Willis v. Bureau of Prisons
Filing
2
ORDER dismissing without prejudice for lack of jurisdiction #1 Mr. Willis's petition. Signed by Judge James M. Moody Jr. on 04/27/2021. (llg)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
DELTA DIVISION
MELVIN WILLIS
Reg. #48144-044
V.
PETITIONER
CASE NO. 2:21-CV-43-JM-BD
BUREAU OF PRISONS
RESPONDENT
ORDER
Melvin Willis pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of Missouri to three counts of
possession with intent to distribute. See United States v. Willis, 4:18-CR-750-CDP (E.D. MO.)
(Nov. 12, 2020) (Doc. 109). The Court sentenced Mr. Willis to the Bureau of Prisons for 120
months’ imprisonment. (Id. at 2). He is currently serving his federal sentence at the Federal
Correctional Complex in Forrest City, Arkansas. (Doc. 1)
Mr. Willis filed a request for compassionate release with this Court. (Doc. 1)
Compassionate release requests like this one are governed by 18 U.S.C. §3582(c)(1)(A). But
jurisdiction to rule on such request resides with the sentencing court alone. To pursue his request
for compassionate release, Mr. Willis must move for release in the district court that imposed the
sentence, the Eastern District of Missouri. Accordingly, Mr. Willis’s petition (Doc. 1) is
dismissed without prejudice for lack of jurisdiction. 1
IT IS SO ORDERED this 27th day of April, 2021.
____________________________________
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
The Clerk filed Mr. Willis’s submission as a petition for writ of habeas corpus brought under 28 U.S.C. § 2241,
and the case was automatically referred to Magistrate Judge Beth Deere. The Court withdraws the referral.
1
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