United States v. Garcia

Case: 21-50268 Document: 00516289505 Page: 1 Date Filed: 04/21/2022

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit FILED April 21, 2022 No. 21-50268

Lyle W. Cayce Summary Calendar Clerk

United States of America,

Plaintiff—Appellee, versus

Elijio Garcia,

Defendant—Appellant.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas USDC No. 5:15-CR-684-1

Before Higginbotham, Higginson, and Duncan, Circuit Judges.

Per Curiam:*

Elijio Garcia, federal prisoner # 31955-180, appeals the order denying his 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i) motion for compassionate release, which the district court issued prior to our decision in United States v. Shkambi, 993

Case: 21-50268 Document: 00516289505 Page: 2 Date Filed: 04/21/2022

No. 21-50268

F.3d 388 (5th Cir. 2021). We review the denial for an abuse of discretion. See United States v. Chambliss, 948 F.3d 691, 693 (5th Cir. 2020).

In Shkambi, 993 F.3d 388, 393 (5th Cir. 2021), we held that “neither the [U.S.S.G. § 1B1.13] policy statement nor the commentary to it binds a district court addressing a prisoner’s own motion under § 3582.” Although the Government argues that the district court was free to consider § 1B1.13, see United States v. Thompson, 984 F.3d 431, 433 (5th Cir. 2021), we agree with Garcia that the court abused its discretion by relying exclusively upon § 1B1.13(1)(A) and its commentary in denying relief. See Ward v. United States, 11 F.4th 354, 360 (5th Cir. 2021); Shkambi, 993 F.3d 388, 393. We VACATE the order of the district court and REMAND for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.