Wendell Smallwood, a former running back for the Philadelphia Eagles, could be released from federal prison early to spend time with his 8-year-old daughter, Mila, who has been diagnosed with a rare form of kidney cancer. A New Jersey judge allowed Smallwood to withdraw his guilty plea in a separate state gun case, which may facilitate his release from Fort Dix Federal Correctional Institution as early as August 17.
Mila's condition has deteriorated, with doctors indicating she may only have days or weeks to live. Judge Renard Scott referenced her illness when making his decision and noted that Smallwood was close to qualifying for full parole on his state sentence. Smallwood's attorney, Yaron Helmer, emphasized the importance of Smallwood being with his daughter during this critical time.
Smallwood was serving concurrent sentences: an 18-month federal sentence for fraud related to COVID-19 relief programs and a three-year state sentence for possession of an AR-15-style rifle. A recent federal appeals court ruling deemed New Jersey's ban on AR-15-style rifles unconstitutional, allowing Smallwood to challenge his state conviction. The judge characterized Smallwood's actions as a poor judgment call and stated he was not a threat to the community. Smallwood was drafted by the Eagles in 2016 and was part of the team that won Super Bowl LII.