The story of Jon-Adrian Velazquez hit the headlines following his wrongful conviction, which put him in prison for over two decades. His story depicts the power of hope and patience. For years, Jon-Adrian was referenced as convict AA2803, but even after serving for all those years, he managed to get his freedom and an official state apology. What more do we know about Jon-Adrian Velazquez? Stick around and find out.
Who is Jon-Adrian Velazquez?
Jon-Adrian Velazquez is an American male born on November 11, 1975. Jon-Adrian was popularly known as “JJ,” and he is the father of two. Jon-Adrian is currently married to Geraldine Tiu, and they married in 2023.
Jon-Adrian gained popularity after an investigation confirmed that he was wrongly convicted. Even in prison, Jon-Adrian was committed to helping people change their lives. Moreover, he was a prison model, and recently, after he found his freedom, Jon-Adrian is still committed to being the voice for the voiceless.
As a prisoner, Jon-Adrian earned a college degree, attending classes five nights weekly. He was a model prisoner and funded programs aimed at sharing insights from different prisoners. For instance, he started Voices from Within, which shared the voices of inmates involved in gun violence and the consequences of their actions.
What Happened to Jon-Adrian Velazquez?
Jon-Adrian was a convicted criminal for 23 years. He was convicted in 1998 for shooting a police officer in Harlem. According to three witnesses, their description of the shooter matched Jon-Adrian’s appearance, and even without digging more into the case and evidence, Jon-Adrian was quickly sentenced to prison.
According to the witnesses, the shooter was black and had braids. However, JJ is Latino and has no braids. As such, many questioned the decision as the sentencing was unlawful, considering the witness’s description.
Despite the sentencing, JJ was committed to securing his freedom, and together with his lawyer, he tried filing different appeals until he reached the maximum appeal amounts for a convict. For 23 years, JJ was a convict, and it was only thanks to investigations by a team from NBC News that he found his way out.
The investigative team handled the case for a decade, gathering all the evidence that proved JJ was wrongfully convicted. The case quickly made JJ popular, and based on the evidence, many people started fighting for his freedom.
Luckily, the evidence confirmed that he had been wrongfully convicted. JJ then received his pardon on September 9, 2021. On October 18, 2022. President Biden sat with JJ to give him an official apology for his wrongful conviction.
Jon-Adrian Velazquez’s Net Worth
Considering his time in jail, estimating his net worth is currently difficult. However, JJ is gradually recovering his life and giving talks in different institutions. Through it, JJ earns a living alongside his programs that aim to provide inmates with a better voice. We will keep an eye on how he will grow his financial muscle and update the post.
