District Sentencing

E.D. Ark. · Fraud/Theft/EmbezzlementFY2018–FY2025

Districts › Eastern District of Arkansas

Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement in the Eastern District of Arkansas

E.D. Ark. · 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.

46cases, FY2025287 over FY2018–FY2025
21median prison monthsnational, this offence: 20
52%within guideline rangenational 44%
59%cases with a prison termnational 74%

§ 1Length of prison terms

18%
7%
26%
20%
17%
10%
<10
<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 (169 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 12–40 months; mean 29. 0 cases at the Commission's 470-month cap (life or longer).

§ 2Summary

Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement was the primary offence type in 287 cases sentenced in the Eastern District of Arkansas between FY2018 and FY2025 (7% of the district's cases), with 46 in FY2025.

The median prison term was 21 months (1 yr 9 mo), close to the national median for fraud, theft and embezzlement offences (20 months) and longer than the Eighth Circuit median (18). Half of prison terms fell between 12 and 40 months; 59% of cases carried a prison term.

52% of these sentences were within the guideline range (nationally for this offence type: 44%); 12% were below the range on a government motion and 30% below it for other reasons.

FY2025 had more cases than FY2018 (46 against 32). 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 52%Above range 6%Below range, government sponsored 12%Below range, other 30%Not determinable 0

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

MeasureE.D. Ark., fraud/theft/embezzlementE.D. Ark., all offences8th Cir., fraud/theft/embezzlementUS, fraud/theft/embezzlement
Cases per fiscal year365173905,440
Share of district caseload6.9%100%——
Median prison months21501820
Mean prison months2969—28
Cases with a prison term59%90%68%74%
Within guideline range52%55%44%44%
Above range6%7%4%3%
Below range, government sponsored12%12%22%25%
Below range, other30%26%30%29%
Median final offence level1119—14

§ 5Trend by fiscal year

32
37
33
36
31
42
30
46
’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement cases sentenced per fiscal year (fiscal years 2018–2025)
18
47
18
23
21
20
27
18
’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
FY201832—1859%——0%
FY20193760%4760%27%—0%
FY20203355%1846%—39%—
FY20213650%2347%—31%—
FY20223161%2161%———
FY20234267%2045%—38%—
FY20243047%2753%—33%—
FY20254659%1848%—30%—

§ 6Criminal history

Category I65% · 71%
Category II9% · 9%
Category III9% · 8%
Category IV5% · 4%
Category V<10
Category VI11% · 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 Eastern District of Arkansas?

The median prison term over FY2018–FY2025 was 21 months (1 yr 9 mo), with the middle half of terms between 12 and 40 months. 59% 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?

12% of sentences were below the range on a government motion and 30% below it for other reasons; 52% 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 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 §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 Eastern District of Arkansas

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