Case Summary:

Fernandez v. United States arises from Joe Fernandez’s federal convictions in the Southern District of New York for participating in a murder‑for‑hire scheme, based largely on testimony from a cooperating witness, Darge, after which the court imposed two consecutive life sentences while his co‑defendants received much shorter terms ranging from two to thirty years. Years later, Fernandez moved for compassionate release under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A), arguing that doubts about Darge’s credibility, the large sentencing disparity between him and his co‑defendants, harsh prison conditions during the COVID‑19 pandemic, and his post‑sentence rehabilitation together created “extraordinary and compelling reasons” for a sentence reduction; the district court agreed and ordered his release, but the Second Circuit reversed, holding that ...