Court Opinion

ID: 9384374
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-04-03 18:01:02.935813+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:53.049006
License: Public Domain

Case: 22-60060          Document: 00516698384              Page: 1       Date Filed: 04/03/2023

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

                                                                                      FILED
                                                                                 April 3, 2023
                                        No. 22-60060                           Lyle W. Cayce
                                      Summary Calendar                              Clerk

   United States of America,

                                                                         Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                               versus

   Oladimeji Seun Ayelotan,

                                                                     Defendant—Appellant.

                      Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Southern District of Mississippi
                                USDC No. 1:14-CR-33-1

   Before Richman, Chief Judge, and Stewart and Willett, Circuit
   Judges.
   Per Curiam:*
          Oladimeji Seun Ayelotan, federal prisoner # 18371-043, has appealed
   the district court’s denial of his motion for compassionate release under 18
   U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A). We review the decision for an abuse of discretion.
   United States v. Cooper, 996 F.3d 283, 286 (5th Cir. 2021).

          *
              This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 22-60060      Document: 00516698384            Page: 2    Date Filed: 04/03/2023

                                      No. 22-60060

          Ayelotan asserts that the district court wrongly found that the threat
   of COVID-19 is not an extraordinary and compelling reason for granting his
   motion for compassionate release. However, his general fear of contracting
   COVID-19, including his apprehension about new variants and the efficacy
   of vaccines, does not automatically entitle him to release. See United States
   v. Rodriguez, 27 F.4th 1097, 1100 (5th Cir. 2022); United States v. Thompson,
   984 F.3d 431, 433 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 141 S. Ct. 2688 (2021). He has not
   shown that he is at increased or specific risk of being infected with COVID-
   19, is unable to guard properly against infection while incarcerated, or has any
   underlying health issues that may merit compassionate release in light of the
   spread of COVID-19. See Rodriguez, 27 F.4th at 1100; Thompson, 984 F.3d at
   433-35. The district court independently evaluated whether Ayelotan raised
   extraordinary and compelling reasons supporting his early release, and he has
   failed to show that the district court abused its discretion, factually or legally,
   by finding that the threat of COVID-19 did not warrant relief. See Rodriguez,
   27 F.4th at 1100-01; Thompson, 984 F.3d at 433-35.
          He further argues that the district court erred in its alternative and
   independent finding that the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) sentencing factors and his
   specific circumstances did not warrant relief. He alleges that his sentence is
   excessive because it is no longer necessary to protect the public from further
   crimes by him, the district court incorrectly found that his sentence did not
   cause unwarranted sentencing disparities, and the district court did not
   properly consider his rehabilitation and other factors that indicated that he
   would not commit another offense if he were released early. Also, Ayelotan
   generally contends that the § 3553(a) factors support an early release.
          The record supports that the district court judge, who also presided
   over Ayelotan’s trial and sentencing hearing, reviewed the parties’ evidence
   and arguments and determined that particular § 3553(a) sentencing factors—
   including, inter alia, the nature and circumstances of the offenses, the history

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                                    No. 22-60060

   of Ayelotan, and the need for the sentence to reflect the seriousness of the
   crimes, afford adequate deterrence, and protect the public—weighed against
   granting relief. See Chavez-Meza v. United States, 138 S. Ct. 1959, 1965, 1967
   (2018). The district court found that the sentence imposed accounted for the
   § 3553(a) factors and particularly concluded that there were no unwarranted
   sentence disparities. We must defer to the district court’s consideration of
   the § 3553(a) factors, and Ayelotan’s disagreement with the district court’s
   balancing of the factors does not establish an abuse of discretion. See United
   States v. Chambliss, 948 F.3d 691, 694 (5th Cir. 2020).
          Finally, Ayelotan contends that the district court wrongly denied his
   motion based on his supposed dangerousness to the community. He asserts
   that this factor is set forth in U.S.S.G. § 1B1.13, p.s., which is not
   determinative of the criteria for relief under § 3582(c)(1)(A). The record
   belies his assertion. The district court did not apply § 1B1.13 and evaluate
   whether Ayelotan was a danger to the safety of another person or the
   community in deciding whether his motion should be granted. Instead, the
   district court determined whether an early release would comply with the
   § 3553(a) factors, including, inter alia, the need for the sentence imposed to
   protect the public from further crimes by him. See § 3553(a)(2)(C); 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 judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

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