Sing SingStar Who Served Over 20 Years in Prison Has Wrongful Murder Conviction Vacated

Mar. 15, 2025

Jon-Adrian “JJ” Velazquez.Photo:Samantha Burkardt/SXSW Conference & Festivals via Getty

Samantha Burkardt/SXSW Conference & Festivals via Getty

A New York judge vacated the conviction of a man who served over 20 years in prison for a murder he did not commit before becoming a criminal justice reform activist.

Velazquez, who was incarcerated at Sing Sing Correctional Facility, received high-profile support fromMartin SheenandAlfre Woodard, among others, and eventually received a presidential apology fromJoe Biden.

Colman Domingo, Velazquez’s co-star in the A24 film, tells PEOPLE: “This moves me to tears. It is his commitment to his own justice that justice was finally served. It came late but it came and JJ can lovingly, joyfully, purposefully live again.”

“JJ is such an extraordinary human that advocates for others passionately and lovingly,” Domingo’s statement continued. “It was my hope with our film Sing Sing that we humanize these incarcerated men and women and tell their stories and hopefully we change the hearts of people to see them as people. There are many JJ’s still fighting for their liberation of being wrongfully convicted and serving time.”

‘Sing Sing’ Director/Writer/Producer Greg Kwedar with cast JJ Velazquez and Sean San Jose.Phyllis Kwedar

Phyllis Kwedar

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“JJ Velazquez has lived in the shadow of his conviction for more than 25 years, and I hope that today brings with it a new chapter for him,” Bragg said. “I am grateful to our Post-Conviction Justice Unit for its commitment to impartially uncovering the facts and evidence in this case.”

source: people.com