A man from New York who had his 10-year prison sentence commuted in early 2021 by former President Donald Trump has been arrested on Long Island on domestic violence charges. Jonathan Braun, 41, faced accusations of assaulting his wife and her 75-year-old father at their Atlantic Beach residence. Additionally, he was charged with larceny for allegedly avoiding $160 in tolls by driving through E-ZPass lanes without license plates about 40 times.
Despite prosecutors requesting $35,000 bail, Braun pleaded not guilty to the charges on Wednesday and was released on his own recognizance. His lawyer, Arthur Gershfeld, stated that they will vigorously defend against the allegations. The Nassau County District Attorney, Anne Donnelly, disagreed with the judge’s decision to release Braun and mentioned that they are thoroughly reviewing the evidence for prosecution.
Braun has a history of legal issues, including a drug dealing conviction and a $20 million judgment from a civil case filed by the Federal Trade Commission for running an illegal loan company. In court documents, federal prosecutors described Braun as a key member of a group involved in smuggling over 100,000 kilograms of marijuana from Canada into the US, primarily through Native American reservations.
Braun used threats and violence to manage drug debts and prevent his associates from cooperating with law enforcement. Allegations also include a lawsuit where a man claimed Braun pushed him off a balcony. In the recent domestic violence case, Braun’s wife reported incidents of physical abuse that caused her pain, bruising, and dizziness. Braun is scheduled to appear in court again on Aug. 29.