Governor Andrew Cuomo on Monday granted clemency to 29 people who he says have demonstrated substantial evidence of rehabilitation and a commitment to community crime reduction.
They include some individuals with connections to the Rochester area.
One of them is Reginald Castel. The 45 year old was convicted of assault in 1999 in Rochester. The governor’s office says that Castel was born in Haiti and came to the U.S. at the age of 8.
Officials say he is married with four children and was deported in September 2017. Cuomo’s office says a pardon will allow Castel, who has remained crime free, to apply for re-entry to the U.S. and reunite with his family.
Others with local ties mentioned in Cuomo’s clemency announcement, who are getting pardons include:
Laith Altaee, 47, who was convicted of criminal sale of a controlled substance in 1997 in Monroe County. Cuomo’s office says Altaee is from Iraq and lives with his wife and two children. They say a pardon will help him avoid the risk of deportation.
Ricardo Bernaebeu, 59, who was convicted of criminal sale of a controlled substance in 1986 in Monroe County. He is an immigrant from Cuba and now works as mechanic in Florida. The governor’s office say a pardon will help defend Bernabeu against the risk of removal proceedings.
Cuomo says these actions will help keep immigrant families together and take a critical step toward, “a more just, more fair and more compassionate New York.”
