A federal judge has reduced the 11-year sentence imposed on Cody Easterday to 105 months, or eight years and nine months, based on his previous criminal history before he was convicted of wire fraud.
On Jan. 31, Easterday lawyers petitioned Judge Stanley Bastian in the U.S. District Court for Eastern Washington to modify Easterday’s current sentence following updated federal sentencing guidelines for “Zero-Point Offenders,” seeking a reduction from 132 months to either 97 months or, alternatively, 105.88 months.
“Eight years’ imprisonment is a significant amount of time in anyone’s life,” the court document said. “That is eight years away from family and friends. Eight years missing significant milestones and life events. Mr. Easterday maintains that a sentence of 121 months is not needed to deter future criminal conduct when 97 months is still a significant amount of time to be incarcerated.”
In Oct. 2022, Bastian sentenced Easterday to 11 years in prison and three years probation after he served his term. Easterday was also ordered to pay $244 million in restitution.
While the United States Probation Office and the government acknowledged Easterday was eligible for a downward adjustment based on sentencing guidelines, they said the sentence should be reduced by only 11 months.
Easterday lawyers argued he did not commit a violent crime prior to his sentencing, his conduct while incarcerated has been “exemplary,” and he did not receive a favorable plea deal.
They wrote in the reply to support the motion for sentence reduction that Easterday has taken responsibility for his actions and “continues to be committed to rectifying his mistakes.”
The lawyers pointed to Easterday receiving multiple awards and certificates for his conduct and educating other inmates about farming while in the U.S. Penitentiary in Lompoc, CA.
They also argued Easterday has repaid over $78 million to his victims of the over $244 million, marking a 32% recovery rate, a record for cases of this nature in the Eastern District of Washington. The lawyers continued Easterday has demonstrated accountability for his actions and a commitment to repaying his debt, as evidenced by the significant amount already repaid, therefore, his sentence should be reduced. The lawyers contend the reduction would allow Easterday additional time to repay the debt owed.
Easterday’s lawyers have appealed a case to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals regarding the sale of “Cody’s Beef,” citing Bastian’s decision that Easterday’s attorneys failed to demonstrate the presence of an oral contract between the two parties. Lawyers assert Easterday was entitled to share the profits of the “Cody’s Beef” label by Tyson Fresh Meats.
According to the Bureau of Prison records, Easterday is scheduled to be released on Dec. 17, 2029. — Charles Wallace, WLJ contributing editor
