Ballerific Sports: Demaryius Thomas’ Grandmother Gets Sentence Commuted By President Obama- blogged by @niksofly

The 214  non-violent drug offenders that had their sentences commuted by #PresidentObama, contained a special person for#DenverBroncos wide receiver #DemaryiusThomas. Thomas’ grandmother, #MinniePearlThomas, was one of the individuals in the largest single day grant of commutations in the history of the United States. Ms. Minnie Pearl, 60, has spent the last 16 years in a Tallahassee (FL) federal prison, serving two life sentences for drug trafficking. She was arrested in #Georgia-a state that is known to have some of the toughest drug laws.

Demaryius Thomas met with the president this past June when the #Broncos visited the White House after winning the #SuperBowl. DT wanted to personally thank the #POTUS for what he did for him.  In July  of 2015 Demaryius’ mother, #KatinaSmith, was one of the 46 individuals pardoned by the president. She was serving a lengthy sentence for her part in drug trafficking.

However, President Obama changed that. Smith was released just in time to catch her son win #SuperBowl50. DT recalled the once -in-a-lifetime event (meeting the president) after the Broncos’ Wednesday practice. “I still remember when we were at the White House. I was talking about my mom and saying thank you, and the fact that he mentioned my grandmother, I knew something was going to happen. … I’m happy. I’m excited. In the past two years, I’ve got my grandmother and my mother out.”

DT had no idea that his grandmother was being released. He literally discovered the great news after coming off weights during Wednesday’s practice. “I just found out right when I came in from weights. I had no idea. I was surprised. I was excited, too, it came this early. I heard 200-plus people get to have a second chance, and for my grandmother to be one of them, it’s a blessing”, Thomas told the Denver Post.

It truly is a blessing. Demaryius Thomas was a preteen when federal sentencing took his mother and grandmother out of his life.

The judicial system has to be evaluated. The sentences being handed out for non-violent crimes do not reflect the crime. These sentences reflect more heinous crimes.  #BallerAlert #InTheNews #BallerificSports

-Niko Rose