Daniel Penny stands to make millions as a martyr of the BLM movement after being found not guilty following a blockbuster trial in Manhattan.
The 26-year-old Marine veteran was facing charges of second degree manslaughter and negligent homicide following the subway death of mentally ill homeless street performer Jordan Neely.
But after more than 20 hours of deliberations over four days, jurors told the court they were unable to reach a verdict on the manslaughter charge and the state sensationally withdrew the charge in a desperate, last ditch effort to avoid a mistrial.
By Monday, jurors returned a verdict of not guilty to negligent homicide to Justice Maxwell Wiley.
They quickly found him not guilty – paving the way for his bright future full of book deals, TV appearances and even a career in politics.
Since the very beginning, Penny won sympathy from conservatives who said he was right to step in when Neely acted out on the subway.
Now, with the trial behind him and renewed support from the likes of the Trump family, Penny’s future is brighter than ever.
Daniel Penny leaves Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday after being found not guilty of criminally negligent homicide. The manslaughter charge was dropped last week
Industry experts believe Penny could be in for a windfall in excess of $1million after the criminal case against him concludes.
‘He could become a symbolic figure for a certain segment of society, opening doors to mainstream and conservative media alike,’ James Pipe is a legal expert and advocate at freegrantsforfelons.org, told Daily Mail.
Pipe noted a conviction would ‘necessarily preclude offers’ because publishers and producers are notoriously ‘drawn 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 $1million.
‘A significant 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 the public or aligns with ongoing social conversations, the financial opportunities could be transformative,’ Pipe said.
‘However, backlash or boycotts from opposition groups could dampen prospects.’
Pipe said Penny would also need to consider civil lawsuits against him, and how any ‘post-trial earnings’ could be impacted by those suits.
‘Public scrutiny will likely follow him for years, which could affect the longevity of his public persona and his ability to secure deals long-term,’ he said.
Before the subway incident, Penny was a mild-mannered 24-year-old who’d 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 a ‘one hour special or documentary’ in the future.
She said there could be hurdles to face ‘from Neely’s’ camp, but that immediately after the trial would be a great time for Penny to ‘clear the air and change public perception on his vision of what took place that day.’
And while Penny is still a divisive figure amongst the public, Zucker said there could be a pathway into politics for Penny down the track.
‘I don’t think [it happens] right away,’ she said. ‘There’s some backlash.
‘Maybe something in the future.’
Penny’s acquittal enraged BLM activists, who instantly called for revenge in the form of black vigilantes.
The 26-year-old quickly dashed to a downtown bar to celebrate his win with his lawyers and ponder his next move.
Even before the verdict came back, there were calls from Republicans for him to be heralded a hero.
Rep. Eli Crane, R-Arizona has been so impressed by Penny and his swift action against Neely that, according to Fox, he wants to award him Congress’ highest civilian honor – a Congressional Gold Medal.
‘Daniel Penny’s actions exemplify what it means to stand against the grain to do right in a world that rewards moral cowardice,’ he said.
He went on to describe the justice system as ‘corrupt’ and one which ‘allows degenerates to steamroll our laws and our sense of security, while punishing the righteous.
‘Mr. Penny bravely stood in the gap to defy this corrupt system and protect his fellow Americans. I’m immensely proud to introduce this resolution to award him with the Congressional Gold Medal to recognize his heroism,’ he said.
The Marine veteran has kept 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 was shouting that somebody would ‘die’ and that he was willing to ‘go back to Rikers.’
He placed Neely in a chokehold which the state argued lasted six minutes. His defense told jurors that he was not applying consistent pressure for the length of that time, and that he was simply restraining Neely until police arrived.
And while New York’s ‘Son of Sam’ laws prevent convicted criminals from selling their stories to publishers, Penny is innocent and has been convicted of no crime.
He could theoretically sell his sensational life story to the highest bidder, or write a book himself about the ordeal.
Legal expert and advocate at freegrantsforfelons.org James Pipe told DailyMail.com Penny could be in for a windfall in excess of $1million.
‘He could become a symbolic figure for a certain segment of society, opening doors to mainstream and conservative media alike,’ he said.
Pipe noted a conviction would ‘necessarily preclude offers’ because publishers and producers are notoriously ‘drawn 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 $1million.
‘A significant 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 the public or aligns with ongoing social conversations, the financial opportunities could be transformative,’ Pipe said.
‘However, backlash or boycotts from opposition groups could dampen prospects.’
Similarly, Valerie Zucker of Zucker Media Group said she envisions a ‘one hour special or documentary’ in the future.
She said there could be hurdles to face ‘from Neely’s’ camp, but that immediately after the trial would be a great time for Penny to ‘clear the air and change public perception on his vision of what took place that day.’
And while Penny is still a divisive figure amongst the public, Zucker said there could be a pathway into politics for Penny down the track.
‘I don’t think [it happens] right away,’ she said. ‘There’s some backlash.
‘Maybe something in the future.’
The case has already attracted interest from several writers who have been present daily in the courtroom and are working on books about the outcome.
With true-crime documentaries on the rise, there is also a strong possibility that Penny will find himself back in the spotlight via a streaming special about the case.
Conservatives have long offered support for Penny since the case gained widespread national attention and became a lightning rod for racial debate.
Vivek Ramaswamy donated $10,000 to Daniel Penny’s staggering legal fund, which has now reached $3million. He has also repeatedly spoken out about Neely’s lengthy rap sheet, accusing the Manhattan District Attorney’s office of sharing ‘responsibility for his death for creating an anti law enforcement culture.’
‘Habitual felons like Neely should not roam freely to terrorize and prey on innocent members of our communities,’ he said.
Penny also has the strong backing of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, sparking questions about if Penny would consider a tilt in politics himself, given he has access to two recent presidential candidates.
The May 2023 incident sparked uproar in America – BLM says it was the racist killing of a mentally ill black man by an overzealous white military faithful.
With the trial out of the way, Penny is also free to return his attention to his studies. When he was charged, he was studying architecture at the New York City College of Technology.
He was also working two jobs – one as a swim teacher and also at a restaurant in Brooklyn – which he gave up to focus on the trial.
He is also not completely out of the woods 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 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, for the same allegations contained in the criminal indictment.’
Pipe said Penny would also need to consider civil lawsuits against him when he considers what his next step will be, because any ‘post-trial earnings’ could be impacted by those suits.
‘Public scrutiny will likely follow him for years, which could affect the longevity of his public persona and his ability to secure deals long-term,’ he said.