District Sentencing

D.P.R. · Money LaunderFY2018–FY2025

Districts › District of Puerto Rico

Money Launder in the District of Puerto Rico

D.P.R. · First Circuit · Money Launder 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.

39cases, FY2025205 over FY2018–FY2025
36median prison monthsnational, this offence: 40
34%within guideline rangenational 25%
79%cases with a prison termnational 88%

§ 1Length of prison terms

12%
<10
15%
20%
16%
16%
17%
<10
<10
median 36 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 (161 cases with a prison term; life and terms of 470 months or more counted as life). Grey: money laundering offences nationally.

Interquartile range 18–84 months; mean 56. 0 cases at the Commission's 470-month cap (life or longer).

§ 2Summary

205 money laundering offences were sentenced in the District of Puerto Rico across 8 fiscal years (FY2018–FY2025), 39 of them in FY2025; that is 3% of the district's caseload.

The median prison term was 36 months (3 years), close to the national median for money laundering offences (40 months) and close to the First Circuit median (37). Half of prison terms fell between 18 and 84 months; 79% of cases carried a prison term.

34% of these sentences were within the guideline range (nationally for this offence type: 25%); 35% were below the range on a government motion and 30% below it for other reasons.

FY2025 had more cases than FY2018 (39 against 19). The median prison term in FY2025 (30 months) was longer than in FY2018 (24 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 35%Below range, other 30%Not determinable 0

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

MeasureD.P.R., money launderD.P.R., all offences1st Cir., money launderUS, money launder
Cases per fiscal year26966591,193
Share of district caseload2.7%100%——
Median prison months36603740
Mean prison months5666—67
Cases with a prison term79%89%85%88%
Within guideline range34%51%23%25%
Above range—7%—2%
Below range, government sponsored35%25%38%44%
Below range, other30%16%39%29%
Median final offence level2121—24

§ 5Trend by fiscal year

19
24
13
20
23
31
36
39
’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Money Launder cases sentenced per fiscal year (fiscal years 2018–2025)
24
60
—
24
36
42
54
30
’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
FY201819—2453%——0%
FY201924—60——50%—
FY202013—————0%
FY202120—24———0%
FY202223—36—44%——
FY202331—4236%45%——
FY202436—5431%36%33%0%
FY20253974%3033%51%—0%

§ 6Criminal history

Category I89% · 73%
Category II8% · 10%
Category III<10
Category IV0% · 3%
Category V<10
Category VI0% · 3%

Share of cases at each final criminal history category; grey figure: money laundering 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 money laundering offences in the District of Puerto Rico?

The median prison term over FY2018–FY2025 was 36 months (3 years), with the middle half of terms between 18 and 84 months. 79% of cases carried a prison term. The national median for money laundering offences is 40 months.

How often are money laundering offences sentenced below the guideline range here?

35% of sentences were below the range on a government motion and 30% 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, money laundering offences had a median prison term of 40 months and a within-range share of 25% over the same period. The district's figures are close to on median term and higher than the national within-range share.

Which guidelines are involved?

The most common primary guidelines for these cases are §none, §2S1.1 and §2S1.3.

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 Puerto Rico

§ 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 21; district is CIRCDIST 05. Counts below 10 are hidden or pooled. Errors in this site's processing are corrected at the next build; see corrections. Methodology.