Resolved by Guilty Plea
51%
of 6,122 FY2024 cases
5th Circuit · Texas · FY2015–FY2024
Western Texas District
Federal criminal sentencing outcomes for the U.S. District Court, average sentence, guideline compliance, and disparity versus the national benchmark, from USSC case-level data.
- 28.3
- Avg months FY2024
- well below the national average
- 6,122
- Federal cases
- 55%
- Within guidelines
- high guideline adherence
- -18.5%
- Disparity vs natl
According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission (USSC), 6,122 federal defendants were sentenced in the Western Texas District in FY2024, at an average of 28.3 months. Every figure on this page is computed from the USSC's case-level Individual Offender Datafiles; see our methodology for how each is derived.
The verdict
The Western Texas District sentenced 6,122 federal defendants in FY2024 at an average of 28.3 months - shorter than the national norm for its offense mix, ranking #83 of 85 districts (longer than 2% of them).
- 28 mo
- Average sentence, FY2024
- #83/85
- Avg-sentence rank (#1 = harshest)
- 55%
- Within guideline range
- -18.5%
- Disparity vs national
For educational and research purposes only. This page summarizes historical USSC sentencing statistics, not a prediction for any individual case, sentencing depends on many case-specific factors. Consult a licensed criminal defense attorney for guidance on a specific matter.
Source: U.S. Sentencing Commission Individual Offender Datafiles, FY2015–FY2024. · Methodology and data dictionary.
Sentencing Trends (FY2015–FY2024)
| Year | Cases | Avg (mo) | Within GL | Above GL | Below GL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024 | 6,122 | 28.3 | 55% | 2% | 43% |
| FY2023 | 6,425 | 28.1 | 51% | 3% | 46% |
| FY2022 | 7,274 | 27.2 | 45% | 3% | 51% |
| FY2021 | 8,052 | 24.2 | 47% | 3% | 50% |
| FY2020 | 8,538 | 17.4 | 59% | 2% | 39% |
| FY2019 | 7,815 | 24.5 | 57% | 3% | 40% |
| FY2018 | 6,138 | 32.3 | 58% | 3% | 38% |
| FY2017 | 6,635 | 31.1 | 63% | 4% | 32% |
| FY2016 | 6,482 | 33.9 | 56% | 2% | 42% |
| FY2015 | 6,229 | 35.0 | 57% | 2% | 41% |
Top Offenses (FY2024)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Immigration
4349 cases · 13.1 mo avg
Drug Trafficking
842 cases · 72.5 mo avg
Firearms
250 cases · 43.0 mo avg
Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement
219 cases · 17.0 mo avg
Money Laundering
80 cases · 49.6 mo avg
National Defense
66 cases · 25.4 mo avg
Child Pornography
58 cases · 117.4 mo avg
Robbery
50 cases · 133.9 mo avg
Sexual Abuse
40 cases · 290.6 mo avg
Administration of Justice Offenses
36 cases · 11.1 mo avg
Sentencing Disparity
-18.5%
vs. national average (FY2024)
Most Common Offenses - Western Texas (FY2024)
Federal cases sentenced in this district by offense category
- Immigration
Immigration
4,349 cases
- Drug Trafficking 842
Drug Trafficking
842 cases
- Firearms 250
Firearms
250 cases
- Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement 219
Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement
219 cases
- Money Laundering 80
Money Laundering
80 cases
- National Defense 66
National Defense
66 cases
- Child Pornography 58
Child Pornography
58 cases
- Robbery 50
Robbery
50 cases
- Sexual Abuse 40
Sexual Abuse
40 cases
- Administration of 36
Administration of Justice Offenses
36 cases
What this shows Immigration was the most common offense in this district, accounting for 4,349 of the cases sentenced in FY2024.
Western Texas Sentencing Disparity, FY2015–FY2024
Sentencing Breakdown (FY2024)
Share of the 5,929 cases with a determinable guideline range.
Within Guidelines
55%
3,241 cases
Above Guidelines
2%
129 cases
Below Guidelines
43%
2,559 cases
Who is sentenced (FY2024)
According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, of the 6,122 federal defendants sentenced in the Western Texas District in FY2024, 10% were women and 67% were non-U.S. citizens. See our methodology for definitions.
Male
90%
5,493 of 6,122
Female
10%
627 of 6,122
Non-U.S. citizen
67%
4,078 of 6,122
Male and female shares are of all sentenced defendants; the non-citizen share is a separate cross-cut of the same total. Counts come directly from the USSC datafiles for FY2024.
Where the Western Texas District ranks among all federal districts (FY2024)
Every rankable district by average sentence; the marker is this district's 28.3-month average.
