Court Opinion

ID: 9404310
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-06-22 18:00:40.219881+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:20:13.131689
License: Public Domain

Case: 23-40025        Document: 00516795733             Page: 1      Date Filed: 06/22/2023

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

                                     ____________                                     FILED
                                                                                  June 22, 2023
                                      No. 23-40025                               Lyle W. Cayce
                                    Summary Calendar                                  Clerk
                                    ____________

   United States of America,

                                                                      Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                            versus

   Agusto Lazo-Aguirre,

                                              Defendant—Appellant.
                     ______________________________

                     Appeal from the United States District Court
                         for the Southern District of Texas
                               USDC No. 3:16-CR-15-1
                     ______________________________

   Before Higginbotham, Graves, and Ho, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam: *
         Agusto Lazo-Aguirre, federal prisoner # 15209-002, appeals the
   denial of his 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i) motion for compassionate release.
   He argues that he has shown extraordinary and compelling reasons
   warranting relief, given that he suffers from numerous medical conditions
   that could result in severe illness or death if he were to contract COVID-19

         _____________________
         *
             This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 23-40025      Document: 00516795733           Page: 2    Date Filed: 06/22/2023

                                     No. 23-40025

   and given that his parents are suffering from chronic health conditions
   requiring his assistance as a caretaker. In addition, Lazo-Aguirre maintains
   that this court has no basis to review the denial of relief because the district
   court failed to consider whether he was entitled to release pursuant to the 18
   U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors. Although in the district court Lazo-Aguirre alleged
   that the proliferation of black mold in the prison constituted an extraordinary
   and compelling reason for release, he does not repeat that argument before
   this court, and it is deemed abandoned. See Yohey v. Collins, 985 F.2d 222,
   224-25 (5th Cir. 1993).
          We review the district court’s denial for an abuse of discretion. See
   United States v. Chambliss, 948 F.3d 691, 693 (5th Cir. 2020). Lazo-Aguirre
   has not shown that the district court abused its discretion in finding that there
   were no extraordinary and compelling circumstances warranting relief. See
   United States v. Rodriguez, 27 F.4th 1097, 1100-01 (5th Cir. 2022); United
   States v. Thompson, 984 F.3d 431, 433-35 (5th Cir. 2021). As the district court
   concluded that Lazo-Aguirre failed to show extraordinary and compelling
   circumstances, it was not necessary for the court to address the § 3553(a)
   factors. See United States v. Jackson, 27 F.4th 1088, 1093 n.8 (5th Cir. 2022).
          Accordingly, the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

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