U.S. v. Williams

Dist. Ct. did not err in denying defendant’s application for reduced sentence under compassionate release provisions of 18 USC section 3582(c)(1)(A). At heart of defendant’s application was his contention was that his unconstitutionally-imposed pre-Booker mandatory life sentence contributed to extraordinary and compelling reason to grant his request for reduced sentence. Ct. of Appeals, though, found that non-retroactive statutory sentencing change cannot be transformed into one that is retroactive via request for compassionate release. It also held that Dist. Ct. could properly find in alternative that section 3553(a) factors weighed against defendant’s release some 20 years after his convictions, where said release would fail to reflect seriousness of defendant’s convictions or promote respect for law.