At least 20 individuals who received clemency from former President Donald Trump have been charged with new crimes. Among these is Jon Donyae Ponder, the founder and CEO of a Las Vegas-based prisoner reentry program.

Jon Ponder’s Case

Jon Ponder, 60, was arrested by Las Vegas police for sexual assault-related charges. Ponder was booked into the Clark County Detention Center with counts including sexual assault, unauthorized custodial contact, attempted coercion, and gross misdemeanor charges. Ponder remains in custody pending his court appearance.

Andrew Paul Johnson

Andrew Paul Johnson, previously pardoned after the January 6 Capitol riot, was convicted of child molestation in February 2026 and sentenced to life in prison. His criminal activities occurred before and after his pardon.

Other Notable Cases

Zachary Alam, another participant in the Capitol riot, faced charges for home invasion and was convicted of grand larceny and burglary.

Ryan Nichols, pardoned after a sentence for assaulting police during the Capitol riot, was charged in 2026 with deadly conduct and harassment.

Edward Kelley, a former Marine pardoned by Trump, was sentenced to life in prison for plotting to murder FBI special agents.

Emily Hernandez faced a prison sentence for a fatal DUI crash in January 2022.

Other individuals granted clemency faced charges ranging from gun possession, child pornography, and sexual assault to fraud and harassment.

Impact of Clemency

Lawfare, a nonprofit legal publication, reports that clemency given by Trump may have contributed to continued criminal conduct among some recipients. The study indicates that executive action facilitated criminal behavior in at least five cases.

The impact of these executive decisions continues to be scrutinized and debated in the legal and political sectors.