Actor exonerated after 24 years in prison for wrongful murder conviction

“Sing Sing” actor Jon-Adrian “JJ” Velazquez is finally returning home after serving nearly 24 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.

He was exonerated of his wrongful conviction by Judge Abraham Clott in Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday morning. according to Variety.

Velazquez stars alongside Colman Domingo in the critically acclaimed dramatic film, which chronicles the real-life drama program Rehabilitation Through The Arts (RTA) at Sing Sing Correctional Facility.

“Sing Sing” producers Greg Kwedar, Monique Waton and Clint Bentley praised the decision in a joint statement:

“We saw firsthand the quality of his character, the depth of his soul and the reach of his kindness. Surely everyone who sees our film feels it too. Now in the halls of justice, JJ will be granted what he was so long overdue: exoneration for his wrongful conviction. It is another step on his powerful journey. He will undoubtedly use a moment to benefit others and stand up for those still behind the walls. Because that’s exactly what he is.”

In 1998, Velazquez was wrongly convicted of murdering a retired New York police officer. He was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison despite not matching the suspect’s description and having an alibi corroborated by telephone records.

Velazquez worked with Dateline NBC for nearly a decade to further investigate his innocence and the Manhattan district attorney’s mishandling of the case.

A 2012 television broadcast triggered a review by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Conviction Integrity Unit. They decided to let the verdict stand. On August 17, 2021, then-New York Governor Andrew Cuomo granted clemency.

On September 9, 2021, Velazquez was released from Sing Sing Prison after nearly 24 years. In October 2022, President Joe Biden apologized to Velazquez “on behalf of all of society” for his wrongful conviction.

Velazquez is also a criminal justice reform activist and a founding member of Voices From Within. The initiative “addresses the epidemic of crime and incarceration directly through the voices of incarcerated people.”

Related reporting:

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today NJ.com.

Murjani Rawls can be reached at [email protected] and followed on Twitter at@MurjaniRawls.