NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) —Before leaving office on Wednesday, President Trump granted a federal pardon to Nashville businessman Robert Sherrill.
Sherrill, a youth advocate and Nashville entrepreneur, was arrested for a drug transaction and served a full 17-year sentence. While serving time in jail, Sherrill started a foundation and looked forward to helping others avoid his mistakes.
Notified of his federal pardon just after midnight, Sherrill plans to use the opportunity to remove some of the limitations that he has experienced since his release from prison.
Sherill's Story
Sherrill was named Nashville's Most Admired CEO in 2018, and he loves to show off the trophy that came with it. After all, he runs three companies and a foundation where he does mentoring and ACT prep with youth.
"I just want to continue to be a shining light and be an example to every boy and girl in our community," Sherrill told FOX 17 News in an interview last year.
What's also clear if you look closely at the newspapers and stories on the walls, Sherrill was not always on the path to being an entrepreneur making six figures.
First arrested at age 12, Sherrill lived in a house where drug use was prevalent, and he would eventually serve five years in prison.
Despite only having been arrested once in his life, Bryant received a 17-year sentence that he had to serve at 100 percent for middle-manning a drug transaction. As he was awaiting his release, he started his own foundation and awaited the day he would get to help others not make the same mistake he did.
"I really want to show kids that you can be good 99 percent of the time, but that one percent can cost you your life," Bryant previously said. His foundation P.I.C.K allows him to mentor Nashville's youth and provide a consistent and persistent presence in their lives.
In less than two years since his release, Bryant's work has caught local attention as well as that of the Pittsburgh Steelers and their offensive lineman Ramon Foster who made a $10,000 donation.