28 2nd percentile longer than 2% of 85 federal districts
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more federal districts. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Sentencing Commission, Individual Offender Datafiles · FY2024
Sentenced to Prison
94%
rather than probation only
Avg-Sentence Rank
#83
of 85 districts (#1 = harshest)
What the Western Texas District Data Reveals
In FY2024, the Western Texas District (5th Circuit, Texas) sentenced 6,122 federal defendants, with an average imposed sentence of 28.3 months. Of those cases, 55% were sentenced within the U.S. Sentencing Commission guideline range, 2% received above-guideline sentences, and 43% received below-guideline sentences. Prison was imposed in 94% of cases, and 51% of defendants resolved their cases through a guilty plea rather than trial.
Relative to the national average for the same offense mix, the Western Texas District ran a disparity of -18.5% in FY2024. Sentences here trended shorter than the nationwide benchmark after controlling for offense composition. Below-guideline sentences, downward departures and variances under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), including government-sponsored §5K1.1 motions, following United States v. Booker (2005) - accounted for 43% of the cases with a determinable range.
Context matters: these figures reflect the specific offense mix handled by the Western Texas District, which drives much of the variation across federal courts. The top offense category was "Immigration" with 4349 cases and an average sentence of 13.1 months. Figures are aggregate descriptive statistics from USSC Individual Offender Datafiles and do not account for criminal history, offense-level adjustments, or cooperation agreements at the individual case level. This data is presented for research and educational purposes only and is not legal advice.
About This Data
Source: United States Sentencing Commission (USSC), Individual Offender Datafiles, FY2015–FY2024. The Western Texas District is part of the 5th Circuit.
"Within guidelines" means the imposed sentence fell within the calculated guideline range. "Above" and "below" are upward and downward departures or variances. Shares are computed over cases with a determinable guideline range; some cases (e.g. certain mandatory-minimum dispositions) have no calculable range and are excluded from those percentages.
Source: USSC Commission Datafiles · Methodology: see how we compute these metrics
Nearby Districts in the 5th Circuit
Other federal district courts in the same circuit. Compare sentencing patterns across neighboring jurisdictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average federal sentence in the Western Texas District?
In FY2024, the Western Texas District Court imposed an average federal sentence of 28.3 months across 6,122 cases. This includes all offense types handled by the district.
How often do judges in Western Texas follow the sentencing guidelines?
In FY2024, 55% of sentences in the Western Texas District fell within the federal sentencing guidelines range. 2% were above guidelines (upward departures) and 43% were below guidelines (downward departures).
What is a sentencing disparity score?
The disparity score measures how far a district's average sentences deviate from the national average for the same offense types. A positive score means the district sentences higher than average; a negative score means lower. The Western Texas District had a disparity of -18.5% in FY2024.
What does "below guidelines" mean in federal sentencing?
A below-guideline sentence is one shorter than the bottom of the calculated guideline range, a downward departure or variance, often reflecting a government-sponsored motion (such as substantial assistance under §5K1.1) or a judicial variance under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) following United States v. Booker (2005). In the Western Texas District, 43% of cases with a determinable guideline range fell below it in FY2024.
Where does the Western Texas District sentencing data come from?
All data comes from the United States Sentencing Commission (USSC) Individual Offender Datafiles, covering fiscal years 2015 through 2024. The USSC collects case-level data from federal courts nationwide.
Learn More About Federal Sentencing
Understanding Federal Sentencing
How federal sentencing guidelines work, from offense levels to criminal history categories.
Sentencing Disparity Explained
What drives differences in sentencing outcomes between federal districts.
Reading Sentencing Data
How to interpret the statistics and comparisons in PlainSentencing.
What the Western Texas data shows
Western Texas averaged 28.3 months in FY2024 - 18.5% below the national norm for its offense mix.
- Immigration was the most common offense in FY2024 (4,349 cases, avg 13.1 mo), 71% of the district's total caseload. A district's offense mix is the single largest driver of its average sentence, independent of judicial philosophy. Immigration data
- 51% of Western Texas cases in FY2024 resolved by guilty plea. Cooperation agreements typically include government-sponsored downward departure motions -- the mechanism that pulls most district averages below the guideline midpoint. Plea bargaining in federal court
- Among 85 districts with sufficient caseloads, Western Texas ranked #83 by average sentence in FY2024 -- longer than 2% of federal districts. Compare on the same offense types to control for the mix. Compare with another district
Descriptive USSC aggregates, not legal advice; a district average reflects its offense mix, not court severity.
Cite this page
Free to cite and reference with attribution. Figures update automatically as new data is published, compiled from the public-domain USSC datafiles.
PlainSentencing. (FY2024). Western Texas District, Federal Sentencing Profile. PlainSentencing. Retrieved from https://plainsentencing.com/district/western-texas/. Data from the U.S. Sentencing Commission (USSC) Individual Offender Datafiles; public domain (CC0).
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.