{{Short description|Indian-born American fashion designer convicted of rape (born 1973)}} {{Infobox criminal | image_size = 200px | image_name = Anand Jon at San Quentin.jpg | image_caption = | birth_name = Anand Jon Alexander | birth_date = | birth_place = Kerala, India | death_date = | death_place = | conviction_penalty = 59+ years | conviction_status = Incarcerated | occupation = Fashion designer and company director | spouse = | parents = Shashi Abraham | children = }} {{POV|date=April 2025}} '''Anand Jon Alexander''', professionally known as '''Anand Jon''', is an Indian-born American fashion designer convicted of rape and other sex offenses.
Jon appeared on ''America's Next Top Model'' and was listed in ''Newsweek''<nowiki/>'s ”Who’s Next in 2007?”.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McCain |first1=Meghan |title=Anand Jon |url=https://www.newsweek.com/anand-jon-105497 |website=Newsweek |date=24 December 2006 |access-date=2006-12-26}}</ref>
In November 2008, Jon was convicted at the Los Angeles Court on one count of rape and multiple counts of lesser sexual offenses. He was sentenced to 59 years to life. Jon was facing similar charges in New York and Texas, but before the trial began in 2013, the New York prosecutors accepted his guilty plea, and he was sentenced to time served.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Greenwald |first1=David |title=Analysis: Was Wrongfully Convicted Fashion Designer a Victim of Racial Prejudice on the Part of Prosecutor? |url=https://www.davisvanguard.org/2019/10/analysis-was-wrongfully-convicted-fashion-designer-victim-of-racial-prejudice-on-the-part-of-the-prosecutor/ |website=Davis Vanguard |date=10 October 2019 |access-date=2019-10-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Leonard |first1=Jack |title=Fashion designer Anand Jon guilty of rape |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-anand14-2008nov14,0,1094449.story |newspaper=LA Times |date=14 November 2008 |access-date=2008-11-14 |archive-date=2008-12-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226065807/http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-anand14-2008nov14,0,1094449.story |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> Jon successfully resolved the overlapping out of state cases in NY and TX on the very same charges in CA, and is currently appealing his conviction in Federal Court for his release in CA.
Jon claimed "conspiracy put him behind bars".<ref>{{cite web |title=Locked-up fashion designer Anand Jon Alexander claims conspiracy put him behind bars for rape charges |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2013/04/14/locked-up-fashion-designer-anand-jon-alexander-claims-conspiracy-put-him-behind-bars-for-rape-charges/ |website=Daily News |date=14 April 2013 |access-date=January 10, 2019}}</ref>
== Career == Jon was born in Kerala, India. At 16, he won a scholarship to the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and moved to United States. He moved to New York and joined Parsons The New School for Design making the transition from fine art to fashion.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/people/us-fashion-designer-gets-59-years-to-life-sentence-for-rape-20090901-f5jw.html |title=Anand Jon Alexander | US fashion designer gets 59 years to life sentence for rape |website=smh.com.au |date=2009-09-01 |access-date=2010-05-02}}</ref> Upon graduating from Parsons, where the Associate Dean was Tim Gunn, Jon launched his debut collection "Amazone" in 1999.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.fashionmodeldirectory.com/designers/anand-jon/ |title=Anand Jon |website=fashionmodeldirectory.com}}</ref>
As Jon's brand gained popularity with his Kama Sutra Indo chic fusions, he was sponsored by Giorgio Armani. Jon also credits Gianni Versace for his start in the fashion world.<ref name="latimeswinton">{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-anandjon20mar20,0,6010939.story|title=Designer is facing more sex charges|last=Richard Winton|date=March 20, 2007|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=20 November 2012}}</ref>
Jon attracted celebrities, socialites and royalty as clients, some of whom debuted as models on his runway shows and projects, including Michelle Rodriguez,<ref>{{Cite web|title = PMc – Michelle Rodriguez & Anand Jon Host Pre-Oscar Bash Featuring AJ JEANS ...|url = http://www.patrickmcmullan.com/site/event_detail.aspx?eid=23097|website = www.patrickmcmullan.com|access-date = 2015-09-29}}</ref> Amanda Hearst and Lydia Hearst,<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|title = The Designer Who Liked Models|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/15/fashion/15anand.html|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 2007-04-15|access-date = 2015-09-29|issn = 0362-4331|first = Sharon|last = Waxman}}</ref> Paris Hilton and Nicky Hilton,<ref>{{Cite web|title = Social Diary 8/17/04 – Nicky Hilton and Todd Meister were married|url = http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/legacy/socialdiary/2004/08_17_04/socialdiary08_17_04.php|website = www.newyorksocialdiary.com|access-date = 2015-09-29}}</ref> and others. "If you were a wannabe, he was the perfect tailcoat to ride on", according to Catherine Saxton, a fashion publicist in New York.<ref name=":1" />
