United States v. Pawlowski, No. 20-2033 (3d Cir. 2020)
Annotate this CasePawlowski was convicted of federal program bribery, Travel Act bribery, attempted Hobbs Act extortion, wire and mail fraud, honest services fraud, making false statements to the FBI, and conspiracy. As the mayor of Allentown, Pennsylvania, he had steered city contracts and provided other favors in exchange for campaign contributions. In May 2020, 19 months into his 15-year sentence, Pawlowski sought compassionate release under 18 U.S.C. 3582(c)(1). He suffers from hypertensive heart disease, COPD, shortness of breath, sleep apnea, and has only one lung; those conditions place him at a higher risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19. As of June 19, 2020, at the Danbury, Connecticut facility where he is incarcerated, 98 inmates had tested positive for the virus, one had died and 91 had recovered; 61 staff members had tested positive. The Third Circuit affirmed the denial of the motion. While Pawlowski’s conditions placed him at increased risk should he contract COVID-19, the district court reasonably concluded that the sentencing factors set out at 18 U.S.C. 3553(a) did not weigh in favor of release. The court noted the need to reflect the seriousness of the offense, promote respect for the law, provide just punishment, and afford adequate deterrence.
This opinion or order relates to an opinion or order originally issued on June 26, 2020.
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