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Donald Trump pardoned 21 convicts – who was pardoned? Father of major MAGA donor, former Governor of Puerto Rico and more | Today’s news

January 17, 2026

In his latest spate of pardons, US President Donald Trump has pardoned up to 21 people, including the father of a major donor to his super PAC, the former governor of Puerto Rico and a woman whose sentence he commuted during his first term but who ended up back in prison for another scheme.

Cara Alice Marie Johnson pardoned the White House in a tweet, saying Trump pardoned 21 people on Thursday and released 9 of them immediately.

“What a blessed morning!!! Last night @POTUS extended clemency to 21 deserving individuals – 9 were immediately released, including Grandma Angela Reynolds, Angela Cupit, Andre Routt, and Zechariah Benjamin,” she wrote.

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Adriana Camberos

Adriana Camberos, convicted in 2017 for selling counterfeit 5-Hour Energy bottles, was commuted by Trump in 2021. She is now pardoned for a separate 2024 fraud conviction that, according to the AP, involved lying to manufacturers to wholesale food and other items at deep discounts after pledging they were destined for sale in Mexico or rehabilitation facilities.

On Thursday, Trump also pardoned her brother Andres, who was also convicted of fraud in 2024.

Peizer terrain

Trump also pardoned Terren Peizer, a resident of Puerto Rico and California, who headed the Miami-based healthcare company Ontrak.

According to the Justice Department, Peizer was allegedly convicted and sentenced to 42 months in prison for engaging in an insider trading scheme to avoid losses exceeding $12.5 million. He was also fined $5.25 million.

Wanda Vazquez

Wanda Vázquez, the former governor of Puerto Rico who pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations in a federal case last August, was pardoned by Trump.

Federal prosecutors sought one year behind bars for Wanda after she reportedly agreed to plead guilty to accepting a promise of a campaign contribution she never received in exchange for dropping bribery and fraud charges.

Her sentencing was set for later this month.

According to the AP, citing authorities, the case also involved a former FBI agent and a Venezuelan banker.

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Adriana Camberos

Adriana Camberos, convicted in 2017 for selling counterfeit 5-Hour Energy bottles, was commuted by Trump in 2021. She is now pardoned for a separate 2024 fraud conviction that, according to the AP, involved lying to manufacturers to wholesale food and other items at deep discounts after pledging they were destined for sale in Mexico or rehabilitation facilities.

On Thursday, Trump also pardoned her brother Andres, who was also convicted of fraud in 2024.

Peizer terrain

Trump also pardoned Terren Peizer, a resident of Puerto Rico and California, who headed the Miami-based healthcare company Ontrak.

According to the Justice Department, Peizer was allegedly convicted and sentenced to 42 months in prison for engaging in an insider trading scheme to avoid losses exceeding $12.5 million. He was also fined $5.25 million.

Wanda Vazquez

Wanda Vázquez, the former governor of Puerto Rico who pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations in a federal case last August, was pardoned by Trump.

Federal prosecutors sought one year behind bars for Wanda after she reportedly agreed to plead guilty to accepting a promise of a campaign contribution she never received in exchange for dropping bribery and fraud charges.

Her sentencing was set for later this month.

According to the AP, citing authorities, the case also involved a former FBI agent and a Venezuelan banker.

Julio Herrera Velutini

Banker Julio Herrera Velutini, Isabela Herrera’s father, who donated $2.5 million to Trump’s MAGA Inc super PAC in 2024 and another $1 million last summer, was also pardoned by Trump.

Julio was also involved in a campaign finance violation case along with Wanda Vázquez. A third defendant in the case, former FBI agent Mark Rossini, was also pardoned by the president.

Michael Grimm

Former U.S. Rep. Michael Grimm, a New York Republican who resigned from Congress after being convicted of tax fraud, was also pardoned by Trump.

Michael made headlines when he threatened to throw a reporter off the Capitol balcony over a question he didn’t like.

Todd and Julie Chrisley

Reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion, were also pardoned by Trump.

Henry Cuellar

The US president also pardoned Texas Democratic-Republican Henry Cuellar, who was convicted in a bribery and conspiracy case. Henry later expressed regret and frustration at having done so.

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