Felipe Rodriguez's Re-Entry Fund
Donation protected
Felipe Rodriguez’s family and friends are seeking donations to help him transition to freedom after more than a quarter-century in prison for a murder he has always maintained he did not commit.
On December 30, 2016, in response to a clemency petition filed by Felipe’s lawyers at the Innocence Project and the Law Office of Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo took the extraordinary step of commuting Felipe’s sentence. The Governor’s action will allow Felipe to reunite with his loved ones in the free world for the first time in more than 26 years.
Unfortunately, the DNA evidence that could have scientifically proven Felipe’s innocence was destroyed in city custody long ago. But the Governor’s decision to commute his sentence and set him free is a tribute to Felipe’s extraordinary character and his determination to prove his innocence. Such extraordinary relief is granted to only a handful of the tens of thousands of prison inmates in New York each year.
(Felipe with Archbishop of New York Timothy Dolan)
Felipe’s attorneys will continue their work to clear his name. However, because he is not yet exonerated, Felipe will leave prison with no compensation from the state, and at age 51, he will need to rebuild his life.
Felipe was 25 years old and married with a young son when he was convicted of murder. He worked in maintenance for the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development and volunteered as an auxiliary police officer. His conviction was based in large part on testimony of a police informant who, unbeknownst to Felipe’s jury, had admitted in a taped interview prior to trial that he fabricated his story.
Felipe had no prior criminal record and always maintained his innocence. He passed a polygraph before trial and was allowed to remain on bail, which is rare in a murder case. Although Felipe was eligible for parole in 2015, he waived his right to appear before the Board because he believed parole would not be granted unless he admitted guilt to a crime he did not commit.
During Felipe’s lengthy incarceration he became very involved in the Catholic church. He is a devout man who has served as a spiritual advisor to numerous other prisoners. He has organized gift drives to buy holiday gifts for disabled children and helped to plan an Easter Mass that was attended (at Felipe’s invitation) by the Archbishop of New York, Cardinal Timothy Dolan. Felipe also painted murals throughout the prison, and held positions of significant trust and responsibility in facility maintenance and management.
Your support means a great deal to Felipe during this time of transition. While he leaves prison with marketable employment skills and a community of supporters, he will need assistance to pay for rent, clothing, transportation, medical expenses, and food. He is also eager to travel to Virginia, where his elderly mother lives.
Although Felipe is still fighting for his exoneration, the funds will not pay for his legal fees. Felipe’s lawyers are representing him free of charge. These donations will be held by Mr. Margulis-Ohnuma’s law firm in a separate account as a gift for Mr. Rodriguez to be distributed to him to use as the need arises. Thank you.
Read more about Felipe’s case here , here, and here.
On December 30, 2016, in response to a clemency petition filed by Felipe’s lawyers at the Innocence Project and the Law Office of Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo took the extraordinary step of commuting Felipe’s sentence. The Governor’s action will allow Felipe to reunite with his loved ones in the free world for the first time in more than 26 years.
Unfortunately, the DNA evidence that could have scientifically proven Felipe’s innocence was destroyed in city custody long ago. But the Governor’s decision to commute his sentence and set him free is a tribute to Felipe’s extraordinary character and his determination to prove his innocence. Such extraordinary relief is granted to only a handful of the tens of thousands of prison inmates in New York each year.
(Felipe with Archbishop of New York Timothy Dolan)Felipe’s attorneys will continue their work to clear his name. However, because he is not yet exonerated, Felipe will leave prison with no compensation from the state, and at age 51, he will need to rebuild his life.
Felipe was 25 years old and married with a young son when he was convicted of murder. He worked in maintenance for the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development and volunteered as an auxiliary police officer. His conviction was based in large part on testimony of a police informant who, unbeknownst to Felipe’s jury, had admitted in a taped interview prior to trial that he fabricated his story.
Felipe had no prior criminal record and always maintained his innocence. He passed a polygraph before trial and was allowed to remain on bail, which is rare in a murder case. Although Felipe was eligible for parole in 2015, he waived his right to appear before the Board because he believed parole would not be granted unless he admitted guilt to a crime he did not commit.
During Felipe’s lengthy incarceration he became very involved in the Catholic church. He is a devout man who has served as a spiritual advisor to numerous other prisoners. He has organized gift drives to buy holiday gifts for disabled children and helped to plan an Easter Mass that was attended (at Felipe’s invitation) by the Archbishop of New York, Cardinal Timothy Dolan. Felipe also painted murals throughout the prison, and held positions of significant trust and responsibility in facility maintenance and management.
Your support means a great deal to Felipe during this time of transition. While he leaves prison with marketable employment skills and a community of supporters, he will need assistance to pay for rent, clothing, transportation, medical expenses, and food. He is also eager to travel to Virginia, where his elderly mother lives.
Although Felipe is still fighting for his exoneration, the funds will not pay for his legal fees. Felipe’s lawyers are representing him free of charge. These donations will be held by Mr. Margulis-Ohnuma’s law firm in a separate account as a gift for Mr. Rodriguez to be distributed to him to use as the need arises. Thank you.
Read more about Felipe’s case here , here, and here.
Organizer and beneficiary
Anonymous Support
Organizer
New York, NY
Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma
Beneficiary