Governor Healey Recommends Four New Pardons
BOSTON – Today, Governor Maura Healey recommended four individuals to the Governor’s Council to receive pardons: Frank Albert, Paul Cacchiotti, Joseph Donisi and Yolanda Rodriguez. If confirmed, the total number of individuals pardoned by Governor Healey would be 25, in addition to hundreds of thousands who received her blanket marijuana pardon.
“The power to pardon is one I’ve taken seriously throughout my time in office because it makes our criminal justice system fairer and lowers barriers for people to access jobs, housing, education and more,” said Governor Healey. “I’m grateful for the hard work and thoughtful guidance of the Advisory Board of Pardons and appreciate the Governor’s Council careful review of these recommendations.”
"Governor Healey and our team have prioritized clemency from day one,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Because of the combined efforts of the Governor, the Advisory Board of Pardons and the Governor’s Council, we’ve been able to change people’s lives for the better and strengthen our criminal justice system.”
The Governor of Massachusetts has the power to grant executive clemency for offenses violating state law, including both pardons and commutations, with the advice and consent of the Massachusetts Governor’s Council. A pardon is a forgiveness of the offender's underlying offense.
Governor Healey made history as the first Massachusetts Governor in more than 30 years to recommend pardons in her first elected year. She also issued new clemency guidelines that align with her administration’s commitment to centering fairness and equity in the criminal justice system.
Pardon recommendations:
Frank Albert: Mr. Albert was convicted of Operating Under the Influence of Liquor in 1997. Since completing his sentence of one year of probation and an alcohol education program, he obtained an associates degree from Mount Wachusett Community College and has been employed at a car dealership for 18 years as a salesman. Mr. Albert is also a licensed realtor, notary and a member of his town zoning board in New Hampshire. He has been married since 2015 with five children and eight grandchildren.
Paul Cacchiotti: Mr. Cacchiotti was convicted of Attempted Extortion, Larceny over $250, Tax Evasion and Filing False Tax Returns in 1998. Before this conviction, Mr. Cacchiotti had served in the Army National Guard, graduated from Suffolk Law School, been a Judge Advocate General and worked as a solo practitioner. Mr. Cacchiotti has now been reinstated to the bar and has worked as a self-employed attorney since 2014. He is actively involved in the community, volunteering at Haven from Hunger and Wellspring House and serving as an assistant coach to a high school girls’ varsity hockey team.
Joseph Donisi: Mr. Donisi was adjudicated delinquent in Middlesex Juvenile Court in 1996 on charges arising from throwing a beer bottle and trespassing when he was 16-years-old. He was sentenced to approximately one year in custody at the Department of Youth Services (DYS) suspended for one year. He has since served in the Marine Corps and was honorably discharged after four years. He’s been an Arlington Firefighter for 17 years and earned a Life Saving Award in 2008 after providing emergency medical care to a woman who experienced a cardiac event. He is seeking a pardon so that he can coach his daughters’ youth sports teams. His criminal record prevented him from stepping in to coach the youth team of his best friend’s son after that friend passed away.
Yolanda Rodriguez: In 1979, when she was 22-years old, Ms. Rodriguez was convicted of Assault and Battery by Means of a Dangerous Weapon after being involved with a fight. She was sentenced to two years of probation which she completed without incident. She was later convicted of Operating Under the Influence of Liquor in 1985 and 1986. Since 1987 she has contributed to her community without further involvement with the criminal justice system. Ms. Rodriguez is now 68 years old. For the past 40 years, she has been gainfully employed and served in a caretaking role for many family members and friends. She has worked as a school bus driver and most recently was working at Choi’s World Tae Kwon Do, where she drove children to and from an after-school program and supervised them. In 2021, she was informed that she could no longer work at Choi’s World because of her prior conviction. She is seeking a pardon so that she can resume working with children.
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