United States President Donald Trump has, for the second time, freed a female fraudster whom he pardoned during his first term but who went on to commit fraud again, as he pardons more criminals.
The San Diego businesswoman who was granted clemency by Mr Trump in 2021, was later convicted on new fraud charges but received a pardon from the U.S. president on Thursday, according to Bloomberg.
The pardon also involves Adriana Camberos, 55, who was convicted by jurors in 2024 of making tens of millions of dollars by selling wholesale groceries after lying to manufacturers about where the products would be sold, according to the Justice Department.
Ms Camberos was released from Bureau of Prisons custody on Thursday, according to an agency website.
Her brother, Andres, who was convicted with her at trial in 2024, also received a Trump pardon.
Meanwhile, Terren Peizer, who was convicted in 2024 of insider trading and sentenced last year to 42 months in prison, also received a pardon, according to a White House official who spoke to Bloomberg.
In all, Mr Trump granted clemency on Thursday to 21 people, White House pardon czar Alice Marie Johnson said in a social media post.
Mr Trump has said he’s using his unchecked clemency powers to correct abuses in the criminal justice system against those prosecuted for political reasons, particularly under former President Joe Biden.
However, Mr Trump’s critics say he’s undermining the work of Justice Department prosecutors by giving pardons and commutations to undeserving recipients who gain access to him.
Besides Ms Camberos, other people granted clemency by Mr. Trump have committed new crimes.
One of them is Eliyahu “Eli” Weinstein, a convicted Ponzi schemer whose 24-year prison term was commuted by Trump in 2021.
In November, he was sentenced to 37 years behind bars for stealing $44 million from investors after he was released.
