A man who sued the Massachusetts Parole Board over delays in hearings was granted parole this week after serving over 25 years of his original life sentence for “orchestrating” a fatal shooting nearly 30 years ago.
Robert Francis was 19 years old in February 1995 when he organized the shooting of a rival gang in Springfield that resulted in the death of Carlos Falcon and injuries to three others, according to the parole board’s findings. Francis was the “chief enforcer” in his gang, and at his instruction, two other members carried out the shooting on State Street while he stayed in an apartment.
A Hampden County Superior Court jury found Francis guilty of accessory before the fact to first-degree murder, three counts of accessory before the fact to armed assault with intent to murder and three counts of accessory before the fact to assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole…