Trump Administration Shuttered a Criminal Probe Into Fraudster's Clemency [View all]

Source: New York Times

Trump Administration Shuttered a Criminal Probe Into Fraudster’s Clemency


David Gentile, a private equity executive who was convicted in a $1.6 billion fraud scheme, was released from a New York prison days into a seven-year sentence after being granted clemency by President Trump. Bryan Anselm for The New York Times

Federal prosecutors had been examining the circumstances behind the commutation of David Gentile’s sentence. He was aided by a Catholic priest friendly with the president.

By Kenneth P. VogelNicole Hong and William K. Rashbaum
Kenneth P. Vogel reported from Washington. Nicole Hong and William K. Rashbaum reported from New York.

June 21, 2026

President Trump’s political appointees quashed an early-stage criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding his clemency grant to a convicted fraudster, according to five people with knowledge of the events.

The investigation, which has not been previously reported, had begun examining whether improper payments were made to help facilitate the commutation awarded to David Gentile, a private equity executive who was convicted in a $1.6 billion scheme that defrauded thousands of mostly mom-and-pop investors, some of whom lost their retirement savings. ... The clemency grant freed Mr. Gentile last November less than two weeks into a seven-year prison sentence, and wiped away the possibility of forfeiting more than $15.5 million to the government.

Within a few months, federal prosecutors in Brooklyn, where Mr. Gentile’s conviction had been secured, opened an investigation into how the commutation came about. ... Among the evidence they gathered was information about jailhouse communications in which Mr. Gentile discussed making payments of $2.5 million or more to people or companies to help facilitate his clemency, according to two people with knowledge of the investigation who were not authorized to discuss it.

One of the people who came under scrutiny by investigators was the Rev. Frank Mann, a retired Catholic priest from Queens who is friends with Mr. Trump. In an email sent to The New York Times, Father Mann denied having anything to do with the clemency. But people with knowledge of the prison communications say that the priest corresponded with Mr. Gentile about lobbying the president on his behalf.


The Rev. Frank Mann, a retired Catholic priest, speaking during Mr. Trump’s inauguration last year. He is friends with the president. Kenny Holston/The New York Times

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Devlin Barrett contributed reporting. Susan C. Beachy contributing research.

Kenneth P. Vogel is based in Washington and investigates the intersection of money, politics and influence.
https://www.nytimes.com/by/kenneth-p-vogel

Nicole Hong is an investigative reporter for The Times based in New York.
https://www.nytimes.com/by/nicole-hong

William K. Rashbaum is a Times reporter covering municipal and political corruption, the courts and broader law enforcement topics in New York.
https://www.nytimes.com/by/william-k-rashbaum

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/21/us/politics/trump-fraudster-priest-investigation-brooklyn.html?unlocked_article_code=1.r1A.nUuO.8B4dZCL7pIQm&smid=nytcore-ios-share