USA v. Williams

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
WESTERN DIVISION - CINCINNATI
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff,
V.
RAYMOND WILLIAMS,
Defendant.
Case No. 1 :20-cr-66
Judge Matthew W. McFarland
ORDER AND OPINION
This matter is before the Court on Defendant's Motion for Reduced Sentence
Under the Fair Sentencing Act (Doc. 68). The Government did not file any response, and
the time to do so has passed. Thus, this matter is ripe for the Court's review.
"A district court may modify a defendant's sentence only as provided by statute."
United States v. Perdue, 572 F.3d 288,290 (6th Cir. 2009). Here, Defendant requests that the
Court reconsider 	the 	sentence 	originally 	imposed 	based 	upon 	his 	"demonstrated
commitment to rehabilitation and compliance with the facility's programs," but he does
not point to authority that would allow such reconsideration in this specific situation.
(Motion, Doc. 68, Pg. ID 355-56.) Although Defendant labels his request as one for relief
under the Fair Sentencing Act, he does not provide argument as to how any specific
provision of this Act would apply to him. See Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, Pub L. No. 111-
220, 124 Stat. 2372 (2010).
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To the extent Defendant's Motion can be construed as seeking credit for his good
conduct and rehabilitation efforts under the First Step Act, this is not the proper forum
for reasons similar to those the Court previously explained in its Order and Opinion (Doc.
69, Pg. ID 384-85). Following exhaustion, federal courts may review the Bureau of
Prison's computation of good-time credit when a petitioner brings a habeas petition,
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241, within the district of the petitioner's confinement. See Dale
v. Healy, No. 4:24-CV-1627, 2025 WL 1809117, at *3 (N.D. Ohio July 1, 2025), report and
recommendation adopted, No. 4:24-CV-1627, 2025 WL 2243930 (N.D. Ohio Aug. 6, 2025)
(cabining review as to good-time credits through a§ 2241 petition filed within the district
of confinement); United States v. Washington, No. 5:13-CR-03, 2022 WL 243310, at *1 (E.D.
Ky. Jan. 24, 2022) (explaining that "[a]ny request for good-time credit must first be made
to the Attorney General through the BOP"); United States v. Ajan, No. 2:02-CR-71, 2024
WL 1078217, at *3 (E.D. Tenn. Mar. 12, 2024) (same). Defendant has been confined in
Atlanta, Georgia, and he has not shown evidence of exhaustion. This precludes relief.
For all these 	reasons, 	the Court DENIES 	Defendant's Motion for Reduced
Sentence Under the Fair Sentencing Act (Doc. 68). This denial is WITHOUT PREJUDICE
to the extent that Defendant seeks good time credit under the First Step Act.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
By: ~1,r.1'\~
JUDGE MATTHEW W. McFARLAND
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