Opinion
Case No. 1:16-cr-396
05-15-2021
ORDER ON MOTION FOR SENTENCE REDUCTION UNDER 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A) (COMPASSIONATE RELEASE)
Upon motion of [×] the defendant [ ] the Director of the Bureau of Prisons for a reduction in sentence under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A), and after considering the applicable factors provided in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) and the applicable policy statements issued by the Sentencing Commission, IT IS ORDERED that the motion is: [ ] GRANTED
[ ] The defendant's previously imposed sentence of imprisonment of is reduced to . If this sentence is less than the amount of time the defendant already served, the sentence is reduced to a time served; or
[ ] Time served.
If the defendant's sentence is reduced to time served:
[ ] This order is stayed for up to fourteen days, for the verification of the defendant's residence and/or establishment of a release plan, to make appropriate travel arrangements, and to ensure the defendant's safe release. The defendant shall be released as soon as a residence is verified, a release plan is established, appropriate travel arrangements are made,
and it is safe for the defendant to travel. There shall be no delay in ensuring travel arrangements are made. If more than fourteen days are needed to make appropriate travel arrangements and ensure the defendant's safe release, the parties shall immediately notify the court and show cause why the stay should be extended; or
[ ] There being a verified residence and an appropriate release plan in place, this order is stayed for up to fourteen days to make appropriate travel arrangements and to ensure the defendant's safe release. The defendant shall be released as soon as appropriate travel arrangements are made and it is safe for the defendant to travel. There shall be no delay in ensuring travel arrangements are made. If more than fourteen days are needed to make appropriate travel arrangements and ensure the defendant's safe release, then the parties shall immediately notify the court and show cause why the stay should be extended.
[ ] The defendant must provide the complete address where the defendant will reside upon release to the probation office in the district where they will be released because it was not included in the motion for sentence reduction.
[ ] Under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A), the defendant is ordered to serve a "special term" of [ ] probation or [ ] supervised release of months (not to exceed the unserved portion of the original term of imprisonment).
[ ] The defendant's previously imposed conditions of supervised release apply to the "special term" of supervision; or
[ ] The conditions of the "special term" of supervision are as follows:
[ ] The defendant's previously imposed conditions of supervised release are unchanged.[ ] DEFERRED pending supplemental briefing and/or a hearing. The court DIRECTS the United States Attorney to file a response on or before , along with all Bureau of Prisons records (medical, institutional, administrative) relevant to this motion. [×] DENIED after complete review of the motion on the merits.
[ ] The defendant's previously imposed conditions of supervised release are modified as follows:
[×] FACTORS CONSIDERED (Optional) The Court has considered Mr. Watson's application, Dkt. No. 736, as well as the materials presented to the Court in connection with his sentencing. The Court has also considered the letter filed in response to the application by the United States, Dkt. No. 744, as well as the letter of support filed by Mr. Watson's significant other. Dkt. No. 745. The Court recognizes that the "First Step Act freed district courts to consider the full slate of extraordinary and compelling reasons that an imprisoned person might bring before them in motions for compassionate release." United States v. Brooker, 976 F.3d 228, 237 (2d Cir. 2020). Assuming, without holding, that Mr. Watson's health conditions, combined with the circumstances at the facility in which he is incarcerated are sufficient to permit the Court to conclude that extraordinary and compelling circumstances that might support a modification of his sentence exist in this case, after evaluating the factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), the Court does not believe that a modification of Mr. Watson's sentence is appropriate at this time for substantially the same reasons articulated by the United States in its response to Mr. Watson's application. The Court notes the vaccination campaign in effect at the Bureau of Prisons and hopes that Mr. Watson's health conditions will lead the Bureau of Prisons to prioritize him in the vaccination schedule. The Court certifies, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3), that any appeal from this order would not be taken in good faith, and therefore IFP status is denied for the purpose of an appeal. See Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 444-45 (1962).
[ ] DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE because the defendant has not exhausted all administrative remedies as required in 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A), nor have 30 days lapsed since receipt of the defendant's request by the warden of the defendant's facility. IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: New York, New York May 15, 2021
/s/_________
GREGORY H. WOODS
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE