Ex-Bad Boy rapper G. Dep recently had his second-degree murder sentence commuted, which makes him eligible to seek parole. According to CBS 42, Dep’s sentence was commuted by Gov. Kathy Hochul, after he’s served 13 of a 15-year-to-life sentence. As such, the 49-year-old, whose real name is Travell Coleman, will now be allowed to seek parole earlier than his original 2025 date.
In a statement, Gov. Hochul explained why she granted clemency to Dep and 15 other individuals, including 12 pardons and four commutations. It reportedly marked the third time Hochul has granted clemency in 2023.
“Through the clemency process, it is my solemn responsibility as governor to recognize the efforts individuals have made to improve their lives and show that redemption is possible,” she said in the statement.
Back in 2010, attorney Anthony L. Ricco said, Dep “had been haunted” by a nearly 20-year-old cold case murder–the 1993 fatal shooting of John Henkel that took place during a robbery in East Harlem. Dep’s conscience reportedly led him to walking into a New York police precinct and admitting to shooting someone as a teenager during the robbery. Henkel was shot three times in the chest outside an apartment complex.
Following the trial, G. Dep was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison in 2012.
While in prison, the rapper reportedly earned an associate’s degree and facilitated sobriety counseling and violence prevention programs. He’s also been participating in several educational and rehabilitative classes, according to Hochul’s office. G. Dep’s clemency application was supported by the same prosecutor in the case and the judge who sentenced him.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “A commutation is a reduction of a sentence to a lesser period of time. The president can commute a sentence if he believes the punishment is too severe for the crime. While a pardon deletes a conviction, a commutation keeps the conviction but deletes or lowers the punishment. The conviction stays on the record, and the person who receives the commutation does have any rights restored.” Clemency, on the other hand means something different. According to Clemency.com, “As per Clemency law, ‘to grant clemency’ is to give mercy, to forgive. According to the clemency law definition when we speak of an executive’s official power to grant clemency, be it a president or governor, the core of clemency power is to allow the executive personnel to show leniency or mercy. Indeed, it is said to be an act of grace that is based on fairness, justice, and forgiveness.”
John Henkel’s brother, Robert Henkel, said G. Dep’s request for clemency was “a farce” in an interview with the New York Post last year. He was also very critical of Manhattan District Alvin Bragg and his office.
“It’s one thing to seek [clemency] for drug crimes, but not murder…Let [Coleman] rot in jail. Let him do his 15 years, and then he can try to get out on parole,” Robert said.
G. Dep signed to Bad Boy Records in 1998 and released his debut album Child of the Ghetto three years later in 2001. The album featured his hit records “Let’s Get It” and “Special Delivery” which helped popularize the famous Harlem Shake dance. His second album, Ghetto Legend, was released in 2010 and after his rap career started slowing down, he battled drug addiction. Dep additionally had low-level arrests, his attorney said in 2011.
Image Credit: Denise Truscello / Contributor | Getty Images
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