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Jon-Adrian “JJ” Velazquez’s formal exoneration represents a significant moment in the ongoing battle for justice and reform in the U.S. criminal justice system. Velazquez, a former U.S. Army veteran, spent over 23 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, despite maintaining his innocence from the day of his arrest.
The Original Crime
Authorities originally convicted Jon-Adrian “JJ” Velazquez for the 1998 murder of retired NYPD officer Albert Ward during an attempted robbery at an illegal gambling establishment in Harlem, New York. On January 27, 1998, someone fatally shot Ward inside the establishment. Initial witness testimonies described two assailants, both Black men, with the shooter reportedly having braids. However, investigators misidentified Velazquez, a Latino man with short hair, as the shooter. Several witnesses testified against him despite significant discrepancies—especially that Velazquez did not match the physical description given. Nevertheless, the case against him relied heavily on these questionable witness identifications.
The Inconsistencies
Jon-Adrian Velazquez’s original trial was plagued by numerous inconsistencies, many of which contributed to his wrongful conviction. One of the most critical issues was the reliance on eyewitness testimony, which proved to be unreliable. The witnesses who identified Velazquez offered conflicting descriptions of the assailants.
Initially, witnesses described the shooter as a Black man with braids, while Velazquez, a Latino man, had short hair at the time of the crime. Despite these clear discrepancies, their testimonies played a pivotal role in securing his conviction. Moreover, one witness even misidentified a juror as the perpetrator during the trial, casting further doubt on the accuracy of the witness identifications.
Lack Of Physical DNA
Another major inconsistency in the trial was the complete lack of physical evidence connecting Velazquez to the crime. No DNA, fingerprints, or other forensic evidence placed him at the scene of the murder. In fact, new DNA testing, which became available in 2022, found no trace of Velazquez’s DNA on a betting slip handled by the actual shooter, known as “Tee,” during the crime. This new evidence would likely have influenced the jury’s consideration of the case, had it been available during the original trial.
He Had A Phone Alibi
Velazquez’s alibi also presented another inconsistency overlooked during the trial. He had phone records showing he was on the phone with his mother at the time of the murder, yet the prosecution dismissed this by claiming he was speaking to his girlfriend instead. This alibi, combined with the absence of physical evidence, should have raised significant doubt about his involvement in the crime.
These flaws in the trial process, including unreliable witness testimonies and the lack of forensic evidence, ultimately led to Velazquez’s wrongful conviction. After more than two decades, these inconsistencies were brought to light, culminating in his exoneration in 2024.
A Decade Long Investigation Opened Up
Jon-Adrian Velazquez’s case was reinvestigated primarily through the persistent efforts of multiple individuals and organizations over several years. A key figure in the investigation was Dateline NBC producer Dan Slepian, whose involvement began around 2002 when Velazquez, from his prison cell, wrote letters to Slepian requesting his help.
Dan Slepian Took An Interest In The Case
At that time, Slepian had previously worked on other wrongful conviction cases, and Velazquez hoped his story might also capture the journalist’s attention. Slepian took a personal interest in Velazquez’s case, initiating a decade-long investigation that would uncover significant inconsistencies in the original trial.
His Work Uncovered The Inconsistencies
Slepian’s meticulous work involved tracking down and interviewing witnesses who had testified during the original trial. Through these interviews, he discovered that some of the witnesses had misidentified Velazquez and that their testimonies were inconsistent. For example, one witness mistakenly pointed out a juror as the perpetrator during the trial, and another was a heroin addict, raising questions about the reliability of their statements. These revelations were central to questioning the credibility of the evidence used to convict Velazquez.
The Innocence Project Was Also In
In addition to Slepian’s efforts, organizations like the Innocence Project and later the Conviction Integrity Unit of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office played crucial roles in the reinvestigation. The Innocence Project, known for its work in overturning wrongful convictions, provided legal and investigative support, particularly in exploring avenues for new forensic testing. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Conviction Integrity Unit, formed to review potentially wrongful convictions, eventually took up Velazquez’s case. This unit examined new DNA evidence and other discrepancies in the trial, which contributed to the eventual decision to vacate his conviction.
The combined efforts of Slepian, the Innocence Project, and the DA’s office ultimately revealed the deep flaws in the original trial, leading to Velazquez’s exoneration after over two decades of wrongful imprisonment.
