Jon-Adrian Velazquez (born November 11, 1975) also known as "JJ" Velazquez, is an American legal reform activist and actor who was wrongfully convicted of a 1998 murder of a retired police officer. He was serving a 25 years to life sentence at maximum security Sing-Sing prison in New York. His case garnered considerable attention from the media ten years after his conviction, due to a long-term investigation by Dateline NBC producer Dan Slepian[1][2] and celebrity support from actor Martin Sheen,[3] actress Alfre Woodard,[4] music executive Jason Flom,[5] and entertainment company Roc Nation. [6]
Jon-Adrian Velazquez | |
|---|---|
 Velazquez interviewed by Lester Holt after his exoneration | |
| Born | November 11, 1975 |
| Other names | JJ Velazquez |
| Alma mater | Mercy University |
| Occupation(s) | Co-Founder and Executive Director of Voices from Within |
| Partner |
Geri Leigh Tiu (m. 2023) |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | jonadrianjjvelazquez |
On May 8, 2022 The New York Times published an extensive feature on how Velazquez was Slepian's "one man innocent project" inside Sing Sing prison to help free several innocent men.[7]
Sing Sing (2023 Film)
editVelazquez co-stars with Colman Domingo, Paul Raci, and Clarence Maclin in the A24 prison drama that follows a group of incarcerated men who find purpose in acting in theater productions. Featuring an ensemble cast of formerly incarcerated actors, "Sing Sing" takes place at the Sing Sing Correctional Facility.
'Letters from Sing Sing'
editOn February 20, 2023, NBC News announced the launch of 'Letters From Sing Sing' an eight-episode podcast, the first from NBC News Studios, detailing Slepian's 20-year search for the truth and his journey with Velazquez along the way.[8]
The case
editRetired NYPD officer Albert Ward was murdered during an attempted robbery of his illegal gambling establishment in Harlem, New York on January 27, 1998. Ward was involved in the running of the establishment at the time. Witnesses initially claimed that the two assailants were both black, and that the shooter was a black man with braids.[9] Velazquez is Latino and had short hair at the time.
Dateline NBC investigation
editBeginning around 2002, Velazquez wrote letters to Dateline NBC producer Dan Slepian,[1] after hearing about another one of Slepian's documentaries that resulted in getting another conviction overturned. Dateline producers began an investigation that lasted ten years, tracking down and interviewing witnesses and others involved in the case.[10]
Velazquez contends that he was speaking on the phone with his mother at the time of the murder, a claim that is supported by phone records showing a call between Velazquez's residence and his mother. The prosecution contended that it was his girlfriend on the phone at the time. One witness who testified in court incorrectly identified a juror instead of Velazquez when asked to point out the perpetrator. Other witnesses were a heroin addict and a drug dealer. Velazquez was misidentified in the case by presenting one of the witnesses with hundreds of images of people previously convicted of unrelated crimes.[10]
The broadcast about Velazquez's case aired nationally on NBC on February 12, 2012 and was nominated for three Emmy Awards.[11]
The broadcast sparked a review of Velazquez's case by the Manhattan District Attorney's Conviction Integrity Unit.[10] On April 5, 2013, the unit decided to let the conviction stand.[12] In response to the DA's unwillingness to further pursue his bid for innocence, on May 2, 2013 his legal council officially files a motion 440 with the court in New York City.[13]
On December 5, 2014, Velazquez's 440 motion—his request to have a hearing—was denied, but he appealed.[14]
On June 27, 2017, Velazquez once again entered a 440 motion due to newly discovered documents that were never provided by the District Attorney's office to his original defense. This "Brady Material" was the basis for his new motion and as late as November 2017 even more undisclosed documents pertinent to his defense were discovered.
A 4-part documentary series The Sing Sing Chronicles directed by Dawn Porter, focusing on Velazquez's case from reporting by Dan Slepian, is scheduled to premiere in November 2024, on MSNBC.[15]
Exoneration
editOn September 30, 2024, Velazquez was exonerated by Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg. The Office joined in Velazquez's request to vacate the conviction and moved to dismiss the indictment in the interest of justice based on newly discovered DNA evidence. The motion was granted by Judge Abraham Clott.
