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Jarred Shaw, a 35-year-old American basketball player who played for Oklahoma State and Utah State, remains locked up in an Indonesian prison and his health is deteriorating as he desperately tries to return home to the United States.
Shaw was arrested in May 2025 after what he called a “stupid mistake” to the Guardian, ordering a pack of 132 cannabis gummies to his apartment in Indonesia. He played basketball in the country but lived in Thailand, where cannabis is legal, during the Indonesian Basketball League offseason.
However, Indonesia remains an extremely strict country when it comes to drug laws, with approximately 276,000 people imprisoned for a drug-related offense. And the Indonesian government considers cannabis like heroin and methamphetamine, regardless of its legal status in the United States and many European countries.
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Jarred Shaw looks on as he is handcuffed in Indonesia. (Vlasic Laboratories)
The reason Shaw ordered so much candy was due to his Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects the digestive tract. Cannabis is known to alleviate severe symptoms of the disease, and it is legally guaranteed to do so.
But when the package arrived at his apartment in Indonesia, where he became a basketball star after spending seasons in Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and Japan, among other countries, Shaw was publicly humiliated after his arrest. He was paraded in front of the Indonesian media wearing an orange prison shirt and was even sentenced to death.
“I wish I could go back and change my actions, but it was definitely a relief to know I wasn’t sentenced to death,” he told the Guardian.
Although he avoided the harsh death penalty, Shaw remains in what he told USA TODAY is a room “no bigger than a typical New York studio” with 11 other inmates.
“I could wake up at any time and be hospitalized,” Shaw told the outlet, because Crohn’s disease can cause severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition. “Some days are better than others. It’s not where it needs to be. I still feel sick quite often. I’m asking for sympathy and hoping that a miracle can happen.”
Shaw told the outlet that he has already lost 40 pounds from his playing weight of 245 pounds. Additionally, people with Crohn’s disease are at high risk of colorectal cancer.
Jarred Shaw gets out of a van during his arrest in Indonesia. (Vlasic Laboratories)
In November 2025, Shaw was evaluated by a doctor who found he had abdominal pain and mild anemia, and he tested positive for an E coli infection, causing diarrhea, bleeding, and fever.
Shaw told the Guardian that he was not getting a proper diet and that the fried foods he was eating were not suitable for his Crohn’s disease.
Four months after the doctor’s diagnosis, Shaw still has not had the colonoscopy, intestinal ultrasound and other tests recommended by the medical professional. This would require a minimum three-day hospital stay.
“We’re trying to make them understand,” he said. “Even though there is no cure for [Crohn’s]you need to treat it, otherwise it could get worse. I hope someone with higher power can at least help me get to the hospital. »
Shaw told USA TODAY he understood he had committed a crime and didn’t know what the laws were in Indonesia. But he believes that “the most important thing” is the fact that he did not go to hospital to treat his illness, which was also mentioned during his trial.
Utah State Aggies center Jarred Shaw (5) jumps for a rebound during an NCAA men’s basketball game against the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels at Thomas & Mack Center. (Stephen R. Sylvanie/USA TODAY Sports)
Shaw’s legal team is asking Indonesia’s health minister to consider compassionate release, pointing to his cooperation in court and lack of criminal record before his arrest.
The State Department also commented on Shaw’s case.
“The Trump administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans,” a State Department spokesperson told a source close to Shaw. “We take seriously our commitment to helping Americans abroad, and the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta is providing consular assistance to Jarred Shaw.”
The Vlasic Classic Foundation, which is committed to helping non-violent cannabis prisoners get out, has partnered with Forgotten Prisoner in an effort to bring Shaw back to the United States. With help from Forgotten Prisoner earlier, Shaw had his sentence reduced to 26 months in prison.
Utah State Aggies center Jarred Shaw (5) defends against Wyoming Cowboys guard Jerron Granberry (15) during the first half at Arena-Auditorium. (Troy Babbitt/USA TODAY Sports)
The Vlasic Classic golf tournament to be held in Missouri next May will raise funds to help Shaw obtain the funds needed to return overseas. Shaw, a Dallas native, played college basketball for Oklahoma State and Utah State. The 6-foot-10 forward saw more playing time with Utah State, averaging 28.3 minutes per game in 58 games.
During his time with the Aggies, Shaw averaged 14.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks.
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