“Sing Sing” actor JJ Velazquez acquitted of wrongful murder conviction

After serving nearly 24 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, “Sing Sing” actor Jon-Adrian “JJ” Velazquez has been acquitted of his wrongful murder conviction.

Velazquez held back tears, beating his chest and clenching his fist as he hugged friends and family after he was officially acquitted by the judge Monday morning at a downtown Manhattan courthouse.

Velazquez stars alongside Colman Domingo in the A24 prison drama, which follows a group of incarcerated men who find meaning through acting in theater productions. Featuring an ensemble cast of formerly incarcerated actors, “Sing Sing” is set in the Sing Sing Correctional Facility, where Velazquez was falsely imprisoned.

Among those in attendance to support Velazquez were “Sing Sing” star Clarence Maclin, director Greg Kwedar and Brent Buell, the playwright and theater educator played in the film by Paul Raci. Several A24 employees were also on site. As Velazquez walked toward the elevators, the crowd cheered him, waving Puerto Rican flags and chanting, “¡Sí se puede!”

As he left the courthouse, Velazquez, wearing a hat that read “End of a Mistake,” was swarmed by the press. After making brief remarks, he sat down in a nearby park for an interview with NBC's Lester Holt.

Velazquez lamented that he was unable to be an active father in his children's lives. “I was kidnapped and enslaved by this country,” he said, describing some of the horrors of incarceration. He added: “This is not a celebration. This is an indictment of the system.”

In 1998, Velazquez was wrongly convicted of murdering a retired New York police officer. He was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison despite not matching the suspect's description and having an alibi corroborated by telephone records.

“Dateline NBC” conducted an investigation into the Velazquez case that began in 2002 and lasted more than a decade. The resulting 2012 broadcast brought new evidence in Velazquez's favor and triggered a review by the Manhattan District Attorney's Conviction Integrity Unit, which ultimately decided to uphold the verdict.

Nearly a decade later, on August 17, 2021, Velazquez was pardoned by then-New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. On September 9, 2021, Velazquez was released from Sing Sing Prison after 23 years, eight months and seven days in prison.

In October 2022, at a forum on criminal justice reform, Joe Biden apologized to Velazquez “on behalf of all of society” for his wrongful conviction. But back then, Velazquez still needed a passport from a probation officer in order to sit with the president. Velazquez said diversity before being relieved that the “scarlet letter” that was taped to his chest will finally be removed. “It’s much deeper than discrimination. What matters is that a person's human dignity is diminished. I get some of my dignity back,” Velazquez said.

Still, he added: “There is nothing you can do to give me back the 24 years I lost and all the difficulties that resulted from it.” There is a spirit of justification, but there are still many traumas that remain unaddressed – and that the system doesn't want to address.” Velazquez said that while Biden's apology “didn't change my lifestyle,” even a simple “sorry” from the government after a wrongful conviction is extremely rare.

Velazquez is a criminal justice reform activist and founding member of Voices From Within, an educational initiative that addresses the epidemic of crime and incarceration directly through the voices of incarcerated people.

He began filming “Sing Sing” less than a year after his release from the titular prison, calling the project “one of the most important things I've done in my life.” Based on a true story, the film follows John “Divine G” Whitfield (played by Domingo), a man imprisoned in Sing Sing for a crime he did not commit. He, along with a group of other incarcerated men, finds meaning through the prison's Rehabilitation Through the Arts program.

“Sing Sing” was based on a community-based financial model, which meant that all cast and crew members received equal pay and everyone had a stake in the film's success.

In a joint statement diversity“Sing Sing” producers Kwedar, Monique Walton and Clint Bentley said Velazquez's exoneration is “another step in his powerful journey.” He will undoubtedly use a moment to benefit others and stand up for those still behind walls are located. Because that’s exactly what he is.”

In addition to his activism, Velazquez hopes to pursue more acting. “To know that you can make money and still have fun and be surrounded by great people,” Velazquez said, “I do what I'm passionate about.” What I always said when I was in it, I do actually now.”