Guidelines Manual, Chapter TwoFY2018–FY2025
§2D1.1
Unlawful manufacturing, importing, exporting, trafficking or possession with intent (drugs) · 27.3% of federal cases · Guidelines Manual
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 30–120 months; mean 81. 265 cases at the 470-month cap.
§ 2Summary
§2D1.1 (unlawful manufacturing, importing, exporting, trafficking or possession with intent (drugs)) was the primary guideline in 143,046 cases sentenced across 8 fiscal years (FY2018–FY2025), 27.3% of all cases, with 15,950 in FY2025. The Commission classes most of them as drug trafficking.
The median prison term under §2D1.1 was 62 months (5 yr 2 mo) (all cases nationally: 24 months); 97% of cases carried a prison term.
30% of sentences were within the guideline range. Of the rest, 42% were below the range on a government motion, 26% below it for other reasons and 2% above it. The departure and variance table below uses the Commission's nine SENTRNGE categories.
FY2025 had fewer cases than FY2018 (15,950 against 18,404). The median prison term in FY2025 (72 months) was longer than in FY2018 (60 months).
§ 3Departures and variances
Within guideline range 30%Above range 2%Below range, government sponsored 42%Below range, other 26%Not determinable 42
| Commission category (SENTRNGE) | Cases | Share | All cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Within range | 43,037 | 30.1% | 47.4% |
| Upward departure | 465 | 0.3% | 0.5% |
| Above-range variance | 1,918 | 1.3% | 2.6% |
| §5K1.1 substantial assistance | 29,852 | 20.9% | 9.5% |
| §5K3.1 early disposition | 9,973 | 7.0% | 9.2% |
| Government-sponsored departure | 3,754 | 2.6% | 1.9% |
| Government-sponsored variance | 16,300 | 11.4% | 8.0% |
| Downward departure | 2,540 | 1.8% | 2.1% |
| Below-range variance | 35,165 | 24.6% | 18.8% |
| Missing or indeterminable | 42 | — | — |
Shares are of cases with a determinable range status. Departures cite a provision of the Guidelines Manual; variances rest on the statutory sentencing factors (18 U.S.C. §3553(a)) after United States v. Booker.
§ 4Cases by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Cases | Prison | Median months | Within range | Below, gov. | Below, other | Above |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 18,404 | 96% | 60 | 36% | 38% | 24% | 2% |
| FY2019 | 19,463 | 96% | 60 | 34% | 38% | 27% | 2% |
| FY2020 | 15,965 | 97% | 60 | 32% | 39% | 28% | 2% |
| FY2021 | 17,241 | 97% | 60 | 28% | 44% | 27% | 2% |
| FY2022 | 19,612 | 97% | 60 | 27% | 45% | 26% | 2% |
| FY2023 | 18,640 | 97% | 65 | 26% | 45% | 27% | 2% |
| FY2024 | 17,771 | 97% | 70 | 28% | 43% | 27% | 2% |
| FY2025 | 15,950 | 97% | 72 | 29% | 43% | 27% | 2% |
§ 5Offence types the Commission assigns
| Primary offence type | Cases | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Drug Trafficking | 143,046 | 100.0% |
§ 6Districts with the most cases
| District | Cases | Prison | Median months | Within range | Below, gov. | Below, other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern District of California S.D. Cal. | 10,973 | 98% | 30 | 2% | 94% | 4% |
| Western District of Texas W.D. Tex. | 8,028 | 96% | 60 | 54% | 21% | 24% |
| Southern District of Texas S.D. Tex. | 6,894 | 99% | 60 | 38% | 31% | 31% |
| Northern District of Texas N.D. Tex. | 5,131 | 98% | 108 | 56% | 20% | 22% |
| District of Arizona D. Ariz. | 4,417 | 93% | 24 | 7% | 83% | 10% |
| Middle District of Florida M.D. Fla. | 3,638 | 98% | 96 | 31% | 34% | 34% |
| Southern District of New York S.D.N.Y. | 3,242 | 99% | 48 | 13% | 23% | 64% |
| Southern District of Florida S.D. Fla. | 3,048 | 99% | 70 | 38% | 18% | 44% |
| Eastern District of Texas E.D. Tex. | 2,968 | 99% | 120 | 61% | 23% | 13% |
| Northern District of Ohio N.D. Ohio | 2,765 | 94% | 63 | 32% | 43% | 22% |
| Eastern District of Tennessee E.D. Tenn. | 2,727 | 99% | 100 | 37% | 48% | 13% |
| Central District of California C.D. Cal. | 2,497 | 97% | 63 | 18% | 38% | 44% |
| District of Puerto Rico D.P.R. | 2,462 | 96% | 70 | 39% | 32% | 21% |
| Eastern District of Missouri E.D. Mo. | 2,330 | 96% | 60 | 32% | 38% | 24% |
| Eastern District of North Carolina E.D.N.C. | 2,295 | 98% | 90 | 40% | 44% | 13% |
| Western District of Missouri W.D. Mo. | 2,206 | 94% | 102 | 24% | 39% | 33% |
| District of New Mexico D.N.M. | 2,123 | 98% | 46 | 23% | 45% | 32% |
| District of South Carolina D.S.C. | 2,080 | 97% | 77 | 32% | 38% | 28% |
| Eastern District of Kentucky E.D. Ky. | 1,870 | 99% | 100 | 44% | 32% | 23% |
| Eastern District of Virginia E.D. Va. | 1,816 | 98% | 87 | 41% | 17% | 40% |
By circuit
| Circuit | Cases | Prison | Median months | Within range | Below, gov. | Below, other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia Circuit | 601 | 95% | 60 | 34% | 36% | 28% |
| First Circuit | 5,388 | 96% | 60 | 28% | 40% | 28% |
| Second Circuit | 8,567 | 96% | 46 | 20% | 34% | 44% |
| Third Circuit | 6,158 | 94% | 60 | 32% | 43% | 23% |
| Fourth Circuit | 12,807 | 95% | 78 | 38% | 33% | 27% |
| Fifth Circuit | 26,045 | 98% | 70 | 51% | 24% | 24% |
| Sixth Circuit | 13,738 | 97% | 78 | 31% | 44% | 23% |
| Seventh Circuit | 6,178 | 98% | 80 | 29% | 29% | 41% |
| Eighth Circuit | 14,127 | 97% | 90 | 32% | 34% | 31% |
| Ninth Circuit | 27,688 | 97% | 36 | 9% | 73% | 17% |
| Tenth Circuit | 8,691 | 96% | 60 | 23% | 50% | 26% |
| Eleventh Circuit | 13,058 | 97% | 84 | 35% | 33% | 31% |
§ 7Questions and answers
What is §2D1.1?
Section 2D1.1 of the Guidelines Manual: unlawful manufacturing, importing, exporting, trafficking or possession with intent (drugs). On this site a case is counted under a guideline when the Commission records it as the primary guideline (GDLINEHI) applied at sentencing.
What is the typical sentence under §2D1.1?
The median prison term over FY2018–FY2025 was 62 months (5 yr 2 mo), with the middle half between 30 and 120 months.
How often do sentences under §2D1.1 depart or vary from the range?
70% of sentences were outside the guideline range. Substantial-assistance motions under §5K1.1 accounted for 21% and below-range variances for 25%.
Which districts see the most §2D1.1 cases?
the Southern District of California (10,973), the Western District of Texas (8,028) and the Southern District of Texas (6,894).
§ 8Provenance
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. Guideline is the Commission's GDLINEHI field (primary guideline applied). Counts below 10 are hidden or pooled. Errors in this site's processing are corrected at the next build; see corrections. Methodology.