25 signatures reached
To: Governor Kathy Hochul (NY), New York State Clemency Board, NY Department of Corrections
A Life Stolen. A Voice Silenced. Help Free Jose Muyet
To: Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Clemency Board:
I am writing to urge you to review the case of Jose Muyet, who has spent more than 30 years behind bars in a New York State prison under a RICO conviction — despite no physical evidence connecting him to the crimes. His conviction was secured through incentivized testimony from cooperating witnesses, a deeply flawed and often unjust practice that has contributed to countless wrongful convictions, especially during the height of the 1990s war on crime.
Jose Muyet was sentenced to multiple life terms — a punishment that far outweighs any fair sense of justice, especially given the lack of direct evidence. But his story doesn’t end there.
During his incarceration, Jose has undergone a profound transformation. He is no longer the young man who entered the system decades ago. He has become a writer, a thinker, a mentor, and a student of life. His essays and personal reflections reveal a man who has turned inward, reckoned with his past, and emerged with a voice of clarity and compassion.
Jose’s writing has given others — both inside and outside prison walls — a sense of hope, healing, and truth. He has taken full accountability for his past and dedicated himself to personal growth and spiritual strength. He is no longer a threat to society. On the contrary, he is an asset to it.
We are calling on you to grant clemency, commute his sentence, or reopen his case for review. New York has the opportunity to correct an injustice — not just for Jose Muyet, but as a statement that redemption, growth, and humanity matter.
Justice is not just about punishment. It’s about progress, compassion, and the courage to say: this man deserves another chance.
Sincerely,
Wilma Matos
Wilma Matos
Why is this important?
Jose Muyet’s case represents a broken system that has affected thousands — especially Black and Latino men — with unjust sentencing, no physical evidence, and coerced testimony. His 30+ year incarceration isn’t just about one man — it’s about a system that too often values punishment over truth, and silence over fairness.
Jose's story is important because it shows us that people can change, but the system often refuses to. Despite decades behind bars, Jose has found healing, purpose, and voice through his writing and personal transformation.
Freeing Jose isn’t just about ending one injustice — it’s about calling attention to all the others like his, and demanding that New York correct its past mistakes.
Because this could be your brother, your son, your neighbor — or even you.
Because this could be your brother, your son, your neighbor — or even you.
If we stay silent, the system never changes. But when we raise our voices together, we show that people care about fairness, about truth, and about second chances.
By joining this campaign, you are:
- Standing up for someone who has spent 30 years locked away with no evidence
- Demanding that the justice system be accountable
- Supporting a man who has already done the hard work of transformation
- Saying: Redemption is real. Injustice cannot stand.
Jose can't fight for his freedom alone. But we can fight with him.
Your voice matters. Your signature matters. Your share matters.
Your voice matters. Your signature matters. Your share matters.