In 2006 Jon founded a denim design company Jeanisis Fashion Inc., and the same year he received capitalization from the Joseph Stevens & Co. Inc. investment firm.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.laweekly.com/news/endgame-anand-jons-lawyers-fight-for-new-trial-2393522 |title=Endgame: Anand Jon's Lawyers Fight for New Trial |website=L.A. Weekly |date=2009-05-13 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/vprr/06/9999999997-06-033411 |title=Notice of Sales of Securities |website=Security and Exchange Commission |access-date=2017-08-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429004445/http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/vprr/06/9999999997-06-033411 |archive-date=2016-04-29 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Arrest and conviction == Jon was arrested in March 2007 in Beverly Hills, California, on rape and related charges.<ref name="latimeswinton"/><ref name=nzherald>{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10428948 |title=US celebrity designer charged with rape |work=New Zealand Herald |date=2007-03-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-anandjon20mar20,0,6010939.story |title=Designer is facing more sex charges |work=Los Angeles Times |date=2007-03-20 | first=Richard | last=Winton}}</ref> He pleaded not guilty to all charges. He had no prior felony convictions.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Independent Media Center {{!}} www.indymedia.org {{!}} ((( i )))|url = https://www.indymedia.org/en/2007/12/898018.shtml|website = www.indymedia.org|access-date = 2015-09-29|archive-date = 2015-09-30|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150930114510/https://www.indymedia.org/en/2007/12/898018.shtml|url-status = dead}}</ref> The prosecutors accused Jon of luring women and girls to his apartment under the pretext of securing modeling jobs.<ref name = LATimesVerdict/> Jon claimed that the sexual activity was consensual, and that one minor who accused him of rape had lied about her age.<ref name=nzherald />
On November 13, 2008, he was convicted on one count of rape of an adult woman as well as fifteen counts of sexual assault and other charges including unlawful conduct and contributing to delinquency of minors.<ref name = LATimesVerdict>{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-anand14-2008nov14,0,1094449.story |title=Anand Jon Alexander Guilty of Rape |work=Los Angeles Times |date=2008-11-13 | first=Jack | last=Leonard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226065807/http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-anand14-2008nov14,0,1094449.story |archive-date=26 December 2008 }}</ref> In July 2009 the judge denied Jon's request for a new trial. Jon dismissed his attorneys before his sentencing as he suspected that they were in collaboration with the prosecutors.<ref name=openthemagazine>{{cite news |url=http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/nation/the-man-authorities-came-to-frame |title=The Man Authorities Came to Frame |work=Open Magazine |date=2012-02-11}}</ref> He represented himself for the sentencing phase of the proceedings.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/07/anand-jon-acts-as-own-defense.html |title=Anand Jon acts as own attorney in sexual-assault case |work=Los Angeles Times |date=2009-07-14}}</ref> On August 31, 2009, Jon was sentenced to 59 years to life.<ref>{{cite news|title=LA Fashion Designer Gets 59 Years to Life Sentence |date=August 31, 2009 |access-date=September 1, 2009 |work=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/08/31/us/AP-US-Fashion-Designer.html }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name=toi/>
Jon was also indicted in Texas and New York on multiple charges alleging sexual assault.<ref name = LATimesVerdict/> All but one of the charges were dropped in the New York trial.<ref name=nydailynews>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/fashion-desiger-avoids-jail-n-y-sex-assault-case-article-1.1306242 |title=Fashion designer Anand Jon Alexander avoids jail in New York sex assault case |work=NEW YORK DAILY NEWS |date=2013-04-03}}</ref>
