Trump pardons Texas man after nearly 31 years in prison

Gina Gaston Image
Saturday, January 23, 2021
Trump pardons Texas man after nearly 31 years in prison
He said he appreciates the support he got from his family for more than three decades and also credits his attorneys for their work to get him pardoned.

A Texas man who spent nearly 31 years in prison is back home with his family after receiving a pardon from President Donald Trump.



Kenneth Fragoso was sentenced for drug possession back in 1990 when he was 36 years old. Today, the 66-year-old has relatives coming to visit him in Brownsville from as far away as Nebraska. And he says his family has been calling nonstop. Fragoso says he was hoping for the pardon, but was still surprised when he got word that his lawyer and family's efforts to free him were successful.



"I'm doing good health-wise, but I don't know the rest as far as getting overwhelmed over here with the family. We're all getting together," Fragoso said. "I'm happy. I'm happy to be here, but boy I tell you, it's something else. (It's) a game changer for me right now."



RELATED: 'Tiger King' Joe Exotic left off list of President Trump's pardons



Fragoso says he appreciates the support he got from his family for more than three decades. He also credits his attorneys for their work to get him pardoned. He says he got through all of these years behind bars by keeping the faith he'd be free one day.



"I have always kept positive and that's how I keep going," Fragoso said. "I hope for the best. At times, I did think, 'well, maybe I won't get out', but other times I kept thinking, 'dang I gotta get out.'"



To give you some perspective of how much Fragoso has missed out on, he says technology that we use everyday is brand new for him. He says there were no cell phones when he went to jail. Now he has to learn how to do something as simple as making a phone call. He's relying on his positive outlook to help him manage all of the changes.



SEE ALSO: Trump pardons Steve Bannon, Lil Wayne, among 143 granted clemency in final hours of presidency



President Donald Trump pardoned Steve Bannon and Lil Wayne as part of a flurry of clemency action in the final hours of his term that benefited more than 140 people.


Follow Gina Gaston on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Copyright © 2024 KTRK-TV. All Rights Reserved.