Public Hearing on Proposed Amendments to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Washington, DC
Notice
Pursuant to Rule 3.4 of the Rules of Practice and Procedure of the United States Sentencing Commission, a public hearing was held on Tuesday, February 17 beginning at 9:00 a.m. (ET).
The public hearing was held in the Mecham Conference Center of the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building,
One Columbus Circle, NE, Washington, DC. The Commission also live-streamed and recorded this event.
The purpose of the public hearing was for the Commission to receive testimony from invited witnesses on proposed amendments to the federal sentencing guidelines.
Agenda
Opening Remarks (9:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.)
Hon. Carlton W. Reeves
Chair
U.S. Sentencing Commission
Proposed Amendments on Drug Offenses, Economic Crimes, Sophisticated Means, and Post-Offense Rehabilitation
Panel I. CLC Perspective (9:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.)
Chair, Criminal Law Committee
U.S. District Judge
Northern District of Illinois
Proposed Amendment on Drug Offenses
Panel II. Stakeholders’ Perspectives (10:00 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.)
Vincent T. Lombardi (methamphetamine)
Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney and Lead Task Force Attorney
Western District of Washington
Kaitlin Sahni (fentanyl)
Money Laundering, Narcotics, and Forfeiture Section
Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Unit
U.S. Department of Justice
Natasha Silas (methamphetamine)
Executive Director
Federal Defender Program, Inc.
Northern District of Georgia
Patricia Richman (fentanyl)
Assistant Federal Public Defender
District of Maryland
Panel III. Advisory Groups’ Perspectives (10:40 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.)
Chair
Practitioners Advisory Group
Fourth Circuit Representative
Probation Officers Advisory Group
Member
Sentence Impact Advisory Group
Member
Tribal Issues Advisory Group
Member
Victims’ Rights Advisory Group
Break (11:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.)
Proposed Amendment on Economic Crime
Panel IV. Stakeholders’ Perspectives (11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.)
Assistant Deputy Chief
Litigation Unit, Fraud Section
U.S. Department of Justice
Assistant Federal Public Defender
Southern District of Florida
Panel V. Practitioners’ Perspectives (12:15 p.m. – 12:35 p.m.)
Third Circuit Representative
Practitioners Advisory Group
Co-Chair, Commercial Litigation Department
Cozen O’Connor
Lunch (12:35 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.)
Panel VI. Advisory Groups’ Perspectives (1:45 p.m. – 2:25 p.m.)
Chair
Probation Officers Advisory Group
Chair
Sentence Impact Advisory Group
Member
Tribal Issues Advisory Group
Chair
Victims’ Rights Advisory Group
Proposed Amendment on Sophisticated Means
Panel VII. Stakeholders’ Perspectives (2:25 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.)
Acting Assistant Director
EOUSA Legal Programs and White Collar Crime Coordinator
Executive Office for United States Attorneys
Assistant Federal Public Defender
Southern District of Florida
Panel VIII. Advisory Groups’ Perspectives (2:55 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.)
Third Circuit Representative
Practitioners Advisory Group
Chair
Probation Officers Advisory Group
Chair
Sentence Impact Advisory Group
Member
Tribal Issues Advisory Group
Chair
Victims’ Rights Advisory Group
Break (3:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
Proposed Amendment on Post-Offense Rehabilitation
Panel IX. Stakeholders’ Perspectives (4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
Assistant United States Attorney and Appellate Chief
District of Arizona
Assistant Federal Defender
Eastern District of Michigan
Panel X. Advisory Groups’ Perspectives (4:30 p.m. – 5:20 p.m.)
Chair
Practitioners Advisory Group
Chair
Probation Officers Advisory Group
Member
Sentence Impact Advisory Group
Member
Tribal Issues Advisory Group
Member
Victims’ Rights Advisory Group