Man convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in the deaths of Bridgeport mom and son granted clemency for drug charge
Adrian Peeler was convicted of conspiracy in the deaths of Karen Clarke and her 8-year-old son BJ Brown.
Former President Joe Biden commuted a federal drug sentence for Adrian Peeler, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in the deaths of Bridgeport mom and son in 1999.
Biden commuted the 35-year federal drug sentence that was set to run until 2033, according to court documents.
Peeler was convicted of conspiracy in the deaths of Karen Clarke and her 8-year-old son BJ Brown.
Prosecutors say Peeler shot the two as an order from his brother, Russell Peeler, who was later sentenced to death for the murders.
Brown was supposed to be a key witness against Russell Peeler in a deadly shooting.
According to the clemency order, his federal sentence will expire on Feb. 17.
Peeler's was among nearly 2,500 commutations issued on Jan. 17.
House Republican leader Vincent Candelora released the following statement:
“Former President Biden’s clemency for Adrian Peeler is a disgusting miscarriage of justice. Peeler’s conviction tied to brutal murders that prompted the creation of Connecticut’s witness protection program makes any leniency—federal or otherwise—utterly indefensible. This reckless act by Joe Biden dismisses the pain of the victims’ families and erodes public trust in the principles of justice. Such a careless decision at the close of his term should generate outrage here and throughout the nation.”
