Powder Cocaine 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 19% of such cases involved powder cocaine (up 4% since fiscal year 2021).3

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Individual and Offense Characteristics

 

 

  • 91% of individuals sentenced for powder cocaine trafficking were men.
     
  • 70% were Hispanic, 23% were Black, 6% were White, and 1% were Other races. 
     
  • Their average age was 39 years.
     
  • 65% were United States citizens.
     
  • 66% had little or no prior criminal history (Criminal History Category I); 4% were sentenced under the career offender guideline (§4B1.1).
     
  • The median base offense level in these cases was 30, corresponding to between 5 and 15 kilograms of powder cocaine.
     
  • Sentences were increased for:
    • possessing a weapon (24%);
    • a leadership or supervisory role in the offense (9%).
       
  • Sentences were decreased for:
    • minor or minimal participation in the offense (16%);
    • meeting the safety valve criteria in the sentencing guidelines (43%).
       
  • The top five districts for powder cocaine trafficking offenses were:
    • District of Puerto Rico (417);
    • Southern District of Texas (305);
    • Middle District of Florida (226);
    • Southern District of Florida (190);
    • Western District of Texas (180).

 

 

Punishment

 

  • The average sentence for individuals trafficking powder cocaine was 68 months.
     
  • 97% were sentenced to prison.
     
  • 63% were convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty; 57% of those individuals were relieved of that penalty.

 

 

 

Sentences Relative to the Guideline Range

  • 59% of sentences for powder cocaine trafficking were under the Guidelines Manual.
    • 37% were within the guideline range.
       
    • 16% were substantial assistance departures.
      • The average sentence reduction was 52%.
         
    • 3% were Early Disposition Program (EDP) departures.4
      • The average sentence reduction was 59%.
         
    • 3% were some other downward departure.
      • The average sentence reduction was 38%.
         
    • Less than 1% were upward departures.
      • The average sentence increase was 88%.
         
  • 41% of sentences for powder cocaine trafficking were variances.
    • 39% were downward variances.
      • The average sentence reduction was 36%.
         
    • 2% were upward variances.
      • The average sentence increase was 54%.

 

 

  • The average guideline minimum has fluctuated while the average sentence imposed remained steady over the past five years.
    • The average guideline minimum was 89 months in fiscal year 2021 and 88 months in fiscal year 2025.
       
    • The average sentence imposed was 68 months in fiscal year 2021 and in fiscal year 2025. 

 

 

 

1 Drug offenses include cases where individuals were sentenced under USSG Chapter Two, Part D (Drugs). There were 3,058 individuals sentenced for powder cocaine offenses sentenced 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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