A PageSix article published in 2017 claims a recent motion for discovery in Dallas federal court as “The Los Angeles jury trial was riddled with the red flags of due process violations, jury tampering and intimidation, racism-xenophobia and many unresolved discovery issues.” <ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-06-04 |title=Designer Anand Jon to discuss prison and more in new book {{!}} Page Six |url=https://pagesix.com/2017/06/04/designer-anand-jon-to-discuss-prison-and-more-in-new-book/ |access-date=2025-12-22 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Los Angeles case controversy == Jon maintains that during his trial, juror No. 12 was not an impartial juror.<ref name=cbsnews>{{cite news |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/jurors-flirting-imperils-rape-conviction/ |title=Juror's Flirting Imperils Rape Conviction |work=CBS News |date=2009-07-04}}</ref> Alvin Dymally, juror No.12, made contact with Jon’s sister Sanjana during the trial.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2009-09-01 |title=Fashion Designer Anand Jon Alexander Goes Down for Sex Crimes - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fashion-designer-anand-jon-alexander-goes-down-for-sex-crimes/ |access-date=2025-12-22 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Superior Court Judge David Wesley determined Dymally appeared to want a romantic relationship with her when he spoke to her by phone and offered his help. Judge Wesley found both Sanjana and juror no. 12 in contempt of court.<ref name=":0" />
Jon was convicted in November 2009 of 14 counts including forcible rape.<ref name=":0" /> He was found not guilty of four felonies, and jurors could not reach a verdict on three counts.<ref name=":0" />
Although it was prohibited, juror No. 12 had discussed case details with his neighbour and had indicated that he felt the girls on the stand had the same or similar stories, and therefore juror No. 12 was under the impression the girls had collaborated.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/nonpub/B220072.PDF |title=Appeal from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County. David S. Wesley, Judge. Affirmed. |website=Superior Court of Los Angeles County |date=2012-06-19}}</ref>
Due to his fellow jurors’ anger, juror No. 12 claims he felt pressured to give a verdict that he did not want to give.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Jury-Reaches-Partial-Verdict-in-Fashion-Designer-Rape-Case.html |title=Fashion Designer Anand Jon Convicted of 16 Counts of Sexual Abuse |website=NBC News Los Angeles |date=2006-03-08}}</ref> During deliberations, other jurors had complained about juror No. 12, that it seemed he had already made up his mind to convict Jon.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thewrap.com/breaking-news-anand-jon-convicted-life-prison-492/ |title=Breaking News: Anand Jon Convicted – Life in Prison |website=thewrap.com |date=2008-11-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Mikulan |first=Steven |date=2009-08-31 |title=Anand Jon Makes Last Stand |url=https://www.laweekly.com/news/anand-jon-makes-last-stand-2390750 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706204129/https://www.laweekly.com/news/anand-jon-makes-last-stand-2390750 |archive-date=2015-07-06 |access-date=2025-12-22 |work=L.A. Weekly}}</ref> Although a request from the juror No. 12 be removed for refusal to deliberate, the request was denied by Judge Wesley.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-jul-05-me-anandjon5-story.html |title=Anand Jon juror tried to meet with defendant's sister before conviction, defense lawyers say |work=Los Angeles Times |date=2009-07-05}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
Also during jury deliberations and before the verdict, juror No. 12 was flirty with the defendant's sister, Sanjana.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://jonathanturley.org/2009/09/16/for-a-good-time-call-juror-12-juror-held-in-contempt-in-trial-of-anand-jon-alexander-for-contacting-sister/ |title=For a Good Time, Call Juror 12: Juror Held in Contempt in Trial of Anand Jon Alexander For Contacting Sister |publisher=Jonathan Turley |date=2009-09-16}}</ref> due to fear of angering juror No. 12<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2009-07-04 |title=Juror's Flirting Imperils Rape Conviction - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jurors-flirting-imperils-rape-conviction/ |access-date=2025-12-22 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>, Sanjana called the phone number he handed to her during the trial.