The Perfect Storm? A Look at the Federal Compassionate Release Program Following the First Step Act and a Worldwide Pandemic

Juan Alberto Fernandez pled guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in November 2014. Statutorily, Mr. Fernandez faced a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. However, because of his lengthy criminal history--which included, among other things, 10 prior convictions for possession of controlled substances--Mr. Fernandez was classified a career offender under the federal sentencing guidelines, which places his potential sentence at more than 21 years. The Court ultimately exercised leniency, sentencing Mr. Fernandez to 12 years and seven months in federal prison in August 2015.

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