Sentencing Commissions Guidelines Manual 2021

The United States Sentencing Commission is an independent agency in the judicial branch composed of seven voting and two non-voting, ex officio members. Its principal purpose is to establish sentencing policies and practicem ths for the federal criminal justice system at will assure the ends of justice by promulgating detailed guidelines prescribing the appropriate sentences for offenders convicted of federal crimes.

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION, AUTHORITY, AND GENERAL APPLICATION PRINCIPLES ...........................1

Part A ― Introduction and Authority..................................................................................1

1. Original Introduction to the Guidelines Manual ..................................................1

2. Continuing Evolution and Role of the Guidelines...............................................13

3. Authority.......................................................................................................................16

Part B ― General Application Principles .........................................................................17

CHAPTER TWO OFFENSE CONDUCT.................................................................................................................................. 50

Part A ― Offenses Against the Person..............................................................................50

1. Homicide .......................................................................................................................50

2. Assault...........................................................................................................................53

3. Criminal Sexual Abuse and Offenses Related to Registration as a Sex Offender ........................................................................................................59

4. Kidnapping, Abduction, or Unlawful Restraint...................................................72

5. Air Piracy and Offenses Against Mass Transportation Systems.....................75

6. Threatening or Harassing Communications, Hoaxes, Stalking, and Domestic Violence...............................................................................................77 Part B ― Basic Economic Offenses.....................................................................................82

1. Theft, Embezzlement, Receipt of Stolen Property, Property Destruction, and Offenses Involving Fraud or Deceit .......................................82

2. Burglary and Trespass ............................................................................................111

3. Robbery, Extortion, and Blackmail ......................................................................115

4. Commercial Bribery and Kickbacks .....................................................................121

5. Counterfeiting and Infringement of Copyright or Trademark.......................124

6. Motor Vehicle Identification Numbers ..........................................................130

Part C ― Offenses Involving Public Officials and Violations of Federal Election Campaign Laws ............................................................................131

Part D ― Offenses Involving Drugs and Narco-Terrorism .........................................142

1. Unlawful Manufacturing, Importing, Exporting, Trafficking, or Possession; Continuing Criminal Enterprise.....................................................142

2. Unlawful Possession................................................................................................. 189

3. Regulatory Violations ..............................................................................................191

Part E ― Offenses Involving Criminal Enterprises and Racketeering ...................193

1. Racketeering ..............................................................................................................193

2. Extortionate Extension of Credit..........................................................................196

3. Gambling.....................................................................................................................197

4. Trafficking in Contraband Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco .....................199

5. Labor Racketeering ..................................................................................................199

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Guidelines Manual (November 1, 2021) Part F ― [Deleted]................................................................................................................203

Part G ― Offenses Involving Commercial Sex Acts, Sexual Exploitation of Minors, and Obscenity ...................................................................204

1. Promoting a Commercial Sex Act or Prohibited Sexual Conduct........................204

2. Sexual Exploitation of a Minor..............................................................................211

3. Obscenity ....................................................................................................................221

Part H ― Offenses Involving Individual Rights............................................................225

1. Civil Rights ...............................................................................................................225

2. Political Rights ..........................................................................................................227

3. Privacy and Eavesdropping ....................................................................................228

4. Peonage, Involuntary Servitude, Slave Trade, and Child Soldiers ............................23

1 Part I ― [Not Used]..............................................................................................................233

Part J ― Offenses Involving the Administration Of Justice......................................234

Part K ― Offenses Involving Public Safety....................................................................243

1. Explosives and Arson ...............................................................................................243

2. Firearms ......................................................................................................................250

3. Mailing Injurious Articles ......................................................................................263

Part L ― Offenses Involving Immigration, Naturalization, and Passports .......................................................................................................................265

1. Immigration................................................................................................................265

2. Naturalization and Passports ................................................................................273

Part M ― Offenses Involving National Defense and Weapons of Mass Destruction....................................................................................................................278

1. Treason ........................................................................................................................278

2. Sabotage ......................................................................................................................278

3. Espionage and Related Offenses ...........................................................................279

4. Evasion of Military Service ....................................................................................284

5. Prohibited Financial Transactions and Exports, and Providing Material Support to Designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations .....................285

6. Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Weapons and Materials, and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction....................................................................288

Part N ― Offenses Involving Food, Drugs, Agricultural Products, Consumer Products, and Odometer Laws ..............................................................292

1. Tampering with Consumer Products....................................................................292

2. Food, Drugs, Agricultural Products, and Consumer Products...........................294

3. Odometer Laws and Regulations...........................................................................295

Part O ― [Not Used] ............................................................................................................296

