2001 Federal Sentencing Guideline Manual
§2G3.1. Importing, Mailing, or Transporting Obscene Matter; Transferring Obscene Matter to a Minor
(a)Base Offense Level: 10
(b)Specific Offense Characteristics
(1)(Apply the Greatest) If the offense involved:
(A)Distribution for pecuniary gain, increase by the number of levels from the table in §2B1.1 (Theft, Property Destruction, and Fraud) corresponding to the retail value of the material, but by not less than 5 levels.
(B)Distribution for the receipt, or expectation of receipt, of a thing of value, but not for pecuniary gain, increase by 5 levels.
(C) Distribution to a minor, increase by 5 levels.
(D)Distribution to a minor that was intended to persuade, induce, entice, coerce, or facilitate the travel of, the minor to engage in prohibited sexual conduct, increase by 7 levels.
(E)Distribution other than distribution described in subdivisions (A) through (D), increase by 2 levels.
(2)If the offense involved material that portrays sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence, increase by 4 levels.
(c)Cross Reference
(1)If the offense involved transporting, distributing, receiving, possessing, or advertising to receive material involving the sexual exploitation of a minor, apply §2G2.2 (Trafficking in Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor; Receiving, Transporting, Shipping, or Advertising Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor; Possessing Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor with Intent to Traffic) or §2G2.4 (Possession of Materials Depicting a Minor Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct), as appropriate.
Commentary
Statutory Provisions: 18 U.S.C. §§ 1460-1463, 1465, 1466, 1470. For additional statutory provision(s), see Appendix A (Statutory Index).
Application Note:
1. For purposes of this guideline
"Distribution" means any act, including production, transportation, and possession with intent to distribute, related to the transfer of obscene matter.
"Distribution for pecuniary gain" means distribution for profit.
"Distribution for the receipt, or expectation of receipt, of a thing of value, but not for pecuniary gain" means any transaction, including bartering or other in-kind transaction, that is conducted for a thing of value, but not for profit. "Thing of value" means anything of valuable consideration.
"Distribution to a minor" means the knowing distribution to an individual who is a minor at the time of the offense, knowing or believing the individual is a minor at that time.
"Minor" means an individual who had not attained the age of 16 years.
"Prohibited sexual conduct" has the meaning given that term in Application Note 1 of the Commentary to §2A3.1 (Criminal Sexual Abuse; Attempt to Commit Criminal Sexual Abuse).
Background: Most federal prosecutions for offenses covered in this guideline are directed to offenses involving distribution for pecuniary gain. Consequently, the offense level under this section generally will be at least 15.