#1 From a previous version of the story:
Carla Robinson said she grew up with Thomas and remained in contact with him throughout his imprisonment. Robinson took issue with media depictions of Thomas as a former gang member.
"He's not the person that the media is painting a picture of," she said. "He's not a hardcore gangbanger criminal. He was a caring person. He can't help the environment he was raised in. That wasn't his choice."
Thomas in August 2008 pleaded guilty to distribution of 5 grams or more of cocaine base. In his plea agreement, Thomas stipulated that on June 19, 2007, he knowingly distributed 7.2 grams of crack cocaine to a confidential informant in or around Saginaw. Thomas did not testify against his codefendants. |