After 11 Years Behind Bars for Cannabis, Claudio Martinez Jr. is Released After Receiving Clemency From Biden
Claudio Martinez Jr. is reunited with his family after serving 11 years in prison of an over 21-year nonviolent cannabis sentence.
Today, the Last Prisoner Project (LPP) celebrates a hard-fought victory as Claudio Martinez Jr. is finally reunited with his family after 11 years of incarceration for a nonviolent cannabis offense. Claudio’s release comes as a result of a clemency petition filed by Last Prisoner Project and granted by President Biden, marking a long-overdue step toward justice for a father who has spent over a decade behind bars for a conviction that no longer reflects the values of our society.
Claudio was sentenced in 2016 to over 21 years (262 months) in federal prison, despite his offense being solely cannabis-related. His story reflects the devastating impact of outdated drug laws that have torn families apart for far too long. Today, that chapter closes as Claudio walks free and embraces his four children— Jasmine (pictured below), Emilio, Eric, and Eli—who have waited over a decade for this moment. His eldest daughter, who tragically passed away in 2018, will be deeply missed in this reunion, a reminder of the many years lost to excessive sentencing.
As Claudio stepped outside the gates of the federal prison in Texas, his sons stood waiting in the parking lot, ready to welcome him home. The long-awaited embrace was a powerful testament to the resilience of families who have endured the pain of separation due to the war on cannabis. Also present for this emotional reunion was Claudio’s grandson, who will finally get to know their grandfather outside the confines of a prison visitation room.
Upon his release Claudio reacted saying, “I'm doing great now that I am out here with my family. I thank the Lord Jesus Christ for making it happen for me to get this clemency through Last Prisoner Project and the lawyers assigned to me like Liz Budnitz. I really appreciate what yall did for me. It is a blessing.”
Claudio’s son Emilio, said “It’s something you think is never gonna happen and then it happens. It’s unreal. Thank you for everything.”
Claudio will now transition to a halfway house in Las Cruces, NM, where he hopes to secure home confinement and begin rebuilding his life with his family in Hobbs, NM. Even in these first moments of freedom, Claudio has expressed his willingness to share his story, ensuring that those still behind bars are not forgotten. His case highlights the need for continued clemency efforts and broader legislative reform to ensure no one else suffers such disproportionate punishment for cannabis offenses.
“We are overjoyed to see Claudio finally walk free and reunite with his family,” said Adrian Rocha, Policy Director at Last Prisoner Project who was present at the release. “His freedom is a reminder of why we do this work—why we fight every day to end cannabis incarceration and bring our constituents home. But Claudio should never have lost 11 years of his life to begin with. We will not stop until the system is changed so that no one else has to endure what Claudio and his family have endured.”
Claudio’s release is a testament to the power of clemency as a tool for justice, but it also underscores the urgent need for broader systemic change. Through our advocacy campaigns, Last Prisoner Project continues to push for retroactive relief for all cannabis prisoners. While we celebrate today’s victory, we remain steadfast in our mission to ensure that every last cannabis prisoner is free.
Claudio’s journey to freedom is not just his own—it is a victory for his family, his community, and the movement to end the criminalization of cannabis. Today, we celebrate, but tomorrow, we continue the fight.
