If you’ve been following the news or just saw "Free Larry Hoover" on a hoodie, you’re probably asking: where is Larry Hoover now? It’s a valid question. The man is a legend in the worst and most complicated ways. He’s 75 years old now. For decades, the answer was simple: he was in a concrete box in Colorado. But things just changed in a huge way.
In May 2025, Donald Trump did something that shocked a lot of people in Chicago and DC alike. He commuted Hoover’s federal life sentences. Suddenly, the "Chairman" of the Gangster Disciples wasn't facing a federal "die in prison" order anymore. But if you think he walked out the front gates of a prison and into a limo, you’re mistaken. He’s still locked up.
The Transfer from ADX Florence
For nearly thirty years, Hoover lived at USP Florence ADMAX. People call it the "Alcatraz of the Rockies." It is the most restrictive prison in the United States. We’re talking about 23-hour-a-day solitary confinement. He couldn't see the mountains. He barely saw other humans.
When the federal commutation came down in 2025, it basically "erased" his federal time for running a criminal enterprise from behind bars. But Hoover has a "ghost" from 1973 following him. That ghost is a state conviction for the murder of William "Pooky" Young. Illinois hasn't forgotten about that.
Right now, as we move through 2026, Larry Hoover is in a state-run facility in Illinois. He was transferred out of federal custody in Colorado once the paperwork cleared. He’s no longer in that "supermax" isolation, which is a massive change for a man who hasn't touched another human being without handcuffs in a generation.
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Why the Illinois State Sentence Matters
Basically, Hoover is serving a 150-to-200-year sentence for that '73 murder. Because the crime happened before 1978, he falls under the "old" Illinois laws. That means he actually has a shot at parole. It sounds crazy to some, but it's the law.
His legal team, led by Jennifer Bonjean—who you might know as Bill Cosby’s former lawyer—is pushing hard. They aren't just looking for parole; they want a full pardon from Governor JB Pritzker. They argue that Larry is a "changed man." He’s old. He’s had at least three heart attacks. Honestly, his health is a major part of the conversation now.
What Most People Get Wrong About His Release
There’s a common misconception that the Trump commutation made him a free man. It didn't. It just shifted the "who owns him" from the federal government back to the state of Illinois.
- Federal Status: Commuted (Time Served).
- State Status: Still Incarcerated (Serving 150-200 years).
- Parole Status: Eligible, but repeatedly denied (most recently in 2025).
The Illinois Prisoner Review Board has been a tough nut to crack. They’ve voted 10-1 and even unanimously against him in the past. Why? Because the Gangster Disciples are still a thing. Law enforcement argues that even if he says he’s done, his name still carries enough weight to start a war or move a shipment.
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The Kanye and Drake Factor
You can't talk about where is Larry Hoover now without mentioning the celebrities. In 2021, Ye (Kanye West) and Drake did that "Free Larry Hoover" concert. It was a massive cultural moment.
Ye even went to the Oval Office and told Trump that Hoover was a "beacon of hope" for the community. Whether you agree with that or not, it worked. The pressure from the hip-hop community kept Hoover's name in the news when most 75-year-old inmates would have been forgotten. It’s the only reason a Republican president commuted the sentence of a man the DOJ once called the most dangerous gang leader in America.
The Current Legal Battle in 2026
The fight is currently sitting on Governor Pritzker’s desk. It’s a political nightmare for him. If he lets Hoover out and the Chicago crime rate spikes, it’s his head on a platter. If he keeps him in, he loses support from activists who see Hoover as a victim of "disproportionate sentencing."
Hoover himself has been vocal lately. In a letter to the court, he said there is "zero chance" he would re-offend. He talked about how he spent 25 years in a "front row seat to the passing by of the world." He says he wants to spend his last days with his grandchildren.
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Actionable Insights: What Happens Next?
If you're tracking this case, there are three specific things to watch for in the coming months:
- The Next PRB Hearing: Keep an eye on the Illinois Prisoner Review Board schedule. Their next vote on Hoover's parole will be the most significant one yet, given his new "non-federal" status.
- Governor Pritzker’s Clemency Decision: The Governor has the power to sign a pardon today if he wants. He’s been quiet, but the pressure is mounting.
- Health Reports: Given his history of heart attacks, a "compassionate release" filing is almost certain if his condition worsens.
Larry Hoover is closer to home than he has been in half a century, but the gates haven't swung open yet. He's moved from the mountains of Colorado to the flatlands of Illinois, trading a federal cell for a state one. For now, the "Chairman" remains an inmate, waiting for a signature that may or may not ever come.
Monitor the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) inmate search for the most up-to-date facility placement, as transfers between state prisons can happen with very little public notice.