US President Donald Trump has issued another round of presidential pardons, and one of the most debated names on the list is Adriana Camberos, a California-based businesswoman with two separate federal fraud convictions.
What has drawn particular attention is that this is not the first time Trump has granted her clemency. During his first term, he had already commuted her prison sentence. Years later, after a new conviction, she has now received a full pardon, making her case highly unusual in modern US clemency history.
The decision was part of a larger package of more than 20 pardons and commutations, which also included political allies, corporate figures, and people involved in major federal cases.
Adriana Camberos’ First Federal Conviction
Adriana Camberos is based in San Diego, California, and first came under federal investigation for her involvement in a scheme linked to 5-Hour Energy drink bottles.
According to prosecutors, the products were initially meant for resale in Mexico, but instead were diverted into the US market. Authorities alleged that the bottles were altered, fitted with counterfeit labels, and filled with liquid that was not authentic before being sold domestically.
Camberos was convicted on federal charges in the case. In January 2021, just days before leaving office, Trump commuted her prison sentence, allowing her to avoid serving the full term.
Second Fraud Case and Return to Prison
Despite receiving clemency, Camberos later became entangled in another federal case. In 2024, she and her brother, Andres Camberos, were convicted in a separate fraud scheme.
Federal prosecutors said the siblings falsely claimed they were purchasing goods for export to Mexico, prisons, or rehabilitation centers. Based on those claims, manufacturers allegedly sold them groceries and other products at deeply discounted wholesale prices.
Instead of exporting the goods, prosecutors said the Camberos siblings sold them inside the US at much higher rates, generating tens of millions of dollars in profits. After the conviction, Adriana Camberos was sent back to federal custody.
Trump’s Second Pardon and Political Debate
Last week, Trump granted full pardons to both Adriana and Andres Camberos, leading to their immediate release. The White House confirmed the decision shortly afterward.
Trump’s team has argued that the Camberos family was unfairly targeted, describing the prosecutions as politically driven during the Biden administration. Federal authorities, however, have consistently maintained that both cases involved intentional and carefully planned fraud.
The move has sparked renewed debate over the use of presidential pardons, especially in cases where individuals receive clemency, reoffend, and are later pardoned again.