Fentanyl Analogue Trafficking

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Of the 61,678 cases reported to the Commission in fiscal year 2024, 18,150 involved drugs.1 Of those, 18,029 cases involved drug trafficking;2 1.9% of such cases involved fentanyl analogues, up 185.2% since fiscal year 2020.3

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Individual and Offense Characteristics

 

 

  • 91.0% of individuals sentenced for fentanyl analogue trafficking were men.
     
  • 55.2% were Black, 28.8% were Hispanic, 14.5% were White, and 1.5% were Other races.
     
  • Their average age was 35 years.
     
  • 89.5% were United States citizens.
     
  • 29.4% had little or no prior criminal history (Criminal History Category I); 7.3% 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 (38.4%);
    • a leadership or supervisory role in the offense (7.3%).
       
  • Sentences were decreased for:
    • minor or minimal participation in the offense (9.3%);
    • meeting the safety valve criteria in the sentencing guidelines (20.1%).
       
  • The most common fentanyl analogue types were:
    • Para-fluorofentanyl (125);
    • Fluorofentanyl (76);
    • Acetyl fentanyl (52);
    • Despropionyl fentanyl (42);
    • Carfentanil (11).4

 

 

Punishment

 

  • The average sentence for individuals trafficking fentanyl analogue was 94 months.
     
  • 98.3% were sentenced to prison.
     
  • 50.6% were convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty; 31.0% of those individuals were relieved of that penalty.

 

 

Sentences Relative to the Guideline Range

 

  • 49.4% of sentences for fentanyl analogue trafficking were under the Guidelines Manual.
    • 27.0% were within the guideline range.
       
    • 16.0% were substantial assistance departures.
      • The average sentence reduction was 47.1%.
         
    • 0.9% were Early Disposition Program (EDP) departures.5
      • The average sentence reduction was 45.6%.
         
    • 4.7% were some other downward departure.
      • The average sentence reduction was 47.4%.
         
    • 0.9% were upward departures.
      • The average sentence increase was 21.9%
         
  • 50.6% of sentences for fentanyl analogue trafficking were variances.
    • 48.8% were downward variances.
      • The average sentence reduction was 36.7%.
         
    • 1.7% were upward variances.
      • The average sentence increase was 27.3%.

 



 

 

 

  • The average guideline minimum and the average sentence imposed have increased over the past five years.
    • The average guideline minimum increased from 110 months in fiscal year 2020 to 124 months in fiscal year 2024.
       
    • The average sentence imposed increased from 82 months in fiscal year 2020 to 94 months in fiscal year 2024.

 

 


1 Drug offenses include cases where individuals were sentenced under USSG Chapter Two, Part D (Drugs). There were 348 individuals sentenced for fentanyl analogue offenses under USSG Chapter Two, Part D (Drugs) in FY 2024.

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: Valeryl fentanyl (8), Despropionyl metaFluorofentanyl (3), and Furanyl fentanyl (3). The following fentanyl analogues were trafficked in two cases: Acrylfentanyl, Benzyl fentanyl, and Butyryl fentanyl. The following fentanyl analogues were trafficked in a single case: Cyclopropyl fentanyl, Fluoro-Valerylfentanyl, Lofentanil, Methylfentanyl, Norfentanyl, para-Fluorobutyryl fentanyl, and para-Fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl. For 58 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 2020 through FY 2024 Datafiles, USSCFY20-USSCFY24.