Cuomo grants clemency to 6 people including driver in 1981 fatal armored truck robbery

[Demovictory9]

NEW YORK (AP) — Hours before leaving office, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday granted clemency to six people, including the driver in a fatal 1981 armored truck robbery whose release was championed by his son, San Francisco’s top prosecutor.

David Gilbert, 76, is serving a life sentence for his role in the bungled 1981 Brink’s robbery north of New York City, a bloody heist involving leftist revolutionaries that left a guard and two police officers dead.

He is among the last surviving people still imprisoned in the $1.6 million robbery often seen as a last gasp of ’60s radicalism.

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Through Cuomo’s action, he will be referred to the state parole board for potential release. Under his sentence, he wouldn’t have been eligible for parole until 2056. In a news release, Cuomo’s office said that while locked up, Gilbert has made significant contributions to AIDS education and prevention programs, and worked as a tutor, law library clerk, paralegal assistant, teacher’s aide and aide in various prison programs.

Gilbert’s son, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, said his “heart is bursting, and it also aches for the families of the three victims.”


https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Cuomo-gives-clemency-to-6-including-dad-of-San-16407020.php

[RockRaven]

1. Last minute pardons always appear to be sleazy, no matter who does them...

That's all I'm gonna say about this, at the moment.

[BlueLucy]

2. This warms my heart

Sounds like the man paid the price and has been rehabilitated. He's an old man now, likely not a threat.

[cstanleytech]

3. Old does not mean someone is not a threat. Trump for example is a rather large one to

pretty much every decent human being in the world.
That is not to say that I oppose the clemency but nor does it mean I support it, rather I am simply indifferent to it.

[secondwind]

4. I believe in redemption. Am glad he will be reunited with his family.

[SYFROYH]

5. Its Cuomo's right, but I never like seeing murders and big $ white collar criminals get out early

If they have rehabilitated themselves as their advocates claim, then prison worked for them and I recommend they stay there until parole.

[helpisontheway]

6. He also granted clemency to Jon-Adrian Velazquez

I have watch Dateline for many years. Usually I’m quick to say GUILTY. However, his case really bothered me. I just had this gut feeling that he was not guilty. I even joined. Free John-Adrian Velazquez Facebook so I could keep track of his case (that has never happened). I watched the followup shows that convinced me even more. Anyway, I was happy when his mom posted that he had been granted clemency after 23 years. He earned his degree while in prison. He worked as a teaching fellow for a professor at Columbia University. He also helped with programs to help other prisoners. Martin Sheen tried to help him get out for many years. Every bit of me tells me that he was not guilty. If I’m wrong he completed 23.5 yrs out of a 25-life sentence.