District Sentencing

D. Md. · Fraud/Theft/EmbezzlementFY2018–FY2025

Districts › District of Maryland

Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement in the District of Maryland

D. Md. · Fourth Circuit · Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement nationally

The datafile contains cases reported to the Commission with sentencing documents. Sentence length statistics use the Commission's capped variable (sentences of 470 months or longer, including life, are recorded as 470 months) and exclude sentences of probation or a fine only. Figures are aggregates of past cases and are not a prediction for any case.

70cases, FY2025656 over FY2018–FY2025
24median prison monthsnational, this offence: 20
27%within guideline rangenational 44%
80%cases with a prison termnational 74%

§ 1Length of prison terms

19%
5%
20%
16%
24%
13%
<10
<10
<10
median 24 mo
under 6 mo6–11 mo1–2 yr2–3 yr3–5 yr5–10 yr10–15 yr15–20 yr20–30 yr30 yr+life
Share of cases with a prison term, by length of the term (523 cases with a prison term; life and terms of 470 months or more counted as life). Grey: fraud, theft and embezzlement offences nationally.

Interquartile range 12–48 months; mean 33. 0 cases at the Commission's 470-month cap (life or longer).

§ 2Summary

656 fraud, theft and embezzlement offences were sentenced in the District of Maryland across 8 fiscal years (FY2018–FY2025), 70 of them in FY2025; that is 14% of the district's caseload.

The median prison term was 24 months (2 years), longer than the national median for fraud, theft and embezzlement offences (20 months) and close to the Fourth Circuit median (24). Half of prison terms fell between 12 and 48 months; 80% of cases carried a prison term.

27% of these sentences were within the guideline range (nationally for this offence type: 44%); 42% were below the range on a government motion and 29% below it for other reasons.

FY2025 had fewer cases than FY2018 (70 against 95). The median prison term was about the same in FY2025 as in FY2018.

These are aggregates of past cases. The guideline range for any case depends on its offence level, criminal history and statutory minimums, and the sentence on the court's findings; no figure here estimates an outcome.

§ 3Position relative to the guideline range

Within guideline range 27%Above range 2%Below range, government sponsored 42%Below range, other 29%Not determinable 16

§ 4Compared with the district, the circuit and the nation

MeasureD. Md., fraud/theft/embezzlementD. Md., all offences4th Cir., fraud/theft/embezzlementUS, fraud/theft/embezzlement
Cases per fiscal year825735085,440
Share of district caseload14.3%100%——
Median prison months24502420
Mean prison months3376—28
Cases with a prison term80%92%73%74%
Within guideline range27%31%47%44%
Above range2%5%3%3%
Below range, government sponsored42%47%23%25%
Below range, other29%17%27%29%
Median final offence level1822—14

§ 5Trend by fiscal year

95
91
77
72
91
68
92
70
’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement cases sentenced per fiscal year (fiscal years 2018–2025)
27
27
18
24
28
30
24
24
’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Median prison months by fiscal year (fiscal years 2018–2025)
Fiscal yearCasesPrisonMedian monthsWithin rangeBelow, gov.Below, otherAbove
FY20189570%2733%42%23%—
FY20199179%2726%42%29%—
FY20207777%1823%49%27%—
FY20217272%2442%26%26%—
FY20229182%2825%42%30%—
FY20236882%3024%46%29%—
FY20249287%2421%42%36%—
FY202570—2426%44%30%0%

§ 6Criminal history

Category I73% · 71%
Category II6% · 9%
Category III10% · 8%
Category IV4% · 4%
Category V3% · 3%
Category VI4% · 5%

Share of cases at each final criminal history category; grey figure: fraud, theft and embezzlement offences nationally.

§ 7Guidelines applied

Primary guidelines the Commission associates with this offence type, with the district's caseload under each across all offence types.

§ 8Questions and answers

What is the typical sentence for fraud, theft and embezzlement offences in the District of Maryland?

The median prison term over FY2018–FY2025 was 24 months (2 years), with the middle half of terms between 12 and 48 months. 80% of cases carried a prison term. The national median for fraud, theft and embezzlement offences is 20 months.

How often are fraud, theft and embezzlement offences sentenced below the guideline range here?

42% of sentences were below the range on a government motion and 29% below it for other reasons; 27% were within the range. The Commission's categories are explained in the guide to how the guidelines work.

How does this compare with the rest of the country?

Nationally, fraud, theft and embezzlement offences had a median prison term of 20 months and a within-range share of 44% over the same period. The district's figures are above on median term and lower than the national within-range share.

Which guidelines are involved?

The most common primary guidelines for these cases are §2B1.1, §none and §2X3.1.

Is this a prediction for a particular case?

No. The figures are aggregates of sentences already imposed, as recorded by the US Sentencing Commission. They are not legal advice and do not estimate the outcome of any case.

§ 9Other offence types in the District of Maryland

§ 10Provenance

Source: United States Sentencing Commission, Individual Offender Datafiles, fiscal years 2018–2025 (US government works), aggregated by this site; the FY2025 file is dated 29 Apr 2026. Offence type is the Commission's OFFGUIDE code 16; district is CIRCDIST 19. Counts below 10 are hidden or pooled. Errors in this site's processing are corrected at the next build; see corrections. Methodology.