Bribery

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Of the 66,662 cases reported to the Commission in fiscal year 2025, 204 involved bribery (up 31% since fiscal year 2021).1,2

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Individual and Offense Characteristics

 

 

  • 75% of individuals sentenced for bribery offenses were men.
     
  • 34% were Black, 30% were Hispanic, 29% were White, and 8% were Other races.
     
  • Their average age was 49 years. 
     
  • 95% were United States citizens.
     
  • 91% had little or no prior criminal history (Criminal History Category I).
     
  • 75% received the adjustment at USSG §4C1.1 for zero criminal history points.
     
  • The median loss for these offenses was $43,800;3
    • 32% involved loss amounts of $15,000 or less;
    • 5% involved loss amounts greater than $1.5 million.
  • Sentences were increased for:
    • being a public official (61%);
    • involving multiple bribes (83%);
    • involving a high-level elected official (39%);
    • a leadership or supervisory role in the offense (9%);
    • abusing a public position of trust or using a special skill (1%);
    • obstructing or impeding the administration of justice (7%).
       
  • Sentences were decreased for:
    • minor or minimal participation in the offense (3%).
       
  • The top five districts for individuals sentenced for bribery offenses were:
    • Southern District of New York (63);
    • Northern District of Illinois (17);
    • Central District of California (12);
    • Southern District of Texas (8);
    • District of Columbia (7).

 

Punishment

  • The average sentence for individuals sentenced for bribery offenses was 21 months. 
     
  • 72% were sentenced to prison.
     
  • 1% were convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty; 67% of those individuals were relieved of that penalty.

 

Sentences Relative to the Guideline Range

  • 47% of sentences for bribery offenses were under the Guidelines Manual.
    • 20% were within the guideline range.
    • 21% were substantial assistance departures.
      • The average sentence reduction was 77%.
    • 1% were Early Disposition Program (EDP) Departures.4,5
    • 5% were some other downward departure.
      • The average sentence reduction was 85%.
  • 53% of sentences for bribery were variances.
    • 52% were downward variances.
      • The average sentence reduction was 58%.
    • 1% were upward variances.

 

 

 

 

  • The average guideline minimum has fluctuated and average sentence imposed remained steady over the past five years.
    • The average guideline minimum increased and decreased throughout the fiscal years. The average guideline minimum was 43 months in fiscal year 2021 and 42 months in fiscal year 2025.
    • The average sentence imposed remained steady throughout the fiscal years. The average sentence imposed was 23 months in fiscal year 2021 and 21 months in fiscal year 2025.

1 Bribery offenses include cases in which the offender was sentenced under §2C1.1 or §2C1.2 (Offering, Giving, or Receiving a Bribe; Extortion Under Color of Official Right; Fraud Involving the Deprivation of the Intangible Right to Honest Services of Public Officials; Conspiracy to Defraud by Interference with Governmental Functions or Offering, Giving, Soliciting, or Receiving a Gratuity).

2 Cases with incomplete sentencing information were excluded from the analysis.

3 The Loss Table was amended effective November 1, 2001 and November 1, 2015.

4 “Early Disposition Program” (or EDP) departures are departures where the government sought a sentence below the guideline range because the defendant participated in the government’s Early Disposition Program, through which cases are resolved in an expedited manner. See USSG §5K3.1.

5 The Commission does not report the average for categories with fewer than three cases.

SOURCE: United States Sentencing Commission, FY 2021 through FY 2025 Datafiles, USSCFY21-USSCFY25.

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