The Brief
Atlanta native and former NFL player Jamal Lewis was pardoned by President Donald Trump on Feb. 13.
Lewis pleaded guilty to using a cell phone to set up a drug deal in 2004.
He is part of a group of five NFL players that Trump pardoned, including Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Travis Henry and the late Billy Cannon.
WASHINGTON – Atlanta native and former NFL player Jamal Lewis was among five former players pardoned by President Donald Trump last week.
What we know
White House pardon czar Alice Marie Johnson made the announcement on Feb. 13, which included Lewis, Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Travis Henry, and the late Billy Cannon, all of whom were granted clemency.
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The backstory
Lewis, who played for the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens, pleaded guilty in 2004 to using a cellphone to set up a cocaine deal about four years after the arrangement was made. The deal was never completed.
According to the LA Times, he was ordered to spend two months in a halfway house and complete 500 hours of community service after serving prison time.
As a running back, Lewis was drafted in the first round by the Ravens in 2000 and won a Super Bowl with the team in 2001. He was named the 2003 AP Offensive Player of the Year.
What we don’t know
No reason for the pardons was given.
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The Source
The Associated Press contributed to this report.