Larry Hoover had his federal life sentences commuted by former President Donald Trump on Tuesday (May 28) under the First Step Act.
The Gangster Disciples co-founder was convicted in 1997 of running a nationwide criminal enterprise from inside prison.
Federal prosecutors said Hoover continued to do it direct gang operations while locked up, which led to six life sentences on top of his original state conviction.
Hoover is still serving a 150-to-200 year state sentence in Illinois for a 1973 murder, with no release date in sight, sp move doesn’t mean the 73-year-old will be walking free anytime soon
Larry Hoover’s attorney Jennifer Bonjean issued a statement to the Chicago Tribune regarding the pardon.
“The courts have demonstrated a complete unwillingness to consider Mr. Hoover’s rehabilitation,” Bonjean wrote. “Sometimes the courts do not do the right thing. But thanks to the work of so many advocates and supporters keeping Mr. Hoover’s voice alive and ultimately the president taking action to deliver justice, we are thrilled to see Mr. Hoover released. Now it’s time for the IDOC to do the right thing.”
Trump’s decision came after a petition was filed under the First Step Act, a bipartisan law passed in 2018 that allows retroactive sentencing relief for certain federal inmates.
Hoover’s legal team argued that his federal sentence was excessive and that he no longer posed a threat to society.
Still, the commutation only affects his federal time.
The Illinois Department of Corrections confirmed Hoover must continue serving his original sentence for the 1973 murder of William Young, a drug dealer he ordered killed.
That conviction alone carries a term that could keep him imprisoned for life.
Hoover’s name resurfaced in pop culture when Kanye West and Drake joined forces for the “Free Larry Hoover” benefit concert in Los Angeles on December 9, 2021.
The event, held at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum, was intended to raise awareness about prison reform and advocate for Hoover’s release.
Thank you Drake for for helping to bring Larry Hoover home https://t.co/7GAbLy5M28
— ye (@kanyewest) May 28, 2025
The two Hip-Hop giants performed together after years of tension, with West saying the goal was “to show people that we can be unified.”
The concert drew national attention and reignited debate around Hoover’s incarceration and the broader issue of sentencing reform.
“WORDS CAN’T EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR OUR DEVOTED ENDURING PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP FOR FREEING LARRY HOOVER,” Kanye West road on X in addition to thanking Drake.
In a 2022 court filing, Larry Hoover renounced his association withThe Gangster Disciples.
“I am no longer a member, leader, or participant in any gang and I denounce and disassociate myself from any gang activity,” he said.
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