District Sentencing

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

Districts › Eastern District of California

Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement in the Eastern District of California

E.D. Cal. · Ninth 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.

50cases, FY2025459 over FY2018–FY2025
31median prison monthsnational, this offence: 20
43%within guideline rangenational 44%
85%cases with a prison termnational 74%

§ 1Length of prison terms

14%
6%
16%
18%
25%
16%
3%
<10
<10
median 31 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 (388 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 12–54 months; mean 39. 0 cases at the Commission's 470-month cap (life or longer).

§ 2Summary

Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement was the primary offence type in 459 cases sentenced in the Eastern District of California between FY2018 and FY2025 (14% of the district's cases), with 50 in FY2025.

The median prison term was 31 months (2 yr 7 mo), longer than the national median for fraud, theft and embezzlement offences (20 months) and longer than the Ninth Circuit median (15). Half of prison terms fell between 12 and 54 months; 85% of cases carried a prison term.

43% of these sentences were within the guideline range (nationally for this offence type: 44%); 29% were below the range on a government motion and 28% below it for other reasons.

FY2025 had fewer cases than FY2018 (50 against 88). 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 43%Above range <10Below range, government sponsored 29%Below range, other 28%Not determinable 12

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

MeasureE.D. Cal., fraud/theft/embezzlementE.D. Cal., all offences9th Cir., fraud/theft/embezzlementUS, fraud/theft/embezzlement
Cases per fiscal year574198755,440
Share of district caseload13.7%100%——
Median prison months31501520
Mean prison months3971—28
Cases with a prison term85%93%75%74%
Within guideline range43%39%44%44%
Above range—2%3%3%
Below range, government sponsored29%30%31%25%
Below range, other28%29%22%29%
Median final offence level1723—14

§ 5Trend by fiscal year

88
64
49
35
53
55
65
50
’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement cases sentenced per fiscal year (fiscal years 2018–2025)
33
37
24
29
26
41
24
33
’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
FY20188885%3347%35%18%0%
FY20196477%3745%36%19%0%
FY202049—2447%21%32%0%
FY202135—2944%31%—0%
FY202253—2631%31%37%—
FY202355—4144%30%26%0%
FY20246583%2442%25%34%0%
FY202550—3338%—40%—

§ 6Criminal history

Category I62% · 71%
Category II8% · 9%
Category III8% · 8%
Category IV3% · 4%
Category V2% · 3%
Category VI16% · 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 California?

The median prison term over FY2018–FY2025 was 31 months (2 yr 7 mo), with the middle half of terms between 12 and 54 months. 85% 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?

29% of sentences were below the range on a government motion and 28% below it for other reasons; 43% 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 close to 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 California

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