New York City’s lenient approach to serial offenders goes beyond the controversial no-bail law, as diversion programs are another way that dangerous criminals are avoiding serious consequences, often with tragic outcomes.
A recent report from The Post highlighted the case of Wei Hou, a Chinese immigrant who allegedly killed his elderly mother in December. It was revealed that Hou should have been in prison for a felony drug offense when he committed the heinous crime, but his sentence was drastically reduced by 90%. Originally sentenced to two years for possession of a controlled substance, he was instead sent to a 90-day drug treatment program and released early. Tragically, just months later, he was charged with the murder of his mother.
Hou’s case is not an isolated incident. In 2023, Amari Oneal and Ali Mohammed avoided jail time for an illegal weapons charge by being diverted to a “gun accountability and prevention” program. However, in January 2025, they were charged with the execution-style shooting of a man in The Bronx. Similarly, a man who was diverted to a program after a grand larceny arrest in 2023 went on to gun down a two-year-old in the street in April 2024. Additionally, a repeat offender released to receive mental health treatment after raping a 14-year-old in 2023 went on to assault another teenager in the following year.
These cases are not unique to New York City, as other cities like San Francisco have also experienced deadly consequences of diversion programs. In one instance, a homeless drug addict with a lengthy criminal record was enrolled in a diversion program before beating a woman to death in her home.
While diversion programs may seem like a reasonable alternative to incarceration for low-level offenders, the lack of oversight and accountability has led to disastrous outcomes. Judges and prosecutors who are soft on crime use these programs as a way to keep repeat offenders out of prison, putting innocent lives at risk.
It is clear that the current approach to diversion programs is failing, as evidenced by the growing number of tragic incidents linked to offenders who should have been behind bars. It is crucial that a more effective and responsible system is put in place to ensure the safety of communities and prevent further senseless violence.
