others receiving pardons included individuals convicted of narcotics trafficking offenses throughout the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s, including criminal sale and possession of controlled substances.
One recipient, Daniel Wagoner, 49, had been convicted of criminally negligent homicide in 1995.
Another, Luigi Morgera, 44, had been convicted of attempted arson in the third degree in 2008.
Several recipients had convictions involving weapons possession or attempted robbery including Jeremy Niland, Edwin Tineo and Scot Forte.
Others had convictions tied to theft, forgery, identity theft or fraud-related crimes.
The full list released by the governor’s office included:
-Dr. Mikal Abdul-Mateen, 75, convicted of attempted robbery in the third degree in 1971.
-Joseph Percoco, 65, convicted of grand larceny in the second degree in 1985.
-Scot Forte, 61, convicted of attempted criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree in 1985.
-Courtney Brown, 58, convicted of two counts of attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree in 1988.
-Delroy Mott, 69, convicted of criminal possession of a narcotic drug in the fourth degree, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree in 1990 and 1991.
-Marco Baez, 63, convicted of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the second degree, attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, and attempted possession of stolen property in the third degree between 1986 and 1991.
-Elvin Peña, 63, convicted of attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree in 1991.
-Daniel Wagoner, 49, convicted of criminally negligent homicide in 1995.
-Adalberto Bueno, 69, convicted of assault in the third degree and attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree in 1990 and 1996.
-Jeremy Niland, 49, convicted of criminal possession of a loaded firearm in the third degree in 1997.
-Tiffany Wright, 47, convicted of petit larceny and possession of a forged instrument in the third degree in 1998 and 2002.
-Antonio Domingues, 56, convicted of offering a false instrument to file in the second degree in 2002.
-Kobi Moshel, 44, convicted of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree in 2003.
-Paul De Guzman, 44, convicted of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, reckless endangerment in the second degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree between 2003 and 2006.
-Luigi Morgera, 44, convicted of attempted arson in the third degree in 2008.
-Amanda Mullen, 37, convicted of forgery in the second degree and identity theft in the first degree in 2010.
-Michael Thomas, 51, convicted of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree in 2010.
-Edwin Tineo, 36, convicted of attempted robbery in the second degree in 2013.
-Adrian Peña, 35, convicted of burglary in the third degree in 2015.
Under New York law, a pardon does not erase a conviction but can restore certain rights and remove barriers tied to employment, licensing, immigration status and housing opportunities.
Hochul’s office emphasized that clemency applicants undergo review by an advisory panel and that recipients are evaluated based on rehabilitation, conduct since conviction and evidence of positive contributions to society.
Still, the announcement arrives at a politically sensitive moment for the governor as Republicans and critics continue hammering Democratic leadership in Albany over crime, bail reform and what they describe as a broader pattern of weakening accountability throughout the criminal justice system.
Critics argue that while Hochul frames the clemency actions as compassionate criminal justice reform, many struggling residents increasingly feel Albany Democrats are more focused on second chances for criminals than on the concerns of law-abiding New Yorkers dealing with the consequences of rising disorder and instability.
