Drug Offenses · National · FY2015–FY2025

Drug Trafficking

Average imposed sentence 90.0 mo in FY2025 - longer-third average (> 72 mo) among 30 offense types.

90.0
Avg months FY2025
well above the national average
16,180
Federal cases
29%
Within guidelines
low guideline adherence
89%
Guilty plea
RSS updates

The verdict

According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission FY2025 Individual Offender Datafiles, Drug Trafficking ranks #2 of 30 by caseload (16,180 cases) and #6 of 30 by average sentence (90.0 months).

#2
Caseload of 30
#6
Avg sentence of 30
90.0 months
This offense avg FY2025
16,180
This offense cases FY2025

Caseload rank covers every district with at least one FY case. Average-sentence rank covers districts with at least 100 cases so a thin docket cannot top the list. Offense ranks cover the 30 published guideline types. Averages follow offense mix, not court character.

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.

Drug Trafficking FY2024→FY2025: +5.6 mo

50 mo100 mo150 mo200 mo FY18FY19FY20FY21FY22FY23FY24FY25 90 mo170 mo Guideline midpointAvg sentence
Drug Trafficking: FY2025 avg 90.0 mo (+5.6 vs FY2024); volume -1,951. Where the sentence line sits below the guideline line, judges sentenced under the recommended range.
YearCasesAvg (mo)GL MinGL MaxWithin GLAbove GLBelow GL
FY2025 16,180 90.0 203.2 137.3 29% 2% 69%
FY2024 18,131 84.4 172.8 132.0 29% 2% 69%
FY2023 18,963 83.8 174.8 136.4 26% 2% 72%
FY2022 19,842 80.4 164.6 130.4 27% 2% 71%
FY2021 17,499 76.1 143.8 123.5 28% 2% 70%
FY2020 16,324 78.5 152.4 122.5 32% 2% 66%
FY2019 19,758 79.3 159.0 121.0 34% 2% 64%
FY2018 18,687 78.2 157.9 117.6 36% 2% 62%

Drug Trafficking · hardest district slice

Among districts with ≥5 FY2025 cases, Southern Iowa posts the longest average (165.2 mo, 131 cases , +83.6% vs national).

Where drug trafficking sentences sit among all federal sentences (FY2025)

Each bar counts imposed federal prison terms in that length band; the marker is this offense's average.

90 81st percentile longer than 81% of 61,431 federal sentences

0–24: 30,512 federal sentences (50%). Below this entry. 24–48: 10,224 federal sentences (17%). Below this entry. 48–72: 6,124 federal sentences (10%). Below this entry. 72–96: 3,425 federal sentences (6%). This entry sits in this band. 96–120: 2,045 federal sentences (3%). Above this entry. 120–144: 3,256 federal sentences (5%). Above this entry. 144–168: 1,188 federal sentences (2%). Above this entry. 168–192: 1,630 federal sentences (3%). Above this entry. 192–216: 591 federal sentences (1%). Above this entry. 216–240: 373 federal sentences (1%). Above this entry. 240–264: 657 federal sentences (1%). Above this entry. 264–288: 159 federal sentences (0%). Above this entry. 288–312: 335 federal sentences (1%). Above this entry. 312–336: 117 federal sentences (0%). Above this entry. 336–360: 43 federal sentences (0%). Above this entry. 360–384: 752 federal sentences (1%). Above this entry. This offense 0 384 every imposed federal sentence, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more federal sentences. 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 · FY2025

Drug Trafficking - Top District Disparities (FY2025)

Southern Iowa83.6South Dakota70.2Northern Mariana Islands52.4Nebraska51.9Western Michigan50.3Northern Iowa50.1Northern Texas47.2Middle Georgia41.7
Drug Trafficking - Top District Disparities (FY2025) - Deviation from national average sentence for this offense

District Comparison (FY2025)

Districts with ≥5 FY2025 Drug Trafficking cases. Averages still mix case factors (history, quantity, cooperation).

DistrictCasesAvg (mo)vs. National
Southern Iowa 131
165.2
+83.6%
South Dakota 116
153.2
+70.2%
Northern Mariana Islands 3
137.1
+52.4%
Nebraska 188
136.7
+51.9%
Western Michigan 61
135.3
+50.3%
Northern Iowa 121
135.1
+50.1%
Northern Texas 540
132.5
+47.2%
Middle Georgia 127
127.5
+41.7%
Western Missouri 251
127.5
+41.7%
Northern Indiana 82
125.3
+39.2%
Western Arkansas 84
125.2
+39.1%
Southern Indiana 145
124.9
+38.8%
Western Louisiana 146
124.4
+38.2%
Eastern Kentucky 209
121.9
+35.5%
Middle Alabama 86
120.3
+33.7%
Western North Carolina 88
119.4
+32.6%
Eastern Texas 471
117.0
+30.0%
Southern Mississippi 121
116.4
+29.3%
Eastern Tennessee 293
115.2
+28.0%
Eastern North Carolina 262
115.0
+27.8%

Nationwide peers · caseload or average sentence

Similar FY caseload

Nearest by ABS(16,180 cases).

Similar average sentence

Nearest nationwide offense types by ABS(90.0 mo here; ≥50-case types).

Same-category peers · Drug Offenses

Drug Possession
3.0 mo avg · 107 cases

Source: United States Sentencing Commission (USSC), Individual Offender Datafiles, FY2015–FY2025 · Methodology

All Offenses District Rankings

What the Drug Trafficking data shows

In FY2025, 16,180 federal defendants were sentenced for drug trafficking, with an average sentence of 90.0 months -- 38.1 months above the national average across all offenses.

  • 29% of drug trafficking sentences in FY2025 fell within the guideline range, with 69% below (downward departures or variances, often for cooperation). The below-range rate reflects how frequently prosecutors offer departure motions for substantial assistance. How the guidelines work
  • The highest-average district for drug trafficking in FY2025 was Southern Iowa, averaging 165.2 months -- 75.2 months above the national average. Case-specific factors within this offense (criminal history, quantity or aggravating circumstances, cooperation) drive that gap as much as any district-level pattern; the comparison below shows the full spread. Southern Iowa data
  • The average sentence for drug trafficking has risen 11.8 months since FY2018 (FY2018: 78.2 mo; FY2025: 90.0 mo). The trend chart above compares actual sentences against the guideline midpoint each year. Post-Booker sentencing trends

Descriptive USSC aggregates, not legal advice; individual sentences depend on case-specific facts.

PlainSentencing is rendered directly from the United States Sentencing Commission Individual Offender Datafiles, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified. Report a data issue on this page.