Yusuf Bey IV is a political prisoner wrongfully convicted of triple murder in 2011 and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole at the age of 21. Yusuf is an innocent man wrongfully convicted of crimes he did not commit, who has been a victim of the unfairness of the current justice system in America. It has been 12 long, unjust years and the time is now for justice to be served. Yusuf's arrest, trial, and conviction were politically motivated and riddled with unfair and unlawful prejudices.

First, Yusuf's hired attorney Lorna Brown was suddenly and unfairly removed from the case just one year before trial was set to begin. Because of this, Yusuf was given a court-appointed attorney who did not have his best interest at heart. Furthermore, there was a direct conflict of interest with his newly appointed lawyer, who had previously represented the man convicted of murdering Yusuf's older brother 17 years earlier. Yusuf's trial attorney did not have adequate time to prepare for trial. He did not call any character witnesses on Yusuf's behalf, and only called one actual witness at trial when there were many who were willing to testify for Yusuf's defense. It was clear from the beginning of trial that Yusuf and his trial attorney didn't get along which is why at one point Bey requested to be his own attorney, not because he wanted to, but because he felt he was not being properly represented.

Second, being that Yusuf's trial was considered "the most widely covered trial in the Bay Area's history," it is ludicrous that the defense's motion to have a change of venue was denied. It was imperative that Yusuf's trial take place somewhere with an unbiased population who were not subjected to the media's public crucifixion of Yusuf. During the time leading up to and during his trial, a total of 1536 articles portraying Yusuf in a negative light were published over a period of 2 1/2 years. This undoubtedly played a role in Yusuf's conviction. 

Most importantly, the prosecutions entire case was based upon the sole testimony of one witness. This witness, who admitted to shooting 2 of the 3 victims, reporter Chauncey Bailey, and homeless man Odell Roberson (though he was in fact guilty of all three), claimed he was "ordered" to murder both men at the request of Yusuf. This witness of the prosecution has proved to be an unreliable and biased witness, as he has changed his account of the events multiple times and made contradictory statements in regards to his involvement. For 2 years after his arrest and up until his trial, he attested to the fact that he acted alone in the murders, only to suddenly change his story immediately before his trial was to begin, after seeing that accusing Yusuf of ordering the murders was his only way out. In return for his testimony, the prosecution's witness, who himself was facing multiple life sentences received a reduced sentence of 25 years, making him eligible for parole in just a few years. The prosecution's witness, Devaughndre Broussard's story does not corroborate with those who knew both men that would testify to the fact that the two did not have a close relationship, negating his story that he was "following Yusuf's orders" to commit murder. No other physical evidence, eyewitness testimony, witness statements, DNA, or other corroborating evidence incriminating Yusuf were presented at trial by the prosecution, as they do not exist. Had Yusuf been properly represented at trial, a strong case would have been made that Yusuf would never have confided in Broussard about anything, let alone murder.

Before his arrest, Yusuf was a vocal activist for social justice in his community before being wrongfully tried and convicted. Yusuf and his family provided second chances to former convicts, hiring them at their businesses and providing opportunities for them to rebuild, become self-reliant and achieve economic independence. In addition, Yusuf advocated for speaking out against police brutality, which unfortunately made him a target to those that disagreed with his activism, namely the Oakland Police Department and D.A.'s office, who had a long-standing vendetta against the families organization, dating back to when his father, Yusuf Bey Sr. first established the business in the late 1960's. His son Yusuf Bey IV's attempt to carry on in that legacy of black empowerment and self-reliant activism in the community did not sit well with the police and local government. These entities did not like how Yusuf was affecting change in the community ever since he took over as the CEO of the family business, Your Black Muslim Bakery, at age 19 after the untimely death of his older brother Antar. Because of this, the corrupt Oakland Police Dept. & D.A.'s office jumped at the opportunity to cut a deal with admitted shooter Devaughndre by framing Yusuf and his co-defendant Antoine Mackey, and therefore putting an end to his efforts to uplift and advance the black community.  

The main factor to keep in mind is that Yusuf is INNOCENT!! He has adamantly maintained his innocence since his arrest. More importantly, valuable time is being taken away from his children who are suffering just as much as he is. Yusuf has unjustly lost valuable years of his life, he has missed countless birthdays, holidays, and milestones. Most importantly he was deprived of being able to raise his children and was forced to watch them grow up behind bars. The defamatory assassination of his character can likely never be undone but can be partly made up for in return for his immediate release to his family. 

During his incarceration, Yusuf has been a model inmate who has been consistently respectful to both fellow prisoners and staff. He spends his time reading, mentoring, speaking, and promoting conflict resolution. He was also chosen to lead classes twice a week. Yusuf has many goals he plans on accomplishing upon his release and will truly make a substantial positive contribution to society. Upon his release, Yusuf plans to create a non-profit organization to benefit and mentor underprivileged and at-risk youth and foster children in the community. In addition, he plans to alleviate the flaws of the corrupt criminal justice system, police brutality, and mass incarceration. Yusuf is a giving, selfless, inspirational leader and activist, who thrives on giving back to the community and who has the potential to change the entire future of the next generation for the better. Yusuf has never claimed to be perfect; he has acknowledged the mistakes that he has made and has even taken responsibility for such crimes to have occurred on his watch by a business employee. Though wrongfully convicted, he is not bitter. He has used this time to learn, grow, and mature so that he may be of greater service than before. Yusuf is the kind of man that once released will not turn his back on fellow oppressed prisoners. He will use his experience to help others who find themselves in similar circumstances. Yusuf has said that he needed to go through this experience to make him the man he is today, which is why he holds no ill-will toward those responsible for his unjust incarceration. He is now an improved version of himself and plans to return to society a productive, morally, ethically, and spiritually intact man. 

In June of 2019, we filed an appeal with the Appellate Court to have Yusuf released which is currently pending. At the very least, we demand that Yusuf be granted a new trial where he can be properly represented by a competent lawyer, in an unbiased location, with a fair and adequate defense team. Yusuf has been in prison for 12 years now, he was sentenced to life before his life even really got started. We hope you join us in signing this petition to speak out and stand up against this incredible injustice and assist us in helping to free a man truly innocent and set up by the police and local government.

Join us in the #FreeBeyIV movement and demand that Yusuf be released immediately, or at the very least be given a new and fair trial!! 

To make a donation towards Yusuf's legal defense fund please click on the following link:

https://fundly.com/freebeyiv

For more information contact: freeyusufbeyivcampaign@gmail.com

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To purchase a "FREE BEY IV" SHIRT send $24.99 to PayPal.Me/freeyusufbeyiv or CashApp $FreeBeyIV 

Provide address for shipping, size (Men's & Women's Small-2X), and color (Red with Black letters, Red with White letters, or White with Red letters) 

Show your support by writing to Yusuf directly:

Yusuf Bey IV #AG9908      California State Prison Sacramento          P.O. Box 290066       Represa, CA 95671                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!! We would like to publicly acknowledge all who donated to this righteous cause... please feel free to leave your name and comment below. If you wish to remain anonymous we understand and appreciate your support as well.