The court granted Danson’s motion for compassionate release because he was suffering from some undiagnosed illness possibly of the heart, liver, or kidney that caused fainting, dizziness, vomiting, severe chest and stomach pain, bloody stool, and abnormal blood test results. The court noted that FMC Lexington had one of the worst COVID outbreaks at the time and that if he were sentenced today, Danson would not be considered a career offender. It also emphasized that Danson had taken positive steps towards rehabilitation while incarcerated.
United States v. Danson, No. CR 10-0051-PLF, 2020 WL 3467887 (D.D.C. June 25, 2020)
DETAILS
Decision
Date
6/25/2020
Practice Area
Criminal (Federal Charges)
Relief Requested
Release
Type of Court
Federal District Court
Location
District of Columbia
Type of Case
Individual
Case Characteristics
Post-Conviction Detention [jail or prison], Pre-Existing Health Conditions
Release Granted
Yes
Compassionate Release Case
Yes
Compassionate Release Specific Characteristics
Was sentenced as a Career Offender under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines
Case Tracking Number
1:10-cr-00051-PLF
MORE CASE INFORMATION
Court Name
D.D.C.
Decision
Motion Granted
Place of Incarceration
Federal Prison
Name of Facility
Federal Medical Center Lexington
Legal Authority
First Step Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)
Convictions
Conspiracy to participate in a racketeer influenced corrupt organization (“RICO”)
Case Status
Decision Made
Pre-Existing Health Conditions
Other, Smoking, Substance Use Disorder, Unknown Illness (causing fainting, dizziness, vomiting, severe chest and stomach pain, bloody stool, and abnormal blood test results)
COVID-19 Positive or Symptomatic
No
COVID-19 in Jail Prison or Detention Center
Yes
Litigation Database
Crowdsourced legal documents from around the country related to COVID-19 and incarceration, organized, collected, and summarized for public defenders, litigators, and other advocates. Created and managed by Bronx Defenders, Columbia Law School’s Center for Institutional and Social Change, UCLA Law COVID-19 Behind Bars Data Project, and Zealous. Mostly federal court opinions, but now expanding to states and legal filings, declarations, and exhibits.
This resource is designed to help lawyers, advocates, researchers, journalists, and others interested in challenging, remedying, or drawing attention to the grave risk that Covid-19 poses to individuals who are detained.