<ref name=":3">{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jul/05/local/me-anandjon5/2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706141816/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jul/05/local/me-anandjon5/2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 6, 2015 |title=Anand Jon juror tried to meet with defendant's sister before conviction, defense lawyers say |work=Los Angeles Times |date=2009-07-05}}</ref> after Sanjana refused to meet him, juror No. 12 changed his vote from not guilty to guilty.<ref name="cbsnews" /> Before a verdict was reached, juror No. 12 re-initiated contact with Sanjana, once again requesting she meet him.<ref name=":2" /> She recorded the phone call<ref name=":3" />. After Sanjana informed the court, she was instructed to schedule a meeting connected to a wire. Prior to the scheduling meeting, juror No. 12 was intercepted by District Attorney Investigators informing him of the criminal investigation he was under, thus sabotaging the plan.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Designer-Convicted-of-Sexual-Assault-Seeks-New-Trial.html |title=Designer Convicted of Sexual Assault Seeks New Trial |work=NBC News Los Angeles |date=2006-03-08 |access-date=2015-07-08 |archive-date=2015-07-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709124730/http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Designer-Convicted-of-Sexual-Assault-Seeks-New-Trial.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-apr-28-me-briefs28.s1-story.html |title=California Briefing / Los Angeles |work=Los Angeles Times |date=2009-04-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.laweekly.com/news/new-questions-raised-about-anand-jon-trial-2390550 |title=New Questions Raised About Anand Jon Trial |work=L.A. Weekly |date=2009-02-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/crime-of-fashion-no-new-trial-for-wayward-designer-to-stars/ |title=Crime of Fashion: No New Trial for Wayward Designer to Stars |work=CBS News |date=2009-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.laweekly.com/columns/star-crossed-at-starbucks-strange-twist-at-anand-jon-sentencing-2159162 |title=Star-Crossed at Starbucks: Strange Twist at Anand Jon Sentencing |work=L.A. Weekly |date=2009-04-08}}</ref>
Regarding his actions, juror No. 12 faced questioning under oath, where he testified to have never made attempts to speak to Jon’s sister. Defence attorneys presented a recording of their conversation, with the phone records, proving the juror falsely testified.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2009/jul/02/bc-us-fashion-designer1st-ld-writethru/ |title=Prosecutors: Flirty juror no reason for new trial |work=Victoria Advocate |date=2009-07-02}}</ref>
Juror No. 12 pleaded the Fifth Amendment to "not further incriminate himself" for perjury.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2009/jun/12/ca-convicted-designer-061209/ |title=Juror takes 5th in probe of fashion designer trial |work=The San Diego Union Tribune |date=2009-06-12}}</ref> Judge Wesley refused to consider or hold evidentiary hearings in the matter and the request for a new trial was denied.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/judge-denies-new-sex-assault-trial-for-fashion-designer-anand-jon-alexander |title=Judge Denies New Sex Assault Trial for Fashion Designer Anand Jon Alexander |work=Fox News |date=2009-07-06}}</ref>
Jon asserts there were inconsistencies in the victims’ testimonies.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-nov-05-me-designer5-story.html |title=Defense targets designer's accusers |work=Los Angeles Times |date=2008-11-05}}</ref> During the trial, it was shown that the lead detective destroyed evidence crucial to Jon’s case and did not follow up with alleged victims that had said Jon never sexually assaulted them.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.oneindia.com/2008/08/21/lead-detective-destroyed-evidence-crucial-anand-jons-1219320420.html |title=Lead detective destroyed evidence crucial to Jon's case |work=Oneindia |date=2008-08-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.oneindia.com/2008/08/22/twists-anand-jon-prove-innocence-1219406760.html |title=New twists in Anand Jon case may prove his innocence |work=Oneindia |date=2008-08-22}}</ref>
Jon dismissed his lawyers during the penalty phase, as he believed they were working with the prosecution. One reason that he felt supported this belief is that his Donald Marks, his former defense lawyer, his daughter was hired on by the D.A.'s office during the trial<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.laweekly.com/news/anand-jon-makes-last-stand-2390750 |title=Anand Jon Makes Last Stand |work=L.A. Weekly |date=2009-08-31}}</ref>
Almost all the same witnesses and same charges as the Los Angeles case was brought in New York; the New York District Attorney’s Office offered "time served" for a single count as a plea, Jon accepted.
