Boxer Charles Duke Tanner from Gary
released from prison

Crusader Staff Report
Chicagocrusader.com
October 31, 2020

Charles Duke Tanner, a Gary native and former professional boxer, was released from prison last week after he was granted clemency after serving 16 years in prison. He was among several individuals whose sentences were commuted by President Donald Trump.

Tanner, 40, was released October 21 from a Pennsylvania prison, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. He was scheduled to be released October 20, 2030. For years, Tanner fought to have his drug sentence cut short.

Tanner was 24 years old when he was arrested and convicted on charges of drug conspiracy. Though it was his first conviction and a non-violent offense, he was sentenced to life in prison, which was later reduced to 30 years.

Following his arrest, Tanner immediately began working to turn his life around, devoting hundreds of hours of time to taking educational courses. Tanner also received staff recommendation and Warden approval to enter an 18-month re-entry program.

In response to being granted clemency, Tanner said in a statement, “First and foremost, I would like to say how blessed and thankful to God I am,” he said. “Eddie and I have been talking for a long time about what we could do for our community, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to begin working on those plans. To have him with me on this day is amazing. I’m super grateful at being granted clemency by the President of the United States, and I’m looking forward to what’s to come. I feel like my story is a win-win. I had all this talent, but I messed up. Still, you always have to get back up and do something about it. Even when you fall down, you have to get back up and keep pushing. That’s the model we’ll be pushing in Gary and, hopefully, in other cities and states.”

State Senator Eddie Melton (D-Gary), who has worked for several years with the Trump administration to facilitate Charles Tanner’s release, had the following statement in response to the news of Tanner finally being granted clemency.

“This is an absolute blessing, and we give God all the glory,” Melton said. “I’ve spoken with Charles almost every other week, and it feels surreal to actually be on my way to pick him up and take him home. My brother, Troy Bly, and so many others have worked alongside me these past few years to see this reality come to pass. We are all beyond grateful that Tanner has finally been granted the freedom that he has worked hard to show he deserves.

“I would like to give a special thanks to Ja’Ron K. Smith, Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy. He was able to put this request on the President’s desk, and now Charles Tanner is on his way home. Not only is he very excited to get back to his family, but he’s already looking at ways he can help bring positive changes to the city of Gary.

Troy Bly, Tanner’s manager, said, “This couldn’t happen to a more deserving person. Even after a life sentence, Duke never stopped fighting, and now he was able to receive clemency. We can’t wait to get back to the community and help as many people as possible. This is just the beginning, and we’ll continue fighting to bring as many of our people as possible back from prison.”