Did President Trump pardon a fraudster?
By Easton Martin | December 30, 2025
Recent claims circulating online and in some media outlets allege that President Trump “pardoned a man involved in a massive fraud scheme.” That framing is inaccurate and reflects a misunderstanding of what actually occurred.
The individual most often referenced is David Gentile, a former executive connected to GPB Capital. Gentile was convicted in federal court for securities and wire fraud tied to a large investment scheme involving significant investor losses. In late 2025, President Trump granted Gentile a commutation of sentence, not a pardon.
That distinction does in fact matter. A commutation shortens or ends a prison sentence but does not erase the conviction itself. Gentile’s criminal conviction remains on the record. A pardon, by contrast, forgives the offense and removes the conviction, which did not happen in this case.
Some reporting and commentary blurred this legal difference, leading to widespread claims that Trump “pardoned a fraudster.”.
In short, Trump did not pardon Gentile. He commuted the prison portion of his sentence. The continued misuse of the word “pardon” is careless reporting and political framing rather than an accurate description of the legal action taken.
