Methamphetamine 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 45.8% of such cases involved methamphetamine (up 10.0% since fiscal year 2020).3

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Individual and Offense Characteristics

 

 

  • 80.9% of individuals sentenced for methamphetamine trafficking were men.
     
  • 38.4% were Hispanic, 34.4% were White, 22.6% were Black, and 4.6% were Other races.
     
  • Their average age was 39 years.
     
  • 84.8% were United States citizens.
     
  • 36.7% had little or no prior criminal history (Criminal History Category I); 6.8% were sentenced under the career offender guideline (§4B1.1).
     
  • The median base offense level in these cases was 34, corresponding to between 5 and 15 kilograms of methamphetamine mixture or 500 grams and 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine actual/“Ice.”
     
  • Sentences were increased for:
    • possessing a weapon (32.4%);
    • a leadership or supervisory role in the offense (5.9%).
       
  • Sentences were decreased for:
    • minor or minimal participation in the offense (19.2%);
    • meeting the safety valve criteria in the sentencing guidelines (32.8%).
       
  • The top five districts for methamphetamine trafficking offenses were:
    • Southern District of California (679);
    • Western District of Texas (350);
    • Northern District of Texas (342);
    • Southern District of Texas (298);
    • Eastern District of Texas (255).

 

 

Punishment

 

  • The average sentence for individuals trafficking methamphetamine was 100 months.
     
  • 97.6% were sentenced to prison.
     
  • 61.2% were convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty; 45.3% of those individuals were relieved of that penalty.

 

 

  

 

Sentences Relative to the Guideline Range

 

  • 59.2% of sentences for methamphetamine trafficking were under the Guidelines Manual.
    • 25.8% were within the guideline range.
       
    • 22.2% were substantial assistance departures.
      • The average sentence reduction was 48.7%.
         
    • 6.5% were Early Disposition Program (EDP) departures.4
      • The average sentence reduction was 64.2%.
         
    • 4.5% were some other downward departure.
      • The average sentence reduction was 47.2%.
         
    • 0.1% were upward departures.
      • The average sentence increase was 132.1%.
         
  • 40.8% of sentences for methamphetamine trafficking were variances.
    • 40.2% received a downward variance.
      • The average sentence reduction was 35.2%.
         
    • 0.6% were upward variances.
      • The average sentence increase was 22.1%.

 

 

 

 

  • The average guideline minimum and the average sentence imposed have fluctuated over the past five years.
    • The average guideline minimum was 132 months in fiscal year 2020 and 140 months in fiscal year 2024.
       
    • The average sentence imposed was 95 months in fiscal year 2020 and 100 months in fiscal year 2024.

 

 

 

1 Drug offenses include cases where individuals were sentenced under USSG Chapter Two, Part D (Drugs). There were 8,288 individuals sentenced for methamphetamine 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 “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.

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