Court Opinion

ID: 9914918
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-01-03 18:01:09.82509+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:15:23.221889
License: Public Domain

USCA11 Case: 23-10648   Document: 21-1    Date Filed: 01/03/2024   Page: 1 of 5

                                                [DO NOT PUBLISH]
                                 In the
                United States Court of Appeals
                        For the Eleventh Circuit

                         ____________________

                              No. 23-10648
                         Non-Argument Calendar
                         ____________________

       UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
                                                    Plaintiﬀ-Appellee,
       versus
       GLIB OLEKSANDR IVANOV-TOLPINTSEV,
       a.k.a. Gleb Aleksandr Ivanov-Tolpintsev,
       a.k.a. Sergios,
       a.k.a. Mars,

                                                Defendant-Appellant.

                         ____________________
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       2                      Opinion of the Court                  23-10648

                  Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Middle District of Florida
                   D.C. Docket No. 8:20-cr-00309-SDM-AEP-1
                            ____________________

       Before NEWSOM, ABUDU, and MARCUS, Circuit Judges.
       PER CURIAM:
               Glib Ivanov-Tolpintsev, proceeding pro se, appeals the dis-
       trict court’s denial of his motion to reduce his sentence in the form
       of compassionate release, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A).
       On appeal, he argues that: (1) the district court erred in relying on
       the definition of extraordinary and compelling circumstances from
       U.S.S.G. § 1B1.13 because that section only applies to compassion-
       ate release motions submitted by the Bureau of Prisons (“BOP”);
       (2) the court failed to adequately explain which of the 18 U.S.C. §
       3553(a) factors justified the denial of his sentence reduction; and (3)
       the court ignored his health conditions and his mother’s illness, and
       it abused its discretion in finding that he was not entitled to com-
       passionate release. After thorough review, we affirm.
              We review de novo whether a defendant is eligible for a sen-
       tence reduction under § 3582(c)(1)(A). United States v. Giron, 15
       F.4th 1343, 1345 (11th Cir. 2021).
             District courts lack the inherent authority to modify a term
       of imprisonment but may do so to the extent permitted under 18
       U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A), which provides a statutory exception for
       compassionate release. Id. at 1345–46. Under this exception, a
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       23-10648                   Opinion of the Court                                 3

       district court may not grant compassionate release unless it deter-
       mines that an extraordinary and compelling reason exists, that a
       sentencing reduction would be consistent with U.S.S.G. § 1B1.13,
       and that the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors weigh in favor of compas-
       sionate release. Id. at 1347. 1 If any of the necessary findings cannot
       be made, then compassionate release is not permissible. Id. at 1348.
              Pursuant to its authority under 28 U.S.C. § 994(t), the Sen-
       tencing Commission issued a policy statement identifying the cir-
       cumstances that may qualify as extraordinary and compelling rea-
       sons for any § 3582(c)(1)(A) sentence reduction. U.S.S.G. § 1B1.13
       comment. (n.1). These circumstances include the medical condi-
       tion of the defendant, the age of the defendant, family circum-
       stances, and other reasons “[a]s determined by the Director of the
       Bureau of Prisons” that justify compassionate release. Id.
       (n.1(A)-(D)).
              In relevant part, a defendant can establish extraordinary and
       compelling circumstances based on a medical condition by show-
       ing that he is suffering from a serious physical or medical condition

       1 The § 3553(a) factors include: (1) the nature and circumstances of the offense

       and the history and characteristics of the defendant; (2) the need for the sen-
       tence imposed to reflect the seriousness of the offense, to promote respect for
       the law, and to provide just punishment for the offense; (3) the need for the
       sentence imposed to afford adequate deterrence; (4) the need to protect the
       public; (5) the need to provide the defendant with educational or vocational
       training or medical care; (6) the kinds of sentences available; (7) the Sentencing
       Guidelines range; (8) the pertinent policy statements of the Sentencing Com-
       mission; (9) the need to avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities; and (10) the
       need to provide restitution to victims. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a).
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       4                      Opinion of the Court                23-10648

       that substantially diminishes his ability to provide self-care within
       the environment of a correctional facility and from which he is not
       expected to recover. Id. (n.1(A)(ii)). A defendant can establish ex-
       traordinary and compelling circumstances based on family circum-
       stances in two situations, upon the death or incapacitation of the
       caregiver of the defendant’s minor child or minor children, or upon
       the incapacitation of the defendant’s spouse when the defendant
       would be the only available caregiver. Id. (n.1(C)(i)-(ii)). We are
       bound by the Sentencing Commission’s definition of extraordinary
       and compelling reasons. United States v. Bryant, 996 F.3d 1243,
       1251, 1262 (11th Cir. 2021).
              Here, the court did not err in determining that Ivanov-
       Tolpintsev did not qualify for compassionate release. For starters,
       our precedent forecloses the argument that the district court has
       discretion to go outside of the Sentencing Commission’s policy
       statement to define the extraordinary and compelling circum-
       stances that justify compassionate release. See id. Moreover, he has
       not shown that he satisfies the policy statement’s definition of ex-
       traordinary and compelling circumstances. As for his tuberculosis
       condition, Ivanov-Tolpintsev conceded that his tuberculosis is la-
       tent and managed by prophylactic treatment by the BOP, so he
       cannot establish that he suffers from a serious physical condition
       that amounts to extraordinary and compelling circumstances based
       on his medical condition. U.S.S.G. § 1B1.13 comment. (n.1(A)(ii)).
       Further, his mother’s cancer diagnosis does not fall within the list
       of family circumstances that justify compassionate release, which
       means that he cannot establish extraordinary and compelling
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       23-10648                  Opinion of the Court                                5

       circumstances on that basis either. Id. § 1B1.13(n.1(C)(i)-(ii)). Ac-
       cordingly, the district court did not err in denying his motion for
       compassionate release. 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A). 2
               AFFIRMED.

       2 We need not reach the issue of whether the court abused its discretion by

       failing to consider the § 3553(a) factors because the district court’s order was
       not in error. See Giron, 15 F.4th at 1348.