MILWAUKEE — Governor Tony Evers issued 18 pardons this week, the most the governor has issued so far.
“A pardon won’t fix the challenges facing our criminal justice system, but it can have a tremendous impact on a person’s life,” said Evers. “Each of these people earned a pardon by serving their sentence and making positive contributions to society."
Yusef Moore, a Greenfield resident, was one of the 18 individuals who received a pardon. He said this feels like it's the start of a new chapter in his life.
“I found out yesterday morning. Initially, I started breaking down crying. It’s been an emotional moment. I spent many years going through trials and tribulations,” said Yusef.
Yusef said he struggled with addiction for many years, and it that landed him in trouble with the law on felony drug charges but for more than a decade, Yusef has worked hard to beat his addictions. He turned his life around and went back to school to get his degrees.
“My greatest achievement, I received my master's degree in social work,” said Yusef.
Yusef is now a clinical substance abuse counselor and is working on helping others who are also struggling with similar addictions.
"I'm helping individuals in the criminal justice system not to make the same mistakes I made. I council then I do therapy… I’m trying to pay it forward,” said Yusef.
He said, receiving this pardon will open up new opportunities for him.
“Down the road, I’m going to apply for federal jobs,” said Yusef.
For right now, he plans to continue to use his story to remind people that who you were in the past and the mistake you may have made, does not solidify who you are today.
“There is hope. If you put forth effort and changes in your life, wonderful things happen,” said Yusef.
Yusef said with the new pardon, he looks forward to traveling to Canada in the future.
