Fraud/Financial · National · FY2015–FY2024

Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement

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

28.0
Avg months FY2024
well below the national average
5,291
Federal cases
39%
Within guidelines
typical guideline adherence
85%
Guilty plea

According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission (USSC), 5,291 federal defendants were sentenced for fraud/theft/embezzlement in FY2024, at an average of 28.0 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, Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement drew an average federal sentence of 28.0 months across 5,291 cases in FY2024, with 39% sentenced inside the guideline range.

28 mo
Average sentence, FY2024
37–41 mo
Typical guideline range
39%
Within guideline range
85%
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)

20 mo25 mo30 mo35 mo40 mo45 mo50 mo FY18FY19FY20FY21FY22FY23FY24 28 mo39.2 mo Guideline midpointAvg sentence
Average imposed sentence for Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement 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 5,291 28.0 37.3 41.1 39% 4% 58%
FY2023 5,192 28.4 44.2 46.2 36% 4% 60%
FY2022 5,506 27.9 40.4 42.2 38% 6% 56%
FY2021 4,541 27.9 40.4 42.3 37% 5% 58%
FY2020 4,811 25.7 37.1 36.5 42% 5% 53%
FY2019 6,373 27.9 39.4 40.3 42% 3% 55%
FY2018 6,591 29.7 40.5 40.3 42% 3% 55%

Guidelines Compliance (FY2024)

Within Guidelines 39%
1,519 cases
Above Guidelines 4%
142 cases
Below Guidelines 58%
2,256 cases

About This Offense

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

Where fraud/theft/embezzlement 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.

28 48th percentile longer than 48% of 56,311 federal sentences

0–24: 23,918 federal sentences (42%). Below this entry. 24–48: 10,716 federal sentences (19%). This entry sits in this band. 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

Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement - Top District Disparities (FY2024)

Southern Texas68.8Middle Tennessee58.9Northern Alabama58.3Northern Iowa51.2Southern Alabama39.1South Carolina30.7Northern Texas29.3Northern Indiana29.2
Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement - Top District Disparities (FY2024) - Deviation from national average sentence for this offense

District Comparison (FY2024)

Average sentences for Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement 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
Southern Texas 135
47.3
+68.8%
Middle Tennessee 10
44.5
+58.9%
Northern Alabama 150
44.3
+58.3%
Northern Iowa 33
42.3
+51.2%
Southern Alabama 88
39.0
+39.1%
South Carolina 12
36.6
+30.7%
Northern Texas 114
36.2
+29.3%
Northern Indiana 28
36.2
+29.2%
Eastern North Carolina 76
35.8
+28.0%
Eastern Louisiana 70
35.8
+27.8%
Northern West Virginia 16
35.6
+27.0%
Utah 196
35.6
+27.0%
Kansas 76
35.4
+26.4%
Southern Georgia 76
35.1
+25.4%
Northern Florida 35
34.9
+24.6%
Eastern Texas 37
34.7
+23.9%
Middle Alabama 288
34.4
+22.9%
Middle Louisiana 47
34.4
+22.9%
Southern Mississippi 24
34.3
+22.3%
Nebraska 51
34.3
+22.5%

What the Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement Sentencing Data Shows

Across all federal district courts in FY2024, Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement offenses produced 5,291 sentenced cases with a national average imposed sentence of 28.0 months. The applicable guideline range for these cases averaged 37.3 months at the low end and 41.1 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 Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement broke down as follows in FY2024: 39% of sentences landed within the prescribed range, 4% were above-guideline (upward departures or variances), and 58% were below-guideline. Guilty pleas resolved 85% 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 Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement 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.

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
Forgery/Counterfeiting/Copyright
Fraud/Financial
19.1 mo avg · 94 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 Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement?
In FY2024, the national average federal sentence for Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement was 28.0 months, based on 5,291 cases. Actual sentences vary by district, criminal history, and specific offense characteristics.
How often do Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement sentences follow the guidelines?
In FY2024, 39% of Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement sentences fell within the federal guidelines range. 4% received above-guideline sentences (upward departures) and 58% received below-guideline sentences (downward departures).
Which districts have the highest average sentences for Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement?
Average sentences for Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement 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 Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement?
The U.S. Sentencing Commission sets guideline ranges based on offense level and criminal history category. For Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement, 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 Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement 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 Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement data shows

In FY2024, 5,291 federal defendants were sentenced for fraud/theft/embezzlement, with an average sentence of 28.0 months -- 29.7 months below the national average across all offenses.

  • 39% of fraud/theft/embezzlement sentences in FY2024 fell within the guideline range, with 58% 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 fraud/theft/embezzlement in FY2024 was Southern Texas, averaging 47.3 months -- 19.3 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 Texas data
  • The average sentence for fraud/theft/embezzlement has fallen 1.7 months since FY2018 (FY2018: 29.7 mo; FY2024: 28.0 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.

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). Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement - Federal Sentencing Data. PlainSentencing. Retrieved from https://plainsentencing.com/offense/fraud--theft--embezzlement/. 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.