President Donald Trump, right, talks about Jon Ponder, left, from Las Vegas, during a National Day of Prayer event in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Thursday, May 3, 2018 (AP Photo/Susan Walsh).
A Nevada man whose bank robbery-related federal prison sentence was pardoned by President Donald Trump has been arrested by local law enforcement in Las Vegas, authorities say.
Jon Donyae Ponder, 60, stands accused of one count of sexual assault, one count of sexually motivated attempted coercion, seven counts of unauthorized custodial contact, and 11 gross misdemeanor charges, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
In March 2006, Ponder pleaded guilty to seven counts against him related to a series of robberies — including two banks, two sandwich shops, a pizza place, a dry cleaner, and a pub in Las Vegas.
In exchange for his plea, the defendant had received a sentence of 63 months in federal prison with an additional 36 months on supervised release, according to court records reviewed by Law&Crime.
Ponder served his sentence in full.
In October 2016, he was ordered to pay $6,165 in restitution to the victim businesses of his Las Vegas robbery spree.
After being released from prison, Ponder founded an organization called HOPE for Prisoners, a group that helps formerly incarcerated people with their reintegration into society.
The group's about section reads: "Founder Jon Ponder found himself returning to his community after spending time in prison and experienced firsthand the same challenges most face when they are released. He realized there was a lack of long-term support and guidance for those who learned from their mistakes and had a genuine desire to change the direction of their lives. From his personal experience and his passion to help those facing the same challenges he overcame, HOPE for Prisoners was born."
In August 2020, Ponder received a "full and unconditional pardon" from Trump, an executive grant of clemency notes.
The document explains the pardon is:
FOR HIS CONVICTION in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada on an information (Docket No. 2:05-CR-00278-JCM-PAL) charging violation of Sections 1951 and 2113(a), Title 18, United States Code, for which he was sentenced on December 27, 2005, to 63 months' imprisonment, three years' supervised release, and $6,165 (six thousand, one hundred sixty-five dollars) in restitution
The new charges have not been detailed at length.
There is, however, an ongoing investigation into allegations that Ponder acted inappropriately toward a female inmate housed by the Nevada Department of Corrections (NDOC), authorities say.
While the investigation was ongoing, Ponder was banned from NDOC-administered prison facilities in the Silver State, according to a report by Las Vegas-based CBS affiliate KLAS.
"Be advised that the subject named and depicted below is not permitted to enter any NDOC properties until further notice," Department of Corrections Director James Dzurenda wrote in a so-called "stop order" obtained by the TV station dated April 23, 2026.
Ponder was arrested on Tuesday for what police termed "sexually based crimes" in a press release seeking additional victims.
"Detectives believe there may be additional victims in the community," the release reads. "Detectives are urging anyone who may have been a victim of Ponder, or anyone with additional information related to this investigation, to contact LVMPD Detectives."
As for the earlier NDOC investigation, KLAS submitted a public records request but received a denial saying the release of such files "would jeopardize law enforcement information."
The denial further said "the records are directly relevant to the anticipated proceeding and may be introduced as evidence."
The TV station also reported that Ponder's wife recently filed for divorce and custody of the couple's children, citing local family court records. The divorce petition reportedly alleges domestic violence. The defendant's wife also reportedly filed for an order of protection.