Money Laundering

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Of the 64,124 cases reported to the Commission in fiscal year 2023, 1,132 involved money laundering (up 14.3% since FY 2019). [1], [2]

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

Individual and Offense Characteristics

 

 

  • 76.8% of individuals sentenced for money laundering offenses were men.
     
  • 37.1% were Hispanic, 28.9% were White, 26.3% were Black, and 7.7% were Other races.
     
  • Their average age was 42 years. 
     
  • 70.9% were United States citizens.
     
  • 69.7% had little or no prior criminal history (Criminal History Category I).
     
  • The median loss for these offenses was $566,530;[3] 
    • 15.8% involved loss amounts of $6,500 or less;
    • 26.3% involved loss amounts greater than $1.5 million.
       
  • Sentences were increased for: 
    • knowing the laundered funds were proceeds of an offense involving a controlled substance, violence, weapons, national security, or the sexual exploitation of a minor (19.3%);
    • conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 1957 (engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity) (11.4%);
    • a conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 1956 (laundering of monetary instruments) (79.7%);
    • the defendant was in the business of money laundering with no underlying conduct (5.6%);
    • sophisticated laundering (9.8%);
    • a leadership or supervisory role in the offense (17.5%);
    • abusing a public position of trust or using a special skill (2.6%);
    • obstructing or impeding the administration of justice (4.4%).
       
  • Sentences were decreased for: 
    • minor or minimal participation in the offense (10.8%).
       
  • The top five districts for individuals sentenced for money laundering offenses were:
    • Southern District of New York (69);
    • Western District of Missouri (68);
    • Southern District of Florida (52); 
    • Northern District of Georgia (49);
    • Southern District of California (44).

 

Punishment

  • The average sentence for individuals sentenced for money laundering offenses was 71 months. 
     
  • 90.6% were sentenced to prison. 
     
  • 27.6% were convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty; of those individuals, 53.2% were relieved of that penalty.

 

Sentences Relative to the Guideline Range 

  • Of the 57.2% of all individuals sentenced for money laundering under the Guidelines Manual:
    • 36.8% were sentenced within the guideline range.
       
    • 50.7% received a substantial assistance departure.
      • Their average sentence reduction was 62.1%.
         
    • 2.8% received an Early Disposition Program (EDP) Departure.[4]
      • Their average sentence reduction was 79.2%.
         
    • 9.7% received some other downward departure.
      • Their average sentence reduction was 56.0%.
         
  • 42.8% received a variance; of those individuals: 
    • 97.3% received a downward variance.
      • Their average sentence reduction was 45.9%.
         
    • 2.7% received an upward variance.
      • Their average sentence increase was 34.1%.

 

 

 

 

  • The average guideline minimum increased and average sentence imposed remained steady over the past five years.
    • The average guideline minimum increased from 111 months in fiscal year 2019 to 119 months in fiscal year 2023.
       
    • The average sentence imposed slightly increased from 70 months in fiscal year 2019 to  71 months in fiscal year 2023.

[1] Money Laundering offenses include cases in which the individual was sentenced under §2S1.1 (Laundering of Monetary Instruments; Engaging in Monetary Transactions in Property Derived from Unlawful Activity).

[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.

SOURCE: United States Sentencing Commission, FY 2019 through FY 2023 Datafiles, USSCFY19-USSCFY23.