Fentanyl Analogue Trafficking

"Cover of the Quick Facts handout"

Of the 66,662 cases reported to the Commission in fiscal year 2025, 16,234 involved drugs.1 Of those, 16,144 cases involved drug trafficking;2 2% of such cases involved fentanyl analogues, up 133% since fiscal year 2021.3

Click the cover for the PDF handout or learn more below. 

 

Individual and Offense Characteristics

 

 

  • 93% of individuals sentenced for fentanyl analogue trafficking were men.
     
  • 56% were Black, 28% were Hispanic, 15% were White, and 1% were Other races.
     
  • Their average age was 37 years.
     
  • 88% were United States citizens.
     
  • 36% had little or no prior criminal history (Criminal History Category I); 10% were individuals sentenced under the career offender guideline (§4B1.1).
     
  • The median base offense level in these cases was 30, corresponding to between 100 and 300 grams of fentanyl analogue.
     
  • Sentences were increased for:
    • possessing a weapon (37%);
    • a leadership or supervisory role in the offense (8%).
       
  • Sentences were decreased for:
    • minor or minimal participation in the offense (10%);
    • meeting the safety valve criteria in the sentencing guidelines (21%).
       
  • The most common fentanyl analogue types were:
    • Para-fluorofentanyl (127);
    • Fluorofentanyl (69);
    • Acetyl fentanyl (43);
    • Despropionyl fentanyl (29);
    • Carfentanil (11).4

 

 

Punishment

 

  • The average sentence for individuals trafficking fentanyl analogue was 105 months.
     
  • 96% were sentenced to prison.
     
  • 59% were convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty; 31% of those individuals were relieved of that penalty.

 

 

Sentences Relative to the Guideline Range

 

  • 50% of sentences for fentanyl analogue trafficking were under the Guidelines Manual.
    • 30% were within the guideline range.
       
    • 16% were substantial assistance departures.
      • The average sentence reduction was 49%.
         
    • 1% were Early Disposition Program (EDP) departures.5
      • The average sentence reduction was 55%.
         
    • 3% were some other downward departure.
      • The average sentence reduction was 34%.
         
    • 0% were upward departures.
       
  • 50% of sentences for fentanyl analogue trafficking were variances.
    • 46% were downward variances.
      • The average sentence reduction was 39%.
         
    • 4% were upward variances.
      • The average sentence increase was 148%.

 

 

 

 

  • The average guideline minimum and the average sentence imposed have increased over the past five years.
    • The average guideline minimum increased from 112 months in fiscal year 2021 to 137 months in fiscal year 2025.
       
    • The average sentence imposed increased from 87 months in fiscal year 2021 to 105 months in fiscal year 2025.

 

 

1 Drug offenses include cases where individuals were sentenced under USSG Chapter Two, Part D (Drugs). There were 287 individuals sentenced for fentanyl analogue offenses under USSG Chapter Two, Part D (Drugs) in FY 2025.

2 Individuals sentenced for drug trafficking were sentenced under USSG §§2D1.1 (Drug Trafficking), 2D1.2 (Protected Locations), 2D1.5 (Continuing Criminal Enterprise), 2D1.6 (Use of a Communication Facility), 2D1.8 (Rent/Manage Drug Establishment), 2D1.10 (Endangering Human Life), or 2D1.14 (Narco-Terrorism).

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

4 Other fentanyl analogue types were: Benzyl fentanyl (4) and Fluoroacetylfentanyl (4). The following fentanyl analogues were trafficked in two cases: 3-Methylfentanyl, Despropionyl Para-fluorofentanyl, Orthofluorofentanyl, and Valeryl fentanyl. The following fentanyl analogues were trafficked in a single case: 4-Fluoroisobutyrylfentanyl, 4-Fluorophenethyl despropionyl fentanyl, Acrylfentanyl, Butyryl fentanyl, Cyclopropyl fentanyl, Despropionyl meta- Fluorofentanyl, Fentanyl carbamate, Isovaleryl fentanyl, Methoxyacetyl fentanyl, and Norfentanyl. For 27 individuals the type of analogue was unknown.

5 “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.

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

Download the PDF