District Sentencing

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

Districts › Eastern District of North Carolina

Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement in the Eastern District of North Carolina

E.D.N.C. · Fourth 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.

47cases, FY2025461 over FY2018–FY2025
21median prison monthsnational, this offence: 20
57%within guideline rangenational 44%
69%cases with a prison termnational 74%

§ 1Length of prison terms

19%
8%
26%
17%
17%
9%
<10
<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 (316 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 9–39 months; mean 31. <10 cases at the Commission's 470-month cap (life or longer).

§ 2Summary

461 fraud, theft and embezzlement offences were sentenced in the Eastern District of North Carolina across 8 fiscal years (FY2018–FY2025), 47 of them in FY2025; that is 7% of the district's caseload.

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 close to the Fourth Circuit median (24). Half of prison terms fell between 9 and 39 months; 69% of cases carried a prison term.

57% of these sentences were within the guideline range (nationally for this offence type: 44%); 25% were below the range on a government motion and 17% below it for other reasons.

FY2025 had fewer cases than FY2018 (47 against 64). 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 57%Above range <10Below range, government sponsored 25%Below range, other 17%Not determinable 17

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

MeasureE.D.N.C., fraud/theft/embezzlementE.D.N.C., all offences4th Cir., fraud/theft/embezzlementUS, fraud/theft/embezzlement
Cases per fiscal year588125085,440
Share of district caseload7.1%100%——
Median prison months21622420
Mean prison months3183—28
Cases with a prison term69%84%73%74%
Within guideline range57%56%47%44%
Above range—3%3%3%
Below range, government sponsored25%26%23%25%
Below range, other17%15%27%29%
Median final offence level1321—14

§ 5Trend by fiscal year

64
54
34
68
65
53
76
47
’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement cases sentenced per fiscal year (fiscal years 2018–2025)
24
16
15
24
20
23
15
24
’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
FY20186455%2458%29%—0%
FY20195465%1659%24%—0%
FY202034—1536%—39%—
FY20216866%2457%27%16%0%
FY20226575%2052%31%17%0%
FY20235376%2351%36%—0%
FY20247670%1566%16%16%—
FY20254772%2467%———

§ 6Criminal history

Category I72% · 71%
Category II9% · 9%
Category III11% · 8%
Category IV3% · 4%
Category V<10
Category VI4% · 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 North Carolina?

The median prison term over FY2018–FY2025 was 21 months (1 yr 9 mo), with the middle half of terms between 9 and 39 months. 69% 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?

25% of sentences were below the range on a government motion and 17% below it for other reasons; 57% 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 §none, §2B1.1 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 North Carolina

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