NFL-BOUND HOPEFUL RELEASED FROM PRISON AFTER RESENTENCING

Teen's sentence reduced to less than time served

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Eric Fuller, Jr, once a heavily scouted football player at Augustus Hawkins High School in Los Angeles and who was on his way to a top ten football scholarship, and likely the NFL, will be released from prison tomorrow, February 7, after serving eight years for an armed robbery in 2017, says consulting group Phoenix HSM.  Fuller gained release after a successful appeal and resentencing according to his appeals attorney, David Zarmi of Los Angeles, who has an impressive track record before the California Supreme Court, the U.S. Supreme Court, and federal courts nationwide.

Zarmi, a Certified Appellate Specialist who has won over 300 appellate and collateral review matters nationwide, successfully argued before the California Court of Appeal that Fuller's sentence of over 32 years included inappropriate enhancements and that Fuller deserved an open resentencing hearing that would allow a new judge to reevaluate the justice of Fuller's sentence altogether. Fuller was only 17 years old when he committed the robbery.

Acting as an embedded appellate specialist at the resentencing, Zarmi brought on trial attorney Kevin Gres to join in his passion project. After Judge Joshlyn Pulliam resentenced Fuller to eight years—less than time served—Zarmi's office began the process for release.

According to Zarmi, Fuller is now ready to pick up his life where he left off as a football player and academic scholar.

During the resentencing, those speaking on Fuller's behalf, explained to Judge Pulliam that at the time of the incident, there were no shots fired. Fuller had been a straight A student and star football "legend," and on a path that many said was arguably going to take Fuller to the NFL—likely even before finishing college. Fuller had received scholarship offers from more than 15 major colleges while entering his junior year at Augustus Hawkins High School, in Watts, including Oklahoma, Michigan, Nebraska and USC. Coach Michael Fletcher ("Fletch"), who "discovered" Fuller when he was merely a Pop Warner player and who mentored him through his early teen years says, "Eric was gifted. That was apparent from the first time I saw him on the field." Coach Fletch went on to say, "I couldn't wait to see what this dedicated and driven young man would go on to accomplish. There was no question he was destined for the NFL." Coach Fletch recalls that Fuller was not only a great athlete, but he was also a strong leader, energizing those around him on a consistent basis.

Coach Traison Lewis ("Tra") shared the same enthusiasm. "I remember those Friday nights when the game was over and 'Ebo' (Fuller's nickname) would come to the locker room to hang out with the coaches. We would be talking about plays, and breaking down the game, while Ebo was sitting in the corner pouring over his chemistry homework."

At the re-sentencing, many Fuller family members and supporters packed the courtroom or had submitted letters to the court on behalf of Fuller. One of the hard-hitting letters was from a prestigious NFL coach speaking about second chances afforded to him.

Upon Fuller's release, Coach Tra will be working with Fuller at his Rancho Santa Margarita training facility—BBT Athletics and TCR Sports Performance, helping him resurrect his football career. He is shepherding Fuller by helping him with strength and workout training, as well as helping him select and enroll at an Orange County, California junior college where Fuller will be on a fast track for graduation. He also is helping Fuller find lodging and other accommodations to support Fuller's career interests. After physique training and junior college stint, Coach Tra has Fuller scheduled to go on to a four-year college where he hopes Fuller will be recruited by an NFL team. "Now, 25-years-old," says Lewis, "Fuller has plenty of time to live his dream. He's a hard worker, was always fiercely dedicated to whatever he set his mind to, and we have no doubt he is going to be a huge success, both as an athlete and a leader."

Coach Fletch will also be close beside Fuller, following and fostering his comeback. "We can't wait to see what he will accomplish." Fuller could play any position according to Coach Fletch. "Quarterback, running back, wide receiver; you name it, he can do it all!"

Fuller has always expressed remorse for that unusual incident in 2017. Says his appeals attorney, David Zarmi, who felt so passionately about Fuller's inappropriate sentence he took on the case as a personal project. "At the time of the robbery, the star athlete had fallen prey to the environment and began to associate with the wrong crowd, which caused him to veer off the path that many said was undoubtedly taking Fuller to the NFL—likely recruited even before finishing college." According to Zarmi, Fuller had received offers from more than 15 major colleges while entering his junior year at Hawkins, including Oklahoma, Michigan, Nebraska and USC. He was an excellent student who loved math and had his eye on starting an entrepreneurial business prior to even finishing out his major league football career.

Fuller's parents have been behind him throughout and his father, Eric Fuller, Sr., has opted for a better life despite a difficult youth and recently secured employment paving L.A.'s streets as a city worker.

David Zarmi serves as an embedded appellate specialist for both civil and criminal trial attorneys. Zarmi handles appeal cases for both state and federal courts. He represented Fuller before the California Court of Appeal and Supreme Court to argue for the resentencing hearing, asserting that the penalty handed down was unjust.

Fuller, who has begun writing a book on his story, is also in talks with several broadcast production companies for the film rights to his life story.

SOURCE Phoenix HSM