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Trump commutes sentence of GPB Capital founder David Gentile
U.S. President Donald Trump has commuted the seven-year prison sentence of David Gentile, the former CEO and founder of GPB Capital, just days after Gentile began serving his term for a multi-year fraud scheme. Bureau of Prisons records confirm Gentile's release on Wednesday, less than two weeks after his incarceration began.
Conviction and sentencing
Gentile was convicted in August 2024 on securities and wire fraud charges for misleading over 10,000 investors about the performance of GPB Capital's private equity funds. In May 2025, he received a seven-year sentence, while his co-defendant, Jeffry Schneider, was sentenced to six years and is set to report to prison in January 2026.
Federal prosecutors described GPB Capital as a "foundation of lies," alleging the firm used $1.6 billion in investor funds to pay distributions to other investors. U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella stated at Gentile's sentencing that the case should deter fraudsters, warning that "seeking to get rich by taking advantage of investors gets you only a one-way ticket to jail."
White House justification
The White House defended the commutation, arguing that the Department of Justice under former President Joe Biden misrepresented the case. A White House official claimed GPB Capital had disclosed to investors that their money could fund other investors' dividends, undermining the prosecution's Ponzi scheme allegations. The official also cited Gentile's concerns about prosecutors eliciting false testimony.
Broader pattern of clemency
Gentile's commutation follows a series of pardons and sentence reductions by Trump in his second term, targeting individuals convicted of white-collar crimes. Last month, the president pardoned Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada, who faced convictions for fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy.
Legal implications
The commutation does not erase Gentile's conviction or shield him from other penalties. Unlike a full pardon, it only reduces his prison term.
Correction (1 December 2025): An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Jeffry Schneider "remains behind bars." Schneider has not yet begun serving his sentence.
