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.