Court Opinion

ID: 9958836
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-04-10 00:00:34.914551+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:17:45.785190
License: Public Domain

Case: 23-60544           Document: 54-1         Page: 1      Date Filed: 04/09/2024

          United States Court of Appeals
               for the Fifth Circuit
                                  ____________                          United States Court of Appeals
                                                                                 Fifth Circuit

                                   No. 23-60544
                                                                               FILED
                                                                            April 9, 2024
                                 Summary Calendar
                                 ____________                             Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                               Clerk
United States of America,

                                                                   Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                         versus

Amos Blanks,

                                           Defendant—Appellant.
                  ______________________________

                  Appeal from the United States District Court
                    for the Southern District of Mississippi
                            USDC No. 2:20-CR-2-1
                  ______________________________

Before Jones, Southwick, and Ho, Circuit Judges.
Per Curiam: *
      Amos Blanks, federal prisoner # 22071-043, appeals the district
court’s denial of his 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i) motion for compassionate
release. He contends that he established extraordinary and compelling
reasons warranting release because his health conditions and race made it
more likely that he would face serious illness if he were to contract COVID-

      _____________________
      *
          This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 23-60544        Document: 54-1       Page: 2     Date Filed: 04/09/2024

19. In addition, Blanks maintains that his wife’s death justifies his release so
that he can act as the primary caregiver for his minor children. Finally, he
argues that the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors weigh in favor of his release, given
the lack of violence in his offense, his acceptance of responsibility, his health
issues, his lack of disciplinary infractions, and his completion of prison
programs.
       We review for abuse of discretion. See United States v. Chambliss, 948
F.3d 691, 693-94 (5th Cir. 2020).          The district court conducted an
independent review of the § 3553(a) factors and concluded that Blanks was
not entitled to relief. Blanks has not shown that the district court abused its
discretion in this conclusion. See id. at 693. Because the district court’s
independent § 3553(a) analysis supports the dismissal, it is unnecessary to
consider Blanks’s arguments challenging the district court’s conclusion that
he failed to show extraordinary and compelling reasons warranting relief. See
United States v. Jackson, 27 F.4th 1088, 1093 n.8 (5th Cir. 2022); Ward
v. United States, 11 F.4th 354, 360-62 (5th Cir. 2021). Accordingly, the
district court’s decision is AFFIRMED.