Daniel Penny is set to make millions as a martyr to the BLM movement after being found not guilty following a massive trial in Manhattan.
The 26-year-old Marine veteran was charged with second-degree manslaughter and negligent homicide in the subway death of mentally ill homeless street performer Jordan Neely.
But after more than twenty hours of deliberation over four days, the jurors told the court that they could not reach a verdict on the manslaughter charge and that the state sensationally withdrew the charge in a desperate, last-ditch effort to get a mistrial prevent the process.
On Monday, jurors returned the verdict of not guilty of negligent homicide to Judge Maxwell Wiley.
They quickly found him innocent, paving the way for his bright future full of book deals, TV appearances and even a career in politics.
From the very beginning, Penny received sympathy from conservatives who said he was right to intervene when Neely was having it out on the subway.
With the trial behind her and renewed support from people like the Trump family, Penny’s future looks brighter than ever.
Daniel Penny leaves Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday after being found not guilty of negligent homicide. The manslaughter charge was dropped last week
Industry experts believe Penny is in for a windfall of more than $1 million after the criminal case against him is concluded.
“He could become a symbolic figure for a certain segment of society, opening doors for both mainstream and conservative media,” James Pipe, legal expert and advocate at freegrantsforfelons.org, told the Daily Mail.
Pipe noted that a conviction would “necessarily rule out offers” because publishers and producers are notoriously “attracted to controversial figures.”
He said a “compelling memoir or exclusive first interview” could be worth up to $500,000, while a documentary or film deal could exceed $1 million.
‘An important factor will be how Penny and his team handle public relations after the trial.
“If he can frame his story in a way that resonates with audiences or connects to ongoing social conversations, the financial opportunities could be transformative,” Pipe said.
“However, resistance or boycotts from opposition groups could dampen the prospects.”
Pipe said Penny would also have to consider civil lawsuits against him, and how any “post-trial earnings” might be affected by those lawsuits.
“Public scrutiny is likely to haunt him for years to come, which could impact the longevity of his public persona and his ability to secure deals in the long term,” he said.
Before the subway incident, Penny was a mild-mannered 24-year-old who had left the Marines and spent time traveling the world
Penny celebrated the court victory at the Stone Street Tavern on Monday afternoon
Valerie Zucker said she envisions an “hour-long special or documentary” in the future.
She said there could be hurdles “from Neely’s” camp, but that immediately after the trial would be a good time for Penny to “clear the air and change the public perception of his view of what took place that day ‘.
And while Penny remains a divisive figure among the public, Zucker said there could be a path into politics for Penny down the line.
“I don’t think it will happen right away,” she said. “There is some pushback.
“Maybe something in the future.”
Penny’s acquittal infuriated BLM activists, who immediately called for revenge in the form of black vigilantes.
The 26-year-old quickly rushed to a downtown bar to celebrate his victory with his lawyers and ponder his next move.
Even before the verdict came back, there were calls from Republicans to herald him as a hero.
Rep. Eli Crane, R-Arizona, is so impressed with Penny and his quick action against Neely that he wants to award him Congress’ highest civilian honor: a Congressional Gold Medal, according to Fox.
“Daniel Penny’s actions exemplify what it means to stand against the grain and do the right thing in a world that rewards moral cowardice,” he said.
He went on to describe the justice system as “corrupt” and a system that “allows degenerates to roll up our laws and our sense of security, while punishing the righteous.
‘Sir. Penny bravely stood in the gap to defy this corrupt system and protect his fellow Americans. “I am extremely proud to introduce this resolution to award him the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of his heroism,” he said.
The Marine veteran has maintained a dignified silence since he was charged in May 2023
Penny with his mother, Gina Flaim, on November 19
Penny intervened when Neely jumped on the train and began threatening other commuters, including mothers, children and students. Neely shouted that someone was going to “die” and that he was ready to “go back to Rikers.”
He placed Neely in a chokehold that lasted six minutes, according to the state. His defense told jurors that he did not apply constant pressure during that time, and that he simply restrained Neely until police arrived.
And although New York’s “Son of Sam” law prohibits convicted criminals from selling their stories to publishers, Penny is innocent and has not been convicted of any crime.
In theory, he could sell his sensational life story to the highest bidder, or write a book about the ordeal himself.
Legal expert and attorney at freegrantsforfelons.org James Pipe told DailyMail.com that Penny could expect a windfall of more than $1 million.
“He could become a symbolic figure for a certain segment of society, opening doors for both mainstream and conservative media,” he said.
Pipe noted that a conviction would “necessarily rule out offers” because publishers and producers are notoriously “attracted to controversial figures.”
He said a “compelling memoir or exclusive first interview” could be worth up to $500,000, while a documentary or film deal could exceed $1 million.
‘An important factor will be how Penny and his team handle public relations after the trial. If he can frame his story in a way that resonates with audiences or connects to ongoing social conversations, the financial opportunities could be transformative,” Pipe said.
“However, resistance or boycotts from opposition groups could dampen the prospects.”
Likewise, Valerie Zucker of Zucker Media Group said she envisions an “hour-long special or documentary” in the future.
She said there could be hurdles “from Neely’s” camp, but that immediately after the trial would be a good time for Penny to “clear the air and change the public perception of his view of what took place that day ‘.
And while Penny remains a divisive figure among the public, Zucker said there could be a path into politics for Penny down the road.
“I don’t think it will happen right away,” she said. “There is some pushback.
“Maybe something in the future.”
The case has already attracted interest from several writers who are in the courtroom every day and are working on books about the outcome.
With the number of true crime documentaries on the rise, there’s also a good chance that Penny will be back in the spotlight via a streaming special about the case.
Conservatives have long offered support to Penny since the case gained widespread national attention and became a lightning rod in the racial debate.
Vivek Ramaswamy donated $10,000 to Daniel Penny’s staggering legal fund, which has now reached $3 million. He has also repeatedly spoken out about Neely’s lengthy criminal record, accusing the Manhattan district attorney’s office of “sharing responsibility for his death by creating an anti-law enforcement culture.”
“Habitual criminals like Neely should not be allowed to roam free to terrorize and prey on innocent members of our communities,” he said.
Penny also has the strong backing of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, raising questions about whether Penny himself would consider a move into politics considering he has access to two recent presidential candidates.
The May 2023 incident caused an uproar in America – BLM says it was the racist murder of a mentally ill black man by an overzealous white military believer.
Now that the trial is over, Penny is also free to turn his attention back to his studies. At the time of his indictment, he was studying architecture at the New York City College of Technology.
He also had two jobs – one as a swimming teacher and also at a restaurant in Brooklyn – which he gave up to focus on the test.
He’s also not completely out of the woods yet after Neely’s family filed a civil lawsuit against Penny last week. Penny’s legal team, Thomas Kenniff and Steven Raiser, released a statement Friday afternoon revealing that they will immediately set their sights on the lawsuit.
The duo said the conclusion of the criminal trial would “allow us to focus on the civil lawsuit, filed two days ago, alleging the same allegations contained in the criminal complaint.”
Pipe said Penny should also consider civil lawsuits against him as he considers his next step, because any “post-trial earnings” could be affected by those lawsuits.
“Public scrutiny is likely to haunt him for years to come, which could impact the longevity of his public persona and his ability to secure deals in the long term,” he said.