Part P ― Offenses Involving Prisons and Correctional Facilities ............................297

Part Q ― Offenses Involving the Environment.............................................................301

1. Environment...............................................................................................................301

2. Conservation and Wildlife ......................................................................................308

Part R ― Antitrust Offenses ..............................................................................................311

Part S ― Money Laundering and Monetary Transaction Reporting ........................315

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║ v Part T ― Offenses Involving Taxation ............................................................................321

1. Income Taxes, Employment Taxes, Estate Taxes, Gift Taxes, and Excise Taxes (Other Than Alcohol, Tobacco, and Customs Taxes) ..........................................................................................................................321

2. Alcohol and Tobacco Taxes .....................................................................................330

3. Customs Taxes ...........................................................................................................331

4. Tax Table ....................................................................................................................333

Part U ― [Not Used] ............................................................................................................334

Part V ― [Not Used] ............................................................................................................334

Part W ― [Not Used] ...........................................................................................................334

Part X ― Other Offenses.....................................................................................................335

1. Conspiracies, Attempts, Solicitations ..................................................................335

2. Aiding and Abetting ................................................................................................. 338

3. Accessory After the Fact .........................................................................................338

4. Misprision of Felony................................................................................................. 339

5. All Other Felony Offenses and Class A Misdemeanors ................................... 340

6. Offenses Involving Use of a Minor in a Crime of Violence .............................342

7. Offenses Involving Border Tunnels and Submersible and Semi-Submersible Vessels ......................................................................................343

Part Y ― [Not Used] ............................................................................................................344

Part Z ― [Not Used].............................................................................................................344

CHAPTER THREE ADJUSTMENTS .......................................................................................................................... 345

Part A ― Victim-Related Adjustments ............................................................................345

Part B ― Role in the Offense .............................................................................................351

Part C ― Obstruction and Related Adjustments ..........................................................359

Part D ― Multiple Counts ..................................................................................................364

Part E ― Acceptance of Responsibility............................................................................376

CHAPTER FOUR CRIMINAL HISTORY AND CRIMINAL LIVELIHOOD............................................................. 379

Part A ― Criminal History...................................................................................................379

Part B ― Career Offenders and Criminal Livelihood ...................................................395

CHAPTER FIVE DETERMINING THE SENTENCE ............................................................................................... 406

Part A ― Sentencing Table ................................................................................................406

Part B ― Probation ..............................................................................................................409

Part C ― Imprisonment ......................................................................................................418

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Part D ― Supervised Release ............................................................................................424

Part E ― Restitution, Fines, Assessments, Forfeitures ..............................................435

Part F ― Sentencing Options ............................................................................................443

Part G ― Implementing the Total Sentence of Imprisonment ..................................449

Part H ― Specific Offender Characteristics...................................................................458

Part I ― [Not Used]..............................................................................................................465

Part J ― Relief From Disability........................................................................................466

Part K ― Departures ...........................................................................................................467

1. Substantial Assistance to Authorities ................................................................. 467

2. Other Grounds for Departure ................................................................................468

3. Early Disposition Programs ...................................................................................486

CHAPTER SIX SENTENCING PROCEDURES, PLEA AGREEMENTS, AND CRIME VICTIMS’ RIGHTS ..... 487

Part A ― Sentencing Procedures ......................................................................................487

Part B ― Plea Agreements ................................................................................................. 491

CHAPTER SEVEN VIOLATIONS OF PROBATION AND SUPERVISED RELEASE............................................... 496

Part A ― Introduction to Chapter Seven........................................................................496

Part B ― Probation and Supervised Release Violations .............................................501

CHAPTER EIGHT SENTENCING OF ORGANIZATIONS ..................................................................................... 509

Part A ― General Application Principles .......................................................................510

Part B ― Remedying Harm from Criminal Conduct, and Effective Compliance and Ethics Program..............................................................................514

1. Remedying Harm from Criminal Conduct ..........................................................514

2. Effective Compliance and Ethics Program .........................................................517

Part C ― Fines ......................................................................................................................523

1. Determining the Fine ― Criminal Purpose Organizations .............................523

2. Determining the Fine ― Other Organizations ...................................................523

3. Implementing the Sentence of a Fine ..................................................................540

4. Departures from the Guideline Fine Range .......................................................542

Part D ― Organizational Probation .................................................................................547

Part E ― Special Assessments, Forfeitures, and Costs...............................................551

Part F ― Violations of Probation ― Organizations ......................................................553

Individuals engaged in the process of establishing sentencing of crimes to include judges at all levels of juridiction, and attorneys representing those who may be sentenced due to the enactment of crime.