Oklahoma Man Receives Presidential Pardon For Making Moonshine In 1950s

An Oklahoma man can now celebrate Christmas with a clean slate nearly 70 years after his guilty plea.

President Donald Trump pardoned 89-year-old Alfred Lee Crum from Muskogee arrested for making moonshine in the 1950s when he was a teenager.

Friends of 89-year-old Alfred Lee Crum said he is a model citizen with a big heart and a lot of history to his name. President Donald Trump granted Crum a full pardon after Crum pleaded guilty in 1952 to helping his wife's uncle illegally distill moonshine in Oklahoma.

Ken Doke is a Muskogee County Commissioner and friend of Crum's who said the man was just 19 when he was convicted. President Trump said Crum served three years of probation and paid a $250. That's about $2,500 today.  

Doke told News On 6 Crum's maintained a clean record and was happily married to his late wife for almost 70 years. He said Crum is a man of faith who raised four kids and is very involved in charity fundraising events.

The White House said federal prosecutors in Washington and Oklahoma supported the pardon. Doke said it's been several years in the making, and credits Oklahoma's congressional delegation for its help.

Doke told Channel 6 he congratulated Crum today on the well-deserved pardon. 

"I mean what better time to have a story about hope, mercy and redemption after all these years,” said Doke. “The whole community is proud for him." 

Crum is one of 15 individuals who President Trump pardoned on Tuesday.