United States v. Quinones
2:00-cr-00336
E.D. La.Sep 25, 2023Background
- Quinones pleaded guilty in 2001 to three counts under the Controlled Substances Act and was sentenced to 262 months imprisonment plus 5 years supervised release.
- He served about 18 years and 9 months and was released from prison on July 19, 2019.
- While on supervised release he was discharged from a halfway house, obtained steady employment, and was promoted to foreman.
- Quinones filed a motion for early termination of supervised release on August 24, 2022.
- The Government stated it had no objection to early termination, citing Quinones’ compliance and successful reintegration.
- The Court granted the motion on September 25, 2023, terminating the remaining supervised release term.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether to grant early termination of supervised release | Gov't: no objection; no public-safety or deterrence concerns | Quinones: over 3 years compliant supervision; steady employment and promotion show rehabilitation | Granted: court found compliance, employment, and Government non‑opposition warranted termination despite seriousness of the original offense |
Key Cases Cited
- United States v. Jeanes, 150 F.3d 483 (5th Cir. 1998) (courts consider original sentencing factors when ruling on supervised-release termination)
- United States v. Cartagena-Lopez, 979 F.3d 356 (5th Cir. 2020) (supervised release aims to rehabilitate and reduce recidivism)
- United States v. Jackson, 426 F.3d 301 (5th Cir. 2005) (shortening supervised release can undermine rehabilitative goals)