District Sentencing

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

Districts › District of North Dakota

Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement in the District of North Dakota

D.N.D. · Eighth 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.

<10cases, FY2025125 over FY2018–FY2025
4median prison monthsnational, this offence: 20
34%within guideline rangenational 44%
79%cases with a prison termnational 74%

§ 1Length of prison terms

51%
<10
14%
17%
<10
<10
<10
median 4 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 (99 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 0–24 months; mean 17. 0 cases at the Commission's 470-month cap (life or longer).

§ 2Summary

125 fraud, theft and embezzlement offences were sentenced in the District of North Dakota across 8 fiscal years (FY2018–FY2025), <10 of them in FY2025; that is 5% of the district's caseload.

The median prison term was 4 months, shorter than the national median for fraud, theft and embezzlement offences (20 months) and shorter than the Eighth Circuit median (18). Half of prison terms fell between 0 and 24 months; 79% of cases carried a prison term.

34% of these sentences were within the guideline range (nationally for this offence type: 44%); 48% were below the range on a government motion and 15% below it for other reasons.

FY2024 had fewer cases than FY2018 (10 against 23). The median prison term in FY2023 (20 months) was longer than in FY2018 (0 months).

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 34%Above range <10Below range, government sponsored 48%Below range, other 15%Not determinable 0

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

MeasureD.N.D., fraud/theft/embezzlementD.N.D., all offences8th Cir., fraud/theft/embezzlementUS, fraud/theft/embezzlement
Cases per fiscal year163313905,440
Share of district caseload4.7%100%——
Median prison months4361820
Mean prison months1761—28
Cases with a prison term79%98%68%74%
Within guideline range34%34%44%44%
Above range—4%4%3%
Below range, government sponsored48%51%22%25%
Below range, other15%12%30%29%
Median final offence level1323—14

§ 5Trend by fiscal year

23
31
13
16
17
10
10
<10
’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement cases sentenced per fiscal year (fiscal years 2018–2025)
0
6
—
23
12
20
—
<10
’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
FY201823—044%57%0%0%
FY201931—6—52%——
FY202013—————0%
FY202116—23————
FY202217—12———0%
FY202310100%20———0%
FY202410—————0%
FY2025<10fewer than 10 cases

§ 6Criminal history

Category I66% · 71%
Category II<10
Category III10% · 8%
Category IV<10
Category V<10
Category VI<10

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 North Dakota?

The median prison term over FY2018–FY2025 was 4 months, with the middle half of terms between 0 and 24 months. 79% 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?

48% of sentences were below the range on a government motion and 15% below it for other reasons; 34% 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 below 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 North Dakota

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