Compassionate Release

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7^th Circuit Court of Appeals

Case Name: Corey Thomas v. Barbara Crabb

Case No.: 21-1154

Officials: Sykes, Chief Judge, and Wood and Hamilton, Circuit Judges.

Focus: Compassionate Release

Thomas has a lengthy history of frivolous collateral attacks on his 2009 conviction for bank robbery. His persistence has twice earned him sanctions and a filing bar under Alexander v. United States, 121 F.3d 312 (7th Cir. 1997), directing the clerks of this circuit to return unfiled any more papers he submits attacking his conviction. Thomas asks the court to lift the bar so that he may move for compassionate release under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A) based on an asserted change in the law. The Seventh Circuit denies his request but clarifies that the courts Alexander order does not preclude him from moving for a sentence reduction under § 3582(c)(1)(A).

The court’s decision maintains the filing bar but allows Thomas to submit a motion for compassionate release, with the bar to be lifted upon full payment of the fine. Thomas is authorized to submit another motion to modify or rescind the order no earlier than two years from the date of this decision.

Decided 02/02/24

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