In exchange for the plea, prosecutors agreed to turn over crucial documents to Jon. Jon’s appeal in California argued the Manhattan documents prove his California lawyers did not share vital police documents and relevant correspondence showing his accusers worked together with the help of his civil lawyers to ensure consistency among their stories.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://nypost.com/2013/02/15/designer-rapist-anand-jon-has-48-sex-attack-counts-dropped-still-faces-54-years/ |title=Designer rapist Anand Jon has 48 sex-attack counts dropped, still faces 54 years |work=The New York Post |date=2013-02-15}}</ref>
The Los Angeles trial included a rape kit result (negative), indicating no assault findings.<ref>{{Cite web|title = 'Jon victim of racial discrimination'|url = http://www.indiapost.com/jon-victim-of-racial-discrimination/|website = www.indiapost.com|date = 21 February 2013|access-date = 2015-09-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Runway to Rape: Rise and Fall of Anand Jon|url = https://abcnews.go.com/2020/anand-jon-fashion-designer-convicted-serial-sexual-assault/story?id=9344417|website = ABC News|date = 2009-12-22|access-date = 2015-09-29}}</ref> Jon took and successfully passed a polygraph test regarding the rape charge for which he was convicted.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Anand Jon's Lie Detector Test|url = http://www.laweekly.com/news/anand-jons-lie-detector-test-2387629|access-date = 2015-09-29|first = Steven|last = Mikulan|date = 10 December 2008}}</ref>
== Racial Justice Act ==
Anand Jon's path to freedom was catalyzed alongside the first of a kind California Racial Justice Act (applicable stating 2024) when the International Justice Alliance delegates met with then Assembly Member Dr. Shirley Weber who has then become the California Secretary of State.<ref>{{cite web |title=California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D. |url=https://www.sos.ca.gov/administration/about |website=sos.ca.gov |access-date=2023-11-13}}</ref>
The record shows how the L.A. prosecutor "demonized Anand Jon's Indian-Jewish culture, meditating cross legged, Kamasutra and foreign (Hebrew) symbols" and further inflamed the jury by portraying Anand Jon as an outsider, who was "above the laws of the United States" "targeted white women". The International Justice Alliance delegation included influential activists, filmmakers, students and exonerees such as Amy Ralston Povah,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Greenwald |first1=David |title=Everyday Injustice Podcast Episode 59 - the Wrongful Conviction of Anand Jon Alexander |url=https://soundcloud.com/davisvanguard/everyday-injustice-podcast-episode-59-the-wrongful-conviction-anand-jon-alexander |website=soundcloud.com/davisvanguard |publisher=David Greenwald |access-date=2023-11-13}}</ref> founder of the CAN-DO Foundation who noted "correcting an injustice".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.huffpost.com/author/amy-povah |title=Amy Povah |website=HuffPost |access-date=2023-11-13}}</ref>
Weber concurred that "this really seems like this was racially charged with a lot of motive behind it."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Greenwald |first1=David |title=Anand Jon's Path to Freedom: A San Diego Meeting with Assemblymember Weber |url=https://www.davisvanguard.org/2020/03/anand-jons-path-to-freedom-a-san-diego-meeting-with-assemblymember-weber/ |website=Davis Vanguard |date=9 March 2020 |publisher=David Greenwald |access-date=2023-11-13}}</ref> The disturbing racism in the case was referred to in the Racial Justice Act, assembly member Ash Kalra. "In our research, we found the misconduct of the Beverly Hills police and prosecutor in People v Anand Jon Alexander utterly shocking" said former Assembly member Patty Lopez who passed the AB1909 law (2018) holding prosecutors criminally liable for withholding favorable evidence.<ref>{{cite web |title=AB-1909 Falsifying evidence |url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160AB1909 |website=leginfo.legislature.ca.gov |publisher=California Legislative Information |access-date=2023-11-13}}</ref>
