Opinion
CRIMINAL NO. 2:18-CR-40-KS-MTP
11-24-2020
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. LYDIA WALTERS
ORDER
On June 6, 2019, Defendant Lydia Walters pleaded guilty to possession of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). On September 10, 2019, the Court sentenced her to four years of imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release. On July 30, 2020, Defendant filed a Motion for Compassionate Release [87] pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A) because of the COVID-19 pandemic, although she is not due to be released until July 2022.
Under 18 U.S.C. § 3582, the Court may reduce a term of imprisonment after considering the factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), if it finds that "extraordinary and compelling reasons warrant such a reduction . . . and that such a reduction is consistent with applicable policy statements issued by the Sentencing Commission . . . ." 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A). Defendant has the burden of demonstrating that she meets the requirements for compassionate release. United States v. Whirl, 2020 WL 3883656, at *1 (S.D. Miss. July 9, 2020).
The Sentencing Commission's guidelines provide, in relevant part, that the Court may reduce a term of imprisonment, after considering the factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), if (1) "[e]xtraordinary and compelling reasons warrant the reduction;" (2) "[t]he defendant is not a danger to the safety of any other person or to the community, as provided in 18 U.S.C. § 3142(g);" and (3) "[t]he reduction is consistent with this policy statement." U.S. SENTENCING GUIDELINES MANUAL § 1B1.13. The Sentencing Commission's application notes provide that an "extraordinary and compelling reason" exists if "[t]he defendant is suffering from a terminal illness . . . ." U.S. SENTENCING GUIDELINES MANUAL § 1B1.13 cmt. n. 1(A)(i). Likewise, the standard is met if:
The defendant is
(I) suffering from a serious physical or medical condition,
(II) suffering from a serious function or cognitive impairment, or
(III) experiencing deteriorating physical or mental health because of the aging process,
U.S. SENTENCING GUIDELINES MANUAL § 1B1.13 cmt. n. 1(A)(ii). The notes also provide that certain circumstances related to the defendant's age and family circumstances can meet the standard. U.S. SENTENCING GUIDELINES MANUAL § 1B1.13 cmt. n. 1(B)-(C).
that substantially diminishes the ability of the defendant to provide self-care within the environment of a correctional facility and from which he or she is not expected to recover.
Defendant is currently incarcerated at FCI Tallahassee. She alleges that, at the time she filed her reply, there had been 11 inmates and 9 staff with confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the facility. She argues that she is unable to effectively avoid exposure to the virus because of the conditions of confinement in the facility, but she does not claim to have any preexisting conditions that heighten the risk of serious illness or death if she contracts COVID-19. She requests that the Court release her to home confinement. Finally, Defendant argues that she would not be a danger to the safety of any other person or the community if released.
The Court finds that Defendant has not demonstrated that there is an "extraordinary and compelling" reason to reduce her term of imprisonment. Defendant has not articulated a "serious physical or medical condition . . . that substantially diminishes the ability of the defendant to provide self-care within the environment of a correction facility and from which he or she is not expected to recover." See U.S. SENTENCING GUIDELINES MANUAL § 1B1.13 cmt. n. 1(A). Courts in this Circuit have found that defendants who are not suffering from a terminal illness, serious physical or medical condition that diminishes their ability to care for themselves, serious functional or cognitive impairment, or deteriorating physical or mental health because of aging do not meet the standard imposed by the Sentencing Commission's policy statements. See, e.g. United States v. Takewell, 2020 WL 4043060, at *3 (W.D. La. July 17, 2020); United States v. Washington, 2020 WL 4000862, at *5 (E.D. La. July 15, 2020); United States v. Clark, 2020 WL 1557397, at *4 (M.D. La. Apr. 1, 2020); United States v. Vasquez, 2020 WL 3000709, at *3 (S.D. Tex. June 2, 2020); United States v. Johnson, 2020 WL 3962284, at *3 (S.D. Tex. July 13, 2020); United States v. Dodd, 2020 WL 3893695, at *4 (E.D. Tex. July 10, 2020); United States v. Reeves, 2020 WL 3895282, at *3 (N.D. Tex. July 10, 2020); Whirl, 2020 WL 3883656 at *3.
Defendant has not even articulated any preexisting medical conditions that increase her risk of serious illness or death. Regardless, "[p]reexisting medical conditions that place a defendant at increased risk for serious illness from COVID-19 are not in and of themselves sufficient to establish extraordinary and compelling reasons justifying a reduction in sentence." United States v. McLin, 2020 WL 3803919, at *3 (S.D. Miss. July 7, 2020).
Defendant's "general concerns about possible exposure to COVID-19 do not meet the criteria for extraordinary and compelling reasons for a reduction in sentence . . . ." Takewell, 2020 WL 404360 at *4. "[T]he mere existence of COVID-19 in society" and, consequently, the prison system "cannot independently justify compassionate release, especially considering BOP's statutory role, and its extensive and professional efforts to curtail the virus's spread." United States v. Raia, 954 F.3d 594, 597 (3rd Cir. 2020) (citing BOP's COVID-19 Action Plan).
The Court also finds that Defendant has not demonstrated that she would not be a danger to the safety of any other person or the community if released. She has a criminal history that includes charges of passing contraband, possession of controlled substances, burglary, and embezzlement.
In summary, the Court certainly takes the COVID-19 pandemic seriously, but it "cannot release every prisoner at risk of contracting COVID-19 because the Court would then be obligated to release every prisoner." United States v. Koons, 2020 WL 1940570, at *4 (W.D. La. Apr. 21, 2020). As noted above, "[g]eneral concerns about the spread of COVID-19 or the mere fear of contracting an illness in prison are insufficient grounds to establish the extraordinary and compelling reasons necessary to reduce a sentence." Id. at *5. Defendant still has over a year and a half left in her sentence. The BOP's response to the pandemic, outlined in detail in the Government's brief, is sufficient, given the circumstances and logistical issues presented by a prison environment. Defendant has not demonstrated - or even claimed - that she is in heightened or particular danger of serious illness or death caused by COVID-19. For all the reasons provided above, the Court denies Defendant's Motion for Compassionate Release [87].
The Court also denies Defendant's Motion to Appoint Counsel [86] as moot. The Court appointed counsel to represent Defendant in her motion for compassionate release pursuant to its Administrative General Order [88]. That motion has now been addressed, as has Defendant's Motion to Recommend Community Correction Center Placement [97].
SO ORDERED AND ADJUDGED this 24th day of November, 2020.
/s/ Keith Starrett
KEITH STARRETT
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
See e.g. United States v. Brown, 2020 WL 6833778 (5th Cir. Nov. 20, 2020); United States v. Jackson, 2020 WL 6702129 (5th Cir. Nov. 13, 2020); United States v. Rivas, 2020 WL 6437288 (5th Cir. Nov. 2, 2020).