Powder Cocaine 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 19.5% of such cases involved powder cocaine (up 30.0% since fiscal year 2020).3

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Individual and Offense Characteristics

 

 

  • 91.4% of individuals sentenced for powder cocaine trafficking were men.
     
  • 72.3% were Hispanic, 21.0% were Black, 5.6% were White, and 1.1% were Other races. 
     
  • Their average age was 39 years.
     
  • 62.2% were United States citizens.
     
  • 68.1% had little or no prior criminal history (Criminal History Category I); 2.8% 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 (21.2%);
    • a leadership or supervisory role in the offense (9.1%).
       
  • Sentences were decreased for:
    • minor or minimal participation in the offense (18.2%);
    • meeting the safety valve criteria in the sentencing guidelines (47.5%).
       
  • The top five districts for powder cocaine trafficking offenses were:
    • District of Puerto Rico (563);
    • Southern District of Texas (364);
    • Western District of Texas (171);
    • Southern District of California (170);
    • Middle District of Florida (170). 

 

 

Punishment

 

  • The average sentence for individuals trafficking powder cocaine was 64 months.
     
  • 96.5% were sentenced to prison.
     
  • 65.1% were convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty; 63.0% of those individuals were relieved of that penalty.

 

 

 

Sentences Relative to the Guideline Range

  • 61.8% of sentences for powder cocaine trafficking were under the Guidelines Manual.
    • 35.8% were within the guideline range.
       
    • 18.4% were substantial assistance departures.
      • The average sentence reduction was 52.9%.
         
    • 3.4% were Early Disposition Program (EDP) departures.4
      • The average sentence reduction was 61.3%.
         
    • 4.0% were some other downward departure.
      • The average sentence reduction was 40.2%.
         
    • 0.2% were upward departures.
      • The average sentence increase was 43.7%.
         
  • 38.2% of sentences for powder cocaine trafficking were variances.
    • 36.4% were downward variances.
      • The average sentence reduction was 35.6%.
         
    • 1.8% were upward variances.
      • The average sentence increase was 39.8%.

 

 

 

  • The average guideline minimum has fluctuated while the average sentence imposed remained steady over the past five years.
    • The average guideline minimum was 88 months in fiscal year 2020 and 85 months in fiscal year 2024.
       
    • The average sentence imposed was 66 months in fiscal year 2020 and 64 months in fiscal year 2024. 

 

 

 

1 Drug offenses include cases where individuals were sentenced under USSG Chapter Two, Part D (Drugs). There were 3,524 individuals sentenced for powder cocaine offenses sentenced 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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