Court Opinion

ID: 9352394
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-01-06 01:00:18.976028+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:02:27.414045
License: Public Domain

Case: 22-40421        Document: 00516599385             Page: 1      Date Filed: 01/05/2023

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

                                      No. 22-40421
                                                                                       FILED
                                                                                 January 5, 2023
                                    Summary Calendar
                                    ____________                                  Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                                       Clerk
   United States of America,

                                                                     Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                            versus

   Ralph Nathaniel Thompson,

                                              Defendant—Appellant.
                     ______________________________

                     Appeal from the United States District Court
                          for the Eastern District of Texas
                              USDC No. 4:98-CR-64-2
                     ______________________________

   Before Smith, Dennis, and Southwick, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam:*
         Ralph Nathaniel Thompson, federal prisoner # 11165-097, was
   sentenced to life imprisonment following his conviction for various offenses
   related to his participation in a drug-distribution and money-laundering
   enterprise. He now appeals the district court’s denial of his motion for
   compassionate release under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i), which he argues
   was warranted based on the effects of his previous COVID-19 infection and
         _____________________
         *
             This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.
Case: 22-40421       Document: 00516599385         Page: 2   Date Filed: 01/05/2023

                                    No. 22-40421

   changes in the law that he contends would today result in a lower sentence
   for his offenses of conviction. Thompson also argues that the district court
   erred in denying his motion for reconsideration, but that ruling is not
   properly before us because Thompson did not file a notice of appeal from the
   denial of reconsideration. See United States v. Clayton, 613 F.3d 592, 594 (5th
   Cir. 2010).
            We review the denial of a motion under Section 3582(c)(1)(A)(i) for
   an abuse of discretion. United States v. Cooper, 996 F.3d 283, 286 (5th Cir.
   2021).     Under Section 3582(c)(1)(A)(i), a district court may reduce a
   defendant’s sentence if, after considering the factors set forth in 18 U.S.C.
   § 3553(a), the court finds a reduction to be consistent with applicable policy
   statements from the Sentencing Commission and justified by “extraordinary
   and compelling reasons.” § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i).
            We need not consider whether the district court erred by determining
   that Thompson failed to show extraordinary and compelling reasons
   warranting relief; the district court’s alternative consideration of the
   Section 3553(a) factors provides a sufficient basis for affirmance. See United
   States v. Chambliss, 948 F.3d 691, 693–94 (5th Cir. 2020); see also United
   States v. Jackson, 27 F.4th 1088, 1093 n.8 (5th Cir. 2022). Thompson’s mere
   disagreement with the district court’s weighing of the Section 3553(a) factors
   does not warrant reversal. See Chambliss, 948 F.3d at 694.
            AFFIRMED.

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