He Was Granted Clemency In 2021
In 2021, then-New York Governor Andrew Cuomo granted clemency to Jon-Adrian Velazquez, marking a major milestone in his journey toward freedom after he had spent over two decades in prison for a crime he did not commit. Authorities had convicted Velazquez in 1999 for the 1998 murder of retired police officer Albert Ward, who was fatally shot during an attempted robbery at an illegal gambling parlor in Harlem. Only 22 years old at the time, Velazquez consistently maintained his innocence, yet he received a 25-years-to-life sentence based largely on witness testimonies that later proved unreliable. Throughout his imprisonment, Velazquez’s case attracted growing attention, thanks to investigative work by organizations like the Innocence Project and a thorough investigation by Dateline NBC.
What Is Clemency?
Clemency grants mercy or leniency from a government official, usually a governor or the president, to individuals convicted of crimes. It can take several forms, including a pardon, a sentence commutation, or a reprieve. While clemency does not erase a conviction or imply innocence, it reduces the punishment’s severity, providing relief from further legal consequences. Often, officials grant clemency out of concern for fairness, new evidence, or humanitarian reasons, such as when a person has shown rehabilitation after serving a substantial part of their sentence.
He Got A Early Release From Prison
In Jon-Adrian Velazquez’s case, clemency was crucial in helping him secure an early release from prison after spending more than 23 years behind bars for a crime he consistently maintained he did not commit. In 2021, then-Governor Andrew Cuomo granted him clemency by commuting his sentence. This act did not absolve Velazquez of guilt in a legal sense or overturn his conviction, but it allowed him to leave prison earlier than his original 25 years-to-life sentence would have permitted. Importantly, clemency offered Velazquez a chance to regain his freedom while legal battles continued to fully exonerate him.
Clemency renewed attention to Jon-Adrian Velazquez’s case, spurring further action from his legal team, supporters, and criminal justice reform advocates. This decision allowed Velazquez to fight for justice as a free man rather than from behind bars, where limited access to legal resources and media coverage often hinder such efforts. His release also opened doors for a more in-depth reinvestigation, including new DNA testing and a reexamination of witness testimonies that had gone largely unchallenged at his trial. This fresh scrutiny ultimately proved crucial in achieving his exoneration in 2024. Without clemency, his fight for justice would likely have been delayed—or even obstructed—by continued incarceration.
His Fight For Exoneration
In 2021, Jon-Adrian Velazquez gained clemency, but he pressed forward to fully clear his record and secure exoneration. Although clemency enabled his release from prison after more than 23 years for a crime he did not commit, it stopped short of exonerating him or officially recognizing his innocence. Consequently, the conviction still marked him as a felon, casting a shadow over his life and forcing him to bear the social and legal burdens of this wrongful label. He remained on parole, limiting his freedom and binding him to strict conditions despite his continued assertion of innocence.
A Breakthrough In The Case
Velazquez’s legal team and advocates, including the Innocence Project and supporters like Dateline NBC producer Dan Slepian, continued to push for a full exoneration. Their goal was not only to remove the legal burden from his record but also to rectify the gross injustice of his wrongful conviction. This battle involved reopening his case and scrutinizing the flaws in the original trial, such as unreliable eyewitness testimony and the lack of physical evidence linking Velazquez to the crime.
In 2022, new DNA testing on crime scene evidence—specifically a betting slip handled by the actual perpetrator, known as “Tee”—provided further proof of Velazquez’s innocence, as the slip contained no trace of his DNA. This kind of forensic testing was unavailable at the time of his original trial.
Finally Exonerated In 2024
The reinvestigation by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Conviction Integrity Unit, along with the efforts of Velazquez’s legal team, ultimately resulted in his exoneration in 2024. However, the years between his clemency and exoneration were filled with continued advocacy and legal battles. Velazquez worked tirelessly to clear his name, not only for his own sake but to shed light on the broader issues of wrongful convictions in the criminal justice system. His determination to fully exonerate himself was a testament to his resilience and belief in justice, highlighting the long, arduous road many wrongfully convicted individuals must endure to achieve true freedom.
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FAQs About Jon-Adrian Velazquez’s Case
Jon-Adrian Velazquez was originally convicted of the 1998 murder of retired NYPD officer Albert Ward during an attempted robbery in Harlem.
The original trial had inconsistencies, including unreliable eyewitness identifications and a lack of physical evidence linking Velazquez to the crime scene.
Dateline NBC producer Dan Slepian, along with the Innocence Project and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Conviction Integrity Unit, reinvestigated Velazquez’s case.
Clemency was granted by Governor Andrew Cuomo, allowing Velazquez to be released early from prison, though it did not officially exonerate him.
After his release, Velazquez and his legal team pursued further investigations, including new DNA testing, which ultimately led to his exoneration in 2024.
