Smallwood early release for dying daughter

Former National Football League running back Wendell Smallwood, incarcerated since 2024, was granted early release from a United States — New Jersey state prison sentence so he can be with his 8-year-old daughter Mila, who is dying from diffuse anaplastic Wilms tumour, a rare kidney cancer. On August 7, United States — Gloucester County Superior Court Judge Renard Scott withdrew Smallwood's guilty plea in a gun possession case, citing his daughter's untreatable illness and noting she has days or weeks to live. The ruling followed a July appeals court decision that found United States — New Jersey's assault weapons ban unconstitutional, and was also influenced by Smallwood's good conduct and rehabilitation participation in federal custody. Smallwood, who pleaded guilty in September 2024 to COVID-19 relief fraud and was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, could be released as early as August 17. His attorney Yaron Helmer argued that a federal furlough would take too long. The case has drawn emotional public reaction.