Fraud/Financial · National · FY2015–FY2024

Forgery/Counterfeiting/Copyright

How U.S. federal courts sentence forgery/counterfeiting/copyright cases, typical sentence length, guideline range and compliance, and the districts that depart most, from USSC case-level data.

19.1
Avg months FY2024
well below the national average
94
Federal cases
35%
Within guidelines
typical guideline adherence
80%
Guilty plea

According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission (USSC), 94 federal defendants were sentenced for forgery/counterfeiting/copyright in FY2024, at an average of 19.1 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.

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The verdict

Nationwide, Forgery/Counterfeiting/Copyright drew an average federal sentence of 19.1 months across 94 cases in FY2024, with 35% sentenced inside the guideline range.

19 mo
Average sentence, FY2024
26–33 mo
Typical guideline range
35%
Within guideline range
80%
Resolved by guilty plea
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.

National Trends (FY2015–FY2024)

15 mo20 mo25 mo30 mo35 mo FY18FY19FY20FY21FY22FY23FY24 19.1 mo29.6 mo Guideline midpointAvg sentence
Average imposed sentence for Forgery/Counterfeiting/Copyright versus the average guideline midpoint, FY2015–FY2024 (USSC). Where the sentence line sits below the guideline line, judges are sentencing under the recommended range.
YearCasesAvg (mo)GL MinGL MaxWithin GLAbove GLBelow GL
FY2024 94 19.1 26.3 33.0 35% 5% 60%
FY2023 111 23.4 30.2 37.0 45% 1% 54%
FY2022 110 19.6 22.3 28.4 48% 5% 47%
FY2021 137 19.3 23.1 28.2 50% 3% 48%
FY2020 196 19.3 23.6 29.7 53% 4% 43%
FY2019 276 17.9 20.1 26.0 51% 4% 44%
FY2018 298 18.0 23.4 28.4 53% 0% 47%

Guidelines Compliance (FY2024)

Within Guidelines 35%
27 cases
Above Guidelines 5%
4 cases
Below Guidelines 60%
47 cases

About This Offense

Forgery/Counterfeiting/Copyright is categorized under Fraud/Financial in the USSC guidelines. Sentencing ranges depend on the specific offense level, criminal history category, and applicable adjustments.

Where forgery/counterfeiting/copyright sentences sit among all federal sentences (FY2024)

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

19 40th percentile longer than 40% of 56,311 federal sentences

0–24: 23,918 federal sentences (42%). This entry sits in this band. 24–48: 10,716 federal sentences (19%). Above this entry. 48–72: 6,727 federal sentences (12%). Above this entry. 72–96: 3,723 federal sentences (7%). Above this entry. 96–120: 2,061 federal sentences (4%). Above this entry. 120–144: 3,392 federal sentences (6%). Above this entry. 144–168: 1,193 federal sentences (2%). Above this entry. 168–192: 1,570 federal sentences (3%). Above this entry. 192–216: 595 federal sentences (1%). Above this entry. 216–240: 355 federal sentences (1%). Above this entry. 240–264: 655 federal sentences (1%). Above this entry. 264–288: 139 federal sentences (0%). Above this entry. 288–312: 335 federal sentences (1%). Above this entry. 312–336: 128 federal sentences (0%). Above this entry. 336–360: 40 federal sentences (0%). Above this entry. 360–384: 764 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 · FY2024

Forgery/Counterfeiting/Copyright - Top District Disparities (FY2024)

Northern Ohio214.1Southern Florida109.4Western Arkansas109.4Colorado96.3Southern Texas94.8Middle Pennsylvania65.7New Mexico63.6Minnesota62.3
Forgery/Counterfeiting/Copyright - Top District Disparities (FY2024) - Deviation from national average sentence for this offense

District Comparison (FY2024)

Average sentences for Forgery/Counterfeiting/Copyright by district. These averages still reflect case-specific factors within the offense category - criminal history, quantity or aggravating circumstances, and cooperation with prosecutors - not judicial character. Districts with fewer than 5 cases excluded.

DistrictCasesAvg (mo)vs. National
Northern Ohio 1
60.0
+214.1%
Southern Florida 3
40.0
+109.4%
Western Arkansas 1
40.0
+109.4%
Colorado 2
37.5
+96.3%
Southern Texas 5
37.2
+94.8%
Middle Pennsylvania 3
31.7
+65.7%
New Mexico 5
31.2
+63.6%
Minnesota 3
31.0
+62.3%
Eastern Wisconsin 2
29.5
+54.5%
Eastern Arkansas 2
29.0
+51.8%
Middle Alabama 1
27.0
+41.4%
Middle Georgia 3
25.5
+33.5%
Western New York 2
24.0
+25.7%
Northern Indiana 1
24.0
+25.7%
Western Pennsylvania 2
21.0
+9.9%
Northern Florida 2
18.0
-5.8%
Utah 1
18.0
-5.8%
Nevada 1
18.0
-5.8%
Western Washington 2
18.0
-5.7%
Southern Iowa 4
15.3
-19.7%

What the Forgery/Counterfeiting/Copyright Sentencing Data Shows

Across all federal district courts in FY2024, Forgery/Counterfeiting/Copyright offenses produced 94 sentenced cases with a national average imposed sentence of 19.1 months. The applicable guideline range for these cases averaged 26.3 months at the low end and 33.0 months at the high end, placing the actual mean sentence below the average guideline window. This offense category is classified by the USSC under Fraud/Financial.

