D. Mass. · Extortion/RacketeeringFY2018–FY2025

Extortion/Racketeering in the District of Massachusetts

Q: What is the typical sentence for extortion and racketeering offences in the District of Massachusetts?

The median prison term over FY2018–FY2025 was 21 months (1 yr 9 mo), with the middle half of terms between 5 and 30 months. — of cases carried a prison term. The national median for extortion and racketeering offences is 30 months.

Q: How does this compare with the rest of the country?

Nationally, extortion and racketeering offences had a median prison term of 30 months and a within-range share of 38% over the same period. The district's figures are below on median term and null the national within-range share.

Q: Which guidelines are involved?

The most common primary guidelines for these cases are §none, §2E1.1 and §2E4.1.

Q: 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.

D. Mass. · First Circuit · Extortion/Racketeering 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.

0cases, FY202560 over FY2018–FY2025

21median prison monthsnational, this offence: 30

—within guideline rangenational 38%

—cases with a prison termnational 82%

§ 1Length of prison terms

26%

<10

21%

25%

<10

median 21 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 (53 cases with a prison term; life and terms of 470 months or more counted as life). Grey: extortion and racketeering offences nationally.

Interquartile range 5–30 months; mean 23. 0 cases at the Commission's 470-month cap (life or longer).

§ 2Summary

60 extortion and racketeering offences were sentenced in the District of Massachusetts across 8 fiscal years (FY2018–FY2025), 0 of them in FY2025; that is 2% of the district's caseload.

The median prison term was 21 months (1 yr 9 mo), shorter than the national median for extortion and racketeering offences (30 months) and close to the First Circuit median (21). Half of prison terms fell between 5 and 30 months; — of cases carried a prison term.

FY2023 had fewer cases than FY2018 (10 against 14).

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 <10Above range <10Below range, government sponsored 32%Below range, other 48%Not determinable 0

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

Measure	D. Mass., extortion/racketeering	D. Mass., all offences	1st Cir., extortion/racketeering	US, extortion/racketeering
Cases per fiscal year	<10	481	11	141
Share of district caseload	1.6%	100%	—	—
Median prison months	21	30	21	30
Mean prison months	23	50	—	45
Cases with a prison term	—	93%	80%	82%
Within guideline range	—	29%	17%	38%
Above range	—	3%	—	5%
Below range, government sponsored	32%	33%	32%	29%
Below range, other	48%	36%	43%	29%
Median final offence level	16	21	—	17

§ 5Trend by fiscal year

<10

’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25

Extortion/Racketeering cases sentenced per fiscal year (fiscal years 2018–2025)

<10

—

<10

’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25

Median prison months by fiscal year (fiscal years 2018–2025)

Fiscal year	Cases	Prison	Median months	Within range	Below, gov.	Below, other	Above
FY2018	14	100%	33	—	—	—	—
FY2019	<10	fewer than 10 cases
FY2020	<10	fewer than 10 cases
FY2021	<10	fewer than 10 cases
FY2022	14	100%	3	—	—	—	0%
FY2023	10	—	—	0%	—	—	0%
FY2024	<10	fewer than 10 cases
FY2025	0	fewer than 10 cases

§ 6Criminal history

Category I68% · 57%

Category II<10

Category III<10

Category IV<10

Category V0% · 4%

Category VI<10

Share of cases at each final criminal history category; grey figure: extortion and racketeering offences nationally.

§ 7Guidelines applied

§none · 95 cases in the district (all offence types)
§2E1.1 Unlawful conduct relating to racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations · 39 cases in the district (all offence types)
§2E4.1 · <10 cases in the district (all offence types)
§2B3.2 Extortion by force or threat of injury · <10 cases in the district (all offence types)
§2E2.1 · <10 cases in the district (all offence types)
§2X3.1 Accessory after the fact · <10 cases in the district (all offence types)

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 extortion and racketeering offences in the District of Massachusetts?

The median prison term over FY2018–FY2025 was 21 months (1 yr 9 mo), with the middle half of terms between 5 and 30 months. — of cases carried a prison term. The national median for extortion and racketeering offences is 30 months.

How often are extortion and racketeering offences sentenced below the guideline range here?

Not enough cases to show.

How does this compare with the rest of the country?

Nationally, extortion and racketeering offences had a median prison term of 30 months and a within-range share of 38% over the same period. The district's figures are below on median term and null the national within-range share.

Which guidelines are involved?

The most common primary guidelines for these cases are §none, §2E1.1 and §2E4.1.

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 Massachusetts

§ 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 12; district is CIRCDIST 03. Counts below 10 are hidden or pooled. Errors in this site's processing are corrected at the next build; see corrections. Methodology.