UNITED STATES SENTENCING COMMISSION

Sentencing Guidelines for United States Courts

AGENCY: United States Sentencing Commission.

ACTION: Notice of submission to Congress of amendments to the sentencing guidelines effective November 1, 2018.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to its authority under 28 U.S.C. § 994(p), the Commission has promulgated amendments to the sentencing guidelines, policy statements, commentary, and statutory index. This notice sets forth the amendments and the reason for each amendment.

DATE: The Commission has specified an effective date of November 1, 2018, for the amendments set forth in this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christine Leonard, Director, Office of Legislative and Public Affairs, (202) 502-4500, pubaffairs@ussc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States Sentencing Commission is an independent agency in the judicial branch of the United States Government. The Commission promulgates sentencing guidelines and policy statements for federal courts pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 994(a). The Commission also periodically reviews and revises previously promulgated guidelines pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 994(o) and generally submits guideline amendments to the Congress pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 994(p) not later than the first day of May each year. Absent action of the Congress to the contrary, submitted amendments become effective by operation of law on the date specified by the Commission (generally November 1 of the year in which the amendments are submitted to Congress).

Notices of the proposed amendments were published in the Federal Register on August 25, 2017 (see 82 FR 40651) and January 26, 2018 (see 83 FR 3869). The Commission held public hearings on the proposed amendments in Washington, D.C., on February 8 and March 14, 2018. On April 30, 2018, the Commission submitted these amendments to the Congress and specified an effective date of November 1, 2018.

The text of the amendments to the sentencing guidelines, policy statements, commentary, and statutory index, and the reason for each amendment, are set forth in the attached PDF document. Additional information pertaining to the amendments described in this notice may be accessed through the Commission’s website at www.ussc.gov.

AUTHORITY: 28 U.S.C. § 994(a), (o), and (p); USSC Rules of Practice and Procedure 2.2, 4.1.

William H. Pryor Jr.,

Acting Chair