3 Local Residents Fighting Deportation Granted Clemency

Three local residents, two in their mid-60s, are among the 29 to whom Gov.Andrew M. Cuomo today granted clemency, saying they had demonstrated substantial evidence of rehabilitation and a commitment to community crime reduction. In addition, Cuomo commuted the sentences of two people who earned degrees from Hudson Valley colleges while in prison.

"While President Trump shuts down the federal government over his obsession with keeping immigrants out, New York stands strong in our support for immigrant communities," Cuomo said in the announcement. "These actions will help keep immigrant families together and take a critical step toward a more just, more fair and more compassionate New York."

Pardons

Dimas Acosta Ramirez, 64. Ramirez has been crime-free and sober for 21 years. He was born in Colombia and actively faces deportation, despite living here for 46 years. Ramirez is a volunteer pastor who provides child care for his grandchildren, and is the father of four children, three of whom served in the U.S. Armed Forces. He was convicted of Robbery in the Third Degree in 1976, Petit Larceny in 1992 and Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree in 1997, in Manhattan, Westchester, and the Bronx, respectively. He is a longtime Clarkstown resident, The Journal News reported.

Trevor Elliot, 67. Elliot was convicted of Criminal Sale and Attempted Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and Criminal Sale of Marijuana in the Fourth Degree in the early nineties in Westchester. He was born in Jamaica and has worked at a nonprofit that provides social services for youth and as an elder care provider. A pardon would allow him to apply for citizenship. He has maintained a crime-free lifestyle for 10 years. He lives in Peekskill, according to lohud.com

Marvin Hernandez, 34. He was convicted of Attempted Arson in the Third Degree for setting fire to a box of trash in 2006 in Westchester when he was 21 years old. There were no injuries. Hernandez has remained crime-free for the 12 years since. He came to the United States at age 3 from El Salvador to join his parents. A pardon will help him avoid deportation to El Salvador, where he has no family and fears gang violence. He lived then in Putnam Valley, The Journal News reported.

Commutations

In addition, two people who have earned degrees from colleges in the Hudson Valley while in prison had their sentences commuted:

Michael Crawford, 38, has served 20 years of a 22 to life sentence for Murder in the Second Degree, Robbery in the First Degree, Attempted Robbery in the First Degree and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Third Degree. Mr. Crawford was convicted of these charges at the age of 17 for shooting an individual who stole concert tickets from him in Buffalo in 1999, who was involved in the same drug crowd. He expresses strong remorse for the loss of life. Mr. Crawford is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse by a pastor, and Mr. Crawford's testimony was essential to sentencing his abuser to 70 years. Since incarceration, he has received his GED, B.A. from Bard and M.A. from New York Theological Seminary. Mr. Crawford is active in volunteer work, including knitting clothing for children and organizing United Way donations. Mr. Crawford has a job offer from St. John Baptist Church in Buffalo which he will accept upon release.

Dennis Woodbine, 42, has served almost 22 years of a 25 to life sentence for Murder in the Second Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree for an incident in Brooklyn in 1998 when he was 19 years old. While chasing a group of young men who had stolen his jewelry, Mr. Woodbine fired a gun, striking an innocent bystander. He expresses strong remorse for the loss of life. Mr. Woodbine earned a Bachelor's degree from Mercy College through Hudson Link. He is also a Youth Assistance Mentor and is active in the organization Rehabilitation Through the Arts, performing in and directing plays in his correctional facility. Mr. Woodbine was featured in a PBS documentary, Dramatic Escape, about RTA success stories. Upon release, he will work at Exodus Transitional Community, a leading re-entry organization, as a youth mentor, and live with his wife and step-children, who think of him as their father.

"We commend and thank Governor Cuomo for believing in the ripple effects that formerly incarcerated people can have on their families, communities, and society at large. It takes real courage and faith to exercise this executive power," Sean Pica, Executive Director of Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison, said about the decisions. "We look forward to witnessing these men and women, who have worked so hard with such dedication to personal improvement, demonstrate how much good they will do given this second chance."

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