Executive clemency
editOn August 17, 2021, Velazquez was granted clemency by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.[16] Velazquez's legal team and family issued the following statement. "We are elated that JJ Velazquez, a man who has spent more than two decades in prison for a crime he didn't commit, will finally be going home. And of course, we are deeply grateful to Governor Cuomo for this enlightened exercise of his executive clemency powers."[citation needed]
On September 9, 2021, after 23 years, 8 months and 7 days of imprisonment, Velazquez was freed from Sing Sing Correctional facility."[16]
Presidential apology
editOn October 18, 2022, President Joe Biden sat down with Velazquez to discuss criminal legal reform in part of NowThis's [17] presidential forum. President Biden apologized to Velazquez on "behalf of all society" for his wrongful conviction.
"Voices From Within"
editIn 2013, Velazquez led the formation of "Voices From Within" a comprehensive multimedia education initiative that addresses the epidemic of crime and incarceration directly through voices of incarcerated individuals living with the consequences of their choices, and the victims left in their wake [18] while inside Sing Sing.
"Voices From Within" is operated under a public domain license currently used by politicians as a tool to approach issues of gun violence in New York City. The success of the program led Velazquez to create a series of workshops called CHOICES (Choosing Healthier Options In Confronting Every Situation)[19] about creating healthy communities through healthy decision making. These workshops empower young people impacted by crime and incarceration to realize the significance of making better life choices. In 2014, Velazquez curated the first TEDx Event held inside a New York State prison.[20]
References
edit- ^ a b "Investigations: U.S. & World News Investigations | NBC News". Archived from the original on 2023-02-04. Retrieved 2012-10-03.
- ^ Guthrie, Marisa (February 11, 2012). "NBC News' 'Dateline' Examines 1999 Murder Conviction". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 4, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
- ^ "Martin Sheen: Latino Man Wrongly Convicted of Murder | Fox News Latino". 2011-12-06. Archived from the original on 2023-02-04. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
- ^ Hollywood Actress Joins Movement to Get Murder Conviction Tossed Out
- ^ Exec who launched stars like Katy Perry and Kid Rock is now helping free the innocent
- ^ Team Roc, Roc Nation's Activist Wing, Works in the Trenches
- ^ Kilgannon, Corey (7 May 2022). "How 5 Convicted Murderers Banded Together to Get Out of Prison". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
- ^ A.J. Katz (February 13, 2023). "NBC News Studios Launches First-Ever Original Podcast Series". TVNewser.
- ^ "Convicted Killer in Harlem Murder Hopes Prosecutors Reconsider Case | NBC New York". Archived from the original on 2023-02-04. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
- ^ a b c "Open Channel - Witness error: How mind tricks can put the innocent behind bars". Archived from the original on 2012-02-13. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
- ^ "The Nominees - 34th News & Doc Emmy Awards". Archived from the original on 2016-12-21. Retrieved 2016-12-21.
- ^ "DA turns down exoneration bid, backed by Martin Sheen, from man convicted in 1998 NYC killing". Fox News. April 5, 2013. Archived from the original on April 10, 2013. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
- ^ "440 Memo of Law" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 10, 2013.
- ^ Slepian, Dan (December 20, 2014). "'I've Been Dragged Through Gates of Hell,' Says Man Jailed for Murder". NBC News. Archived from the original on February 4, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
- ^ Shanfield, Ethan (September 30, 2024). "'Sing Sing Chronicles' Docuseries to Investigate Wrongful Convictions of JJ Velazquez and Five Other Innocent Men". Variety. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
- ^ a b "Governor Cuomo Grants Clemency to Ten Individuals". Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. August 17, 2021. Archived from the original on August 17, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
- ^ Joe Biden and JJ Velazquez Discuss Criminal Legal Reform
- ^ "Voices From Within". www.voicesfromwithin.org.
- ^ "CHOICES". THE CHOICES CONNECTION.
- ^ "Voices from within | Dan Slepian | TEDxSingSing". February 13, 2015 – via YouTube.