A resident of McKinney recently received clemency for non-violent drug offenses from President Joe Biden on April 24, 2024 — clearing a decades-old federal drug case from his criminal record.
On Wednesday, President Biden pardoned 11 and commuted the sentences of five individuals who were convicted of non-violent drug offenses, including McKinney resident Jason Hernandez. The decision was made as part of April’s “Second Chance Month.”
“The pardon recipients have demonstrated their commitment to improving their lives and positively transforming their communities,” Biden said in the announcement. “The commutation recipients have shown that they are deserving of forgiveness and the chance at building a brighter future for themselves beyond prison walls.”
In 1998, Hernandez received a life sentence without parole plus 320 years for a nonviolent drug offense. After spending fourteen years behind bars, he founded a grassroots organization within prison named Crack Open The Door. This initiative aimed to advocate for individuals serving life without parole for crack cocaine offenses.
In 2011, Hernandez took matters into his own hands by drafting a petition for commutation and sending it, along with a letter, to President Obama. His plea was one of the first to result in clemency from President Obama, leading to a reduction in his sentence.
According to the Sentencing Project, since regaining his freedom in 2015, Herdandez dedicated himself to helping others navigate the complex clemency process. He successfully aided nearly a dozen individuals in obtaining clemency, the majority of whom were serving life without parole.
Now, Hernandez owns a store in McKinney, La Tiendita, where he was first arrested for selling drugs. “I tell people ‘I went from pushing dope to now pushing hope,’” Hernandez said during a Good Morning America visit last year.
During the GMA visit, Mayor George Fuller and the chamber of commerce granted Hernandez a key to the city for serving as an inspiration to youth and other members of the community.
With the pardon from President Biden, Hernanzes can now vote, travel and live as any other American citizen.
Don't miss anything Local. Sign up for our free newsletter.
