Judge cuts life sentence to time served in Arkansas (2021)

Originally published April 8, 2021. Statements about the law were updated in October 2026; the box below gives today’s rules.

What the law says now (October 2026). A federal judge can reduce a sentence for “extraordinary and compelling” reasons (reasons that are especially unusual and convincing). You must first ask the warden in writing. You can file in court 30 days after the warden gets the request, or sooner if you finish the Bureau of Prisons’ appeals (18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)). The judge also weighs the sentencing factors in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). See who may seek compassionate release.

Changes in sentencing law. In Rutherford v. United States (May 28, 2026), the Supreme Court held that when Congress makes a sentencing change non-retroactive (meaning it does not apply to people already sentenced), such as the First Step Act’s end of “stacked” § 924(c) sentences, the gap between an old sentence and today’s sentence cannot be an “extraordinary and compelling” reason, alone or combined with other reasons. Some older posts here describe court wins on that theory; those wins are history, not today’s law.
COVID-19 and outbreaks. Today a court looks at whether the prison is affected, or at imminent risk of being affected, by an ongoing infectious disease outbreak or public health emergency, and whether the person faces a higher risk of severe illness or death that cannot be reduced in time (U.S.S.G. § 1B1.13(b)(1)(D)).

Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case.

In April 2021, a federal judge in Arkansas reduced Miguel Angel Cuevas’s life sentence to time served. He had gone more than 20 years without a disciplinary infraction, earned his GED, and was now 58. The court found he was unlikely to commit new crimes.

Compassionate Release

United States v. Cuevas

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Central Division

2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 66373

The life sentence

On August 21, 1996, a jury found Miguel Angel Cuevas guilty of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and money laundering.

His sentence was increased because he led a group of more than five people, had a firearm, and helped two co-conspirators move to Mexico. On November 18, 1996, he was sentenced to life in prison.

Why he asked for release

Mr. Cuevas gave several reasons for compassionate release:

He said a life sentence for a non-violent drug offense was extremely harsh.
He also argued that, because of changes in the law, he would have received a different sentence if he were sentenced in 2021.
He said he was punished for using his right to a jury trial, and that his life sentence was far harsher than his co-defendants’ sentences.
He said his health conditions made him more likely to suffer if he caught COVID-19.

Why the judge said yes

The court noted that prison records showed Cuevas had not had a disciplinary infraction in over 20 years. Even with a life sentence, he had taken many self-improvement courses and earned his GED.

He was in his late 20s and early 30s during the conspiracy. Now he is 58 and has spent nearly half his life in prison, which makes it unlikely he will reoffend. After weighing all the factors, the court granted compassionate release.

If you want help with a compassionate release request, book a consultation.