Andrew Cuomo’s final speech yesterday wasn’t his last action as governor, however, as he then granted clemency to six convicts, including a 1981 Nanuet Mall Brinks robbery participant who was barely halfway through his sentence. The now 76 year-old David Gilbert was convicted in 1983 of three counts of murder and four counts of robbery. Rockland County Executive Ed Day says calling the move “despicable,” is an understatement…
Gilbert has served 40 years of a 75-years-to-life sentence. In his reasoning for granting him clemency, Cuomo noted Gilbert was the getaway driver, not the murderer. He also cited his contributions while in prison to AIDS education and his work as a student tutor. Gilbert will be referred to the Parole Board for potential release. Gilbert is the father of San Francisco DA Chesa Boudin. His mother, Kathy Boudin, who was also convicted in the Brinks case, was paroled after serving 22 years. Nyack police sergeant Edward O’Grady, officer Waverly Brown and Brinks guard Peter Paige were killed in the heist.