Ex-Mob Prosecutor Backs Larry Hoover's Bid for Release

Former federal judge and ex-New York mob prosecutor John Gleeson urges Illinois Prisoner Review Board to recommend parole for the 75-year-old founder of the Gangster Disciples.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 8:50pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a prison cell door lock, the metal surface reflecting the harsh light of the camera flash, conveying a sense of confinement and the gravity of the crimes committed.The high-stakes debate over Larry Hoover's bid for freedom exposes the complex tensions at the heart of criminal justice reform.Chicago Today

Larry Hoover, the 75-year-old founder of the Gangster Disciples, is making a renewed push for freedom, and he now has the support of former federal judge and ex-New York mob prosecutor John Gleeson. Gleeson urged the Illinois Prisoner Review Board to recommend parole for Hoover, arguing that he no longer poses a threat after spending more than five decades behind bars.

Why it matters

Hoover's case has become a significant moment in the ongoing debate over prison reform and the rehabilitation of long-serving inmates. As a former leader of one of the country's most powerful and violent street gangs, Hoover's potential release has raised concerns about public safety, but his supporters argue that he has renounced his past and deserves a second chance.

The details

At a clemency hearing in Chicago on April 7, Gleeson told the Illinois Prisoner Review Board that Hoover should not be judged solely by the man he was in the 1970s and 1990s. Hoover remains imprisoned on a 150-to-200-year Illinois sentence for ordering the 1973 murder of 19-year-old William 'Pooky' Young. Hoover's supporters believe his chances improved after President Donald Trump commuted Hoover's federal life sentence last year. Prosecutors, however, have pushed back sharply, arguing that Hoover's release would minimize the gravity of Young's murder and ignore the fact that Hoover historically directed violence through others.

  • The clemency hearing took place on April 7, 2026.
  • Hoover has been imprisoned for more than five decades.
  • Hoover's federal life sentence was commuted by President Donald Trump last year.

The players

John Gleeson

A former federal judge and ex-New York mob prosecutor who is now part of Larry Hoover's legal team and is urging the Illinois Prisoner Review Board to recommend parole for Hoover.

Larry Hoover

The 75-year-old founder of the Gangster Disciples, who is serving a 150-to-200-year Illinois sentence for ordering the 1973 murder of 19-year-old William 'Pooky' Young.

William 'Pooky' Young

A 19-year-old who was murdered in 1973, an act for which Larry Hoover was convicted and sentenced.

JB Pritzker

The governor of Illinois, who has final authority over whether Hoover is granted clemency.

Enrique Abraham

An assistant Cook County State's Attorney who argued against Hoover's release, saying it would minimize the gravity of Young's murder.

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What they’re saying

“Larry Hoover poses no risk of danger to the community.”

— John Gleeson, Former federal judge and ex-New York mob prosecutor

“We are not here to excuse what happened in Mr. Hoover's life. We are here to talk about accountability.”

— Justin Moore, Hoover's attorney

“He's not a monster. His family loves him.”

— Winndye Hoover, Larry Hoover's wife

“William Young never got a second chance.”

— Enrique Abraham, Assistant Cook County State's Attorney

What’s next

The three-member Illinois Prisoner Review Board panel will now send a confidential recommendation to Governor JB Pritzker, who has final authority over whether Hoover is granted clemency. The board is expected to make its recommendation within the next two months.

The takeaway

Hoover's case has become a significant moment in the ongoing debate over prison reform and the rehabilitation of long-serving inmates. While his supporters argue that he has renounced his past and deserves a second chance, prosecutors and victims' families remain concerned about the gravity of his crimes and the potential impact of his release on public safety.