NYC weed kingpin sentenced to 27 months in prison after Trump previously commuted his sentence.

Jonathan Braun, a convicted drug kingpin from New York City whose sentence was commuted by former President Donald Trump in 2021, was sentenced on Monday to an additional 27 months for a series of new offenses. These include sexually abusing his live-in nanny and menacing a hospital nurse.

At 42 years old and residing in Long Island, Braun previously received a ten-year sentence in 2019 for leading a violent marijuana trafficking operation that generated approximately million per week. Trump commuted Braun’s sentence on his last day in office, under the condition that he complete a term of supervised release.

Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn argued for a maximum sentence of five years, emphasizing that Braun squandered his second chance by engaging in a series of violent and unlawful activities. According to the prosecution, these incidents included physically assaulting his nanny in February and threatening a nurse at Mount Sinai South Hospital in January, where he brandished an IV pole. He was also accused of threatening and physically assaulting a congregant at a local synagogue and repeatedly evading bridge tolls while driving luxury sports cars.

In a written statement read during the court proceedings, the victimized nanny expressed the lasting trauma from her experience and emphasized her relief at being able to protect future caregivers. Braun contended that his actions were a result of mental health issues and substance abuse, seeking time served as a leniency measure. He stated that the seven months spent in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center had encouraged positive changes in him.

During the sentencing hearing, civil rights attorney Edward Miller, the victim from the synagogue incident, sought leniency for Braun. He stated from personal experience that incarceration could worsen the conditions of individuals struggling with addiction or mental health issues. Despite this, Miller expressed frustration at Braun’s failure to utilize the opportunity given by the presidential commutation.

Judge Kiyo Matsumoto, who had also presided over Braun’s initial sentencing, ultimately rendered a decision within federal sentencing guidelines for Braun’s extensive criminal history. Alongside his 27-month prison term, Braun is mandated to undergo six months at a residential drug treatment facility, followed by an additional three months of home confinement. The judge advised him not to squander this further opportunity for rehabilitation.

Braun’s criminal history dates back to 2010, marked by his involvement in a significant marijuana smuggling ring utilizing aircraft and vehicles with hidden compartments for trafficking from Canada. Though he pleaded guilty in 2011, his sentencing was postponed until 2019 as he cooperated with law enforcement in ongoing investigations.

Braun has faced numerous legal challenges over the years, including a 2020 civil suit from the Federal Trade Commission, which accused him of deceiving small businesses in financial dealings and resorting to intimidation tactics for payment enforcement. This case culminated in a judgment exceeding million against him last year. Additionally, he has been the subject of domestic violence allegations, although those charges were not pursued.

The complexities surrounding Braun’s case underscore the ongoing dialogue around criminal justice reform, rehabilitation, and the impact of mental health on criminal behavior.