Biden's Clemency for Nonviolent Drug Offenders Includes Convict Tied to Connecticut Double Murder

Adrian Peeler, convicted in a 1999 conspiracy to kill a mother and her 8-year-old son, will be released after serving time for federal drug charges.

Former President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of nearly 2,500 individuals convicted of nonviolent drug offenses, including Adrian Peeler, who was tied to a 1999 double homicide in Connecticut.
Peeler served 25 years in state prison for conspiracy to commit murder in the deaths of Karen Clarke and her son Leroy 'BJ' Brown, who were killed to prevent the boy from testifying in a murder trial.
After completing his state sentence, Peeler began serving a federal prison term for drug trafficking, which was reduced to 15 years in 2021; Biden's clemency orders his release in July 2025.
The commutation has drawn criticism from victims' families, Connecticut officials, and even some Democratic leaders, who argue the decision undermines justice and the clemency system needs reform.
The killings led to significant changes in Connecticut's witness protection laws, highlighting the brutal nature of the crimes and their lasting impact on the state.