When President Obama was re-elected into office almost three years ago, NFL star Demaryius Thomas probably never thought it would have such a huge impact on his life. Yesterday, Obama reduced the sentences of 46 inmates who are currently serving sentences related to nonviolent drug crimes. One of those 46 individuals happens to be Katina Smith, the mother of the Denver Broncos’ wide receiver.
Katina Smith is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence in Tallahassee for drug trafficking. She was arrested along with her mom, Minnie Pearl Thomas, in March of 1999 for distributing crack cocaine after police raided their house in the middle of the night one night. The two were charged with drug trafficking and sent to jail, Smith for 24 years (which later got reduced to 20) and Thomas for life with the possibility of parole. Demaryius was just 12 years old when he had to say goodbye to his mom, never having been able to see her outside of a prison cell since that life-changing night.
Originally, Smith was scheduled to be released to a halfway house in December 2016 but with the commutation granted on Monday, she will be going home one year earlier than expected. Demaryius, who has had to grow up without his mom, will finally be reunited with the #1 woman in his life in just a few months. After he found out, he posted the exciting news on Facebook.
This fall, for the first time ever in his life, Demaryius will be able to look up in the stands at the stadium and see his mom cheering for him. It will truly be a special moment for the two of them when they are finally reunited again.
