Methamphetamine Trafficking

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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 47% of such cases involved methamphetamine (down 11% since fiscal year 2021).3

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Individual and Offense Characteristics

 

 

  • 82% of individuals sentenced for methamphetamine trafficking were men.
     
  • 36% were Hispanic, 34% were White, 26% were Black, and 4% were Other races.
     
  • Their average age was 39 years.
     
  • 85% were United States citizens.
     
  • 36% had little or no prior criminal history (Criminal History Category I); 7% were sentenced under the career offender guideline (§4B1.1).
     
  • The median base offense level in these cases was 34, corresponding to between five and 15 kilograms of methamphetamine mixture or 500 grams and 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine actual/“Ice.”
     
  • Sentences were increased for:
    • possessing a weapon (33%);
    • a leadership or supervisory role in the offense (7%).
       
  • Sentences were decreased for:
    • minor or minimal participation in the offense (17%);
    • meeting the safety valve criteria in the sentencing guidelines (28%).
       
  • The top five districts for methamphetamine trafficking offenses were:
    • Southern District of California (536);
    • Western District of Texas (359);
    • Northern District of Texas (325);
    • Eastern District of Texas (258);
    • District of Arizona (217).

 

 

Punishment

 

  • The average sentence for individuals trafficking methamphetamine was 105 months.
     
  • 98% were sentenced to prison.
     
  • 62% were convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty; 41% of those individuals were relieved of that penalty.

 

 

  

 

Sentences Relative to the Guideline Range

 

  • 57% of sentences for methamphetamine trafficking were under the Guidelines Manual.
    • 26% were within the guideline range.
       
    • 22% were substantial assistance departures.
      • The average sentence reduction was 48%.
         
    • 6% were Early Disposition Program (EDP) departures.4
      • The average sentence reduction was 65%.
         
    • 4% were some other downward departure.
      • The average sentence reduction was 46%.
         
    • Less than 1% were upward departures.
      • The average sentence increase was 28%.
         
  • 43% of sentences for methamphetamine trafficking were variances.
    • 42% received a downward variance.
      • The average sentence reduction was 35%.
         
    • 1% were upward variances.
      • The average sentence increase was 41%.

 

 

 

 

  • The average guideline minimum and the average sentence imposed have increased over the past five years.
    • The average guideline minimum increased from 131 months in fiscal year 2021 to 147 months in fiscal year 2025.
       
    • The average sentence imposed increased from 90 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 7,573 individuals sentenced for methamphetamine 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 “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.

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