== Cal State Masters, San Quentin Rehabilitation Center == The Parsons School of Design (New York City) BA graduate Anand Jon was among 30 selected for the first of a kind Cal State HUX masters degree for the incarcerated starting fall 2023. Studies by the RAND Corporation 2018 and Public Safety Committee show a return on investment of nearly $20 for every dollar spent on education, return on investment reported the ''San Quentin News'' in October 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=San Quentin News |url=https://sanquentinnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SQN-161-ISSUE-OCTOBER-2023-FOR-PRINT-min.pdf |website=San Quentin News |access-date=October 1, 2023}}</ref> Jon was transferred to San Quentin Prison where a $380 million transformation into a Norwegian model rehabilitation center is underway under Governor Newsom's vision to reduce crime, racism and recidivism.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chabria |first1=Anita |title=California to transform infamous San Quentin prison with Scandinavian ideas, rehab focus |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-03-16/newsom-wants-to-transform-san-quentin-using-a-scandinavian-model |newspaper=LA Times |date=16 March 2023 }}</ref>
== Personal life == Jon is a nephew of Indian classical musician and playback singer K. J. Yesudas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/Sunday-TOI/articleshow/msid-1775512,curpg-2.cms |title=Flashback of a rape accused |website=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=2007-03-18 |access-date=2010-05-02}}</ref> Jon's mother Shashi Abraham and his sister Sanjana Jon have urged the governments of the US and India to intervene and grant a new trial.<ref name=toi>[https://archive.today/20130103100126/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-09-02/us/28060846_1_anand-jon-young-women-vulnerable-women "Anand Jon gets 59 years for sex crimes"], Chidanand Rajghatta, ''Times of India'', September 9, 2009</ref>
Jon has been involved in charity projects such as Universe Aids awareness tour to India with his sister Sanjana.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Anand Jon Celebrity Fashion Designer {{!}} Asiance Magazine|url = http://www.asiancemagazine.com/dec_2006/anand_jon_celebrity_fashion_designer|website = www.asiancemagazine.com|access-date = 2015-09-29|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923175806/http://www.asiancemagazine.com/dec_2006/anand_jon_celebrity_fashion_designer|archive-date = 2015-09-23|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Tiger Skanda during Nature Santuary [sic] benefit hosted by Anand Jon and...| date=18 June 2011 |url = http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/tiger-skanda-during-nature-santuary-benefit-hosted-by-anand-news-photo/116939307|access-date = 2015-09-29}}</ref>
Jon was named cultural ambassador of India for his contribution to fashion. He has won "Rising Star Award" for Fashion week of the Americas, "Designer of the Year" at Vancouver Fashion Week. He was celebrity host for MTV Asia and VH1’s ''Awesomely Bad Fashions''. He has appeared on ''America's Next Top Model'' with Tyra Banks and on ''E!'' with Paris Hilton.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asiancemagazine.com/dec_2006/anand_jon_celebrity_fashion_designer |title=Anand Jon Celebrity Fashion Designer |website=asiancemagazine.com |date=2006-12-01 |access-date=2015-07-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923175806/http://www.asiancemagazine.com/dec_2006/anand_jon_celebrity_fashion_designer |archive-date=2015-09-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Jon, Anand}} Category:1976 births Category:Living people Category:Loyola College, Chennai alumni Category:American fashion designers Category:American people convicted of child sexual abuse Category:American prisoners and detainees Category:American people convicted of rape Category:American businesspeople in fashion Category:Indian emigrants to the United States Category:American people of Malayali descent Category:Prisoners and detainees of California