Guideline compliance for Forgery/Counterfeiting/Copyright broke down as follows in FY2024: 35% of sentences landed within the prescribed range, 5% were above-guideline (upward departures or variances), and 60% were below-guideline. Guilty pleas resolved 80% of cases, a metric that reflects how few federal defendants in this offense category proceed to trial. Below-guideline sentences are typically the result of either government-sponsored departures (such as substantial assistance under USSG §5K1.1) or judge-initiated variances under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), a framework formalized after United States v. Booker (2005).

District-level variation is the key signal beneath these national numbers: across the 20 districts with at least 5 cases in FY2024, the district comparison table above shows how average sentences for Forgery/Counterfeiting/Copyright diverge from the national benchmark. Because individual sentencing outcomes depend on the defendant's criminal history category, offense-level adjustments, the specific statutes of conviction, and any cooperation, these aggregate figures describe patterns, not predictions for any single case. This data is presented for research and educational purposes only and is not legal advice.

Nearby Offenses in the Fraud/Financial Category

Related federal offenses with the same USSC classification. Compare sentencing patterns across similar crimes.

Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement
Fraud/Financial
28.0 mo avg · 5,291 cases
Money Laundering
Fraud/Financial
60.8 mo avg · 1,288 cases
Tax
Fraud/Financial
22.5 mo avg · 434 cases
Bribery/Corruption
Fraud/Financial
22.9 mo avg · 362 cases
Antitrust
Fraud/Financial
5.0 mo avg · 8 cases
Compare Districts on this offense

Source: United States Sentencing Commission (USSC), Individual Offender Datafiles, FY2015–FY2024.

Source: USSC Commission Datafiles · How we compute these metrics

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average federal sentence for Forgery/Counterfeiting/Copyright?
In FY2024, the national average federal sentence for Forgery/Counterfeiting/Copyright was 19.1 months, based on 94 cases. Actual sentences vary by district, criminal history, and specific offense characteristics.
How often do Forgery/Counterfeiting/Copyright sentences follow the guidelines?
In FY2024, 35% of Forgery/Counterfeiting/Copyright sentences fell within the federal guidelines range. 5% received above-guideline sentences (upward departures) and 60% received below-guideline sentences (downward departures).
Which districts have the highest average sentences for Forgery/Counterfeiting/Copyright?
Average sentences for Forgery/Counterfeiting/Copyright vary by federal district. The district comparison table on this page shows the top 20 districts with the highest average sentences, along with each district's deviation from the national average. These averages still reflect case-specific factors within the offense category - criminal history, quantity or aggravating circumstances, and cooperation with prosecutors - not judicial character. Districts with fewer than 5 cases are excluded for statistical reliability.
What are the federal sentencing guidelines for Forgery/Counterfeiting/Copyright?
The U.S. Sentencing Commission sets guideline ranges based on offense level and criminal history category. For Forgery/Counterfeiting/Copyright, the guidelines provide a recommended sentencing range, but after United States v. Booker (2005), judges may depart from these ranges citing 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors.
Where does the Forgery/Counterfeiting/Copyright sentencing data come from?
All sentencing 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 all federal courts nationwide, providing the most comprehensive view of federal sentencing outcomes.
What is the difference between a departure and a variance?
A departure is a sentence outside the guideline range based on factors the guidelines themselves authorize (e.g., substantial assistance). A variance is imposed under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), where the judge finds the guidelines range itself is inappropriate. Both result in above- or below-guideline sentences.

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.
All Offenses District Rankings

What the Forgery/Counterfeiting/Copyright data shows

In FY2024, 94 federal defendants were sentenced for forgery/counterfeiting/copyright, with an average sentence of 19.1 months -- 38.6 months below the national average across all offenses.

  • 35% of forgery/counterfeiting/copyright sentences in FY2024 fell within the guideline range, with 60% 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 forgery/counterfeiting/copyright in FY2024 was Northern Ohio, averaging 60.0 months -- 40.9 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. Northern Ohio data
  • The average sentence for forgery/counterfeiting/copyright has risen 1.1 months since FY2018 (FY2018: 18.0 mo; FY2024: 19.1 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.

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). Forgery/Counterfeiting/Copyright - Federal Sentencing Data. PlainSentencing. Retrieved from https://plainsentencing.com/offense/forgery--counterfeiting--copyright/. 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.