E.D.N.C. · Drug PossessionFY2018–FY2025
Districts › Eastern District of North Carolina
Drug Possession in the Eastern District of North Carolina
E.D.N.C. · Fourth Circuit · Drug Possession 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.
§ 1Length of prison terms
Interquartile range 0–1 months; mean 1. 0 cases at the Commission's 470-month cap (life or longer).
§ 2Summary
128 drug possession offences were sentenced in the Eastern District of North Carolina across 8 fiscal years (FY2018–FY2025), <10 of them in FY2025; that is 2% of the district's caseload.
The median prison term was 0 months, shorter than the national median for drug possession offences (4 months) and close to the Fourth Circuit median (0). Half of prison terms fell between 0 and 1 months; 21% of cases carried a prison term.
98% of these sentences were within the guideline range (nationally for this offence type: 90%); 0% were below the range on a government motion and — below it for other reasons.
FY2022 had more cases than FY2018 (32 against 22).
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 98%Above range 0%Below range, government sponsored 0%Below range, other <10Not determinable 39
§ 4Compared with the district, the circuit and the nation
| Measure | E.D.N.C., drug possession | E.D.N.C., all offences | 4th Cir., drug possession | US, drug possession |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cases per fiscal year | 16 | 812 | 49 | 342 |
| Share of district caseload | 2.0% | 100% | — | — |
| Median prison months | 0 | 62 | 0 | 4 |
| Mean prison months | 1 | 83 | — | 4 |
| Cases with a prison term | 21% | 84% | 32% | 53% |
| Within guideline range | 98% | 56% | 94% | 90% |
| Above range | 0% | 3% | — | 6% |
| Below range, government sponsored | 0% | 26% | — | 3% |
| Below range, other | — | 15% | — | 3% |
| Median final offence level | 2 | 21 | — | 2 |
§ 5Trend by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Cases | Prison | Median months | Within range | Below, gov. | Below, other | Above |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 22 | — | — | 92% | 0% | — | 0% |
| FY2019 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| FY2020 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| FY2021 | 28 | — | — | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| FY2022 | 32 | — | — | 96% | 0% | — | 0% |
| FY2023 | <10 | fewer than 10 cases | |||||
| FY2024 | <10 | fewer than 10 cases | |||||
| FY2025 | <10 | fewer than 10 cases | |||||
§ 6Criminal history
Share of cases at each final criminal history category; grey figure: drug possession offences nationally.
§ 7Guidelines applied
- §none · 882 cases in the district (all offence types)
- §2D2.1 Unlawful possession (drugs) · <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 drug possession offences in the Eastern District of North Carolina?
The median prison term over FY2018–FY2025 was 0 months, with the middle half of terms between 0 and 1 months. 21% of cases carried a prison term. The national median for drug possession offences is 4 months.
How often are drug possession offences sentenced below the guideline range here?
0% of sentences were below the range on a government motion and — below it for other reasons; 98% 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, drug possession offences had a median prison term of 4 months and a within-range share of 90% over the same period. The district's figures are below 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 and §2D2.1.
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 North Carolina
- Drug Trafficking 2,303
- Firearms 1,473
- Other 589
- Immigration 505
- Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement 461
- Robbery 255
- Assault 110
- Child Pornography 104
- Sex Abuse 81
- Money Launder 78
- Prison Offenses 69
- Extortion/Racketeering 57
§ 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 9; district is CIRCDIST 20. Counts below 10 are hidden or pooled. Errors in this site's processing are corrected at the next build; see corrections. Methodology.