Former Brooklyn Assemblyman William Boyland Jr., who was convicted on bribery and corruption charges in 2014, was granted clemency by the Biden Administration. Boyland, known for his influential family in Brownsville, was released to home confinement in February 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic after serving less than half of his 14-year sentence.
Prosecutors had opposed his early release, raising concerns about his return to prison once the pandemic ended. Boyland, who acknowledged that a return to elected office was not feasible after his conviction, has a street, school, and park named after his uncle in Brooklyn.
During his time in office, Boyland was found guilty of soliciting bribes and stealing money meant for senior citizens. He received over $14,000 in bribes from an undercover agent and defrauded the state of more than $71,000 in travel voucher money.
While behind bars, Boyland worked as a GED instructor and provided English as a second language instruction to other inmates. He also sought to reintegrate into society during his home confinement, attending church, enrolling in an online college program, and working with senior citizens.
Boyland declined to comment on the clemency decision when reached by phone. His release has sparked debate on the fairness of clemency for corrupt politicians and the impact on their accountability for their crimes.
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