Court Opinion

ID: 9688683
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 18:00:38.051837+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:06:43.950438
License: Public Domain

Case: 22-51128        Document: 00516871126             Page: 1      Date Filed: 08/24/2023

             United States Court of Appeals
                  for the Fifth Circuit
                                     ____________
                                                                               United States Court of Appeals
                                                                                        Fifth Circuit
                                      No. 22-51128
                                    Summary Calendar                                  FILED
                                    ____________                                August 24, 2023
                                                                                 Lyle W. Cayce
   United States of America,                                                          Clerk

                                                                      Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                            versus

   Adan Reyes-Rodriguez,

                                              Defendant—Appellant.
                     ______________________________

                     Appeal from the United States District Court
                          for the Western District of Texas
                              USDC No. 3:15-CR-1946-1
                     ______________________________

   Before King, Haynes, and Graves, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam: *
         Adan Reyes-Rodriguez, federal prisoner # 61217-380, appeals the
   denial of his motion for compassionate release under 18 U.S.C.
   § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i). Reyes-Rodriguez contends that family circumstances
   create extraordinary and compelling reasons because his mother is suffering
   from deteriorating health conditions that require his constant care. He also

         _____________________
         *
             This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 22-51128      Document: 00516871126           Page: 2   Date Filed: 08/24/2023

                                     No. 22-51128

   appears to contend that the COVID-19 outbreak and the failure of the Bureau
   of Prisons to adequately respond and his rehabilitation in prison constitute
   extraordinary and compelling circumstances warranting early release.
          We review the denial of a motion for compassionate release for an
   abuse of discretion. United States v. Chambliss, 948 F.3d 691, 693 (5th Cir.
   2020). Reyes-Rodriguez contends that the district court erred because it
   found that the policy statement in U.S.S.G. § 1B1.13 was binding. See United
   States v. Shkambi, 993 F.3d 388, 392-93 (5th Cir. 2021). However, contrary
   to Reyes-Rodriguez’s argument, the district court merely found that the
   policy statement informed its analysis as to what reasons were sufficiently
   extraordinary and compelling to warrant compassionate release. See United
   States v. Thompson, 984 F.3d 431, 433 (5th Cir. 2021); see also § 1B1.13, cmt.
   (n.1(C)). Because Reyes-Rodriguez had failed to offer any evidence in
   support of his claim that he was the only person able to provide care for his
   ailing mother, the district court did not err in rejecting his family-
   circumstances argument. Furthermore, we do not reach Reyes-Rodriguez’s
   COVID-19 related argument, because it is raised for the first time on appeal.
   See Thompson, 984 F.3d at 432 n.1. Finally, his argument that he is entitled
   to relief based on his rehabilitation is conclusory.
          Based on the foregoing, the district court did not abuse its discretion
   in denying his motion. See Chambliss, 948 F.3d at 693. Accordingly, the
   judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

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