Transcript lawprofessors.typepad.com

White Collar and Fraud
Sentencing Trends
U.S. Sentencing Commission,
Washington, DC
Number of White Collar Offenders
FY00-FY08
14,000 Number
12,000
10,000
8,326
8,309
2000
2001
8,712
8,952
2002
2003
8,647
8,268
8,403
2005
2006
9,158
8,859
2007
2008
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
2004
Guideline Sentences for White Collar Offenders
FY00–FY08
Percent
100.0
90.0
80.0
Within-Range
70.0
60.0
50.0
40.0
30.0
Gov’t Spons. Below Range
20.0
10.0
Below Range
Above Range
0.0
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
SOURCE: U.S. Sentencing Commission 2000-2007 Datafiles, USSCFY00-USSCFY08. Of the 77,634 white collar offenses, 7,113 have been excluded due to missing information on the sentence relative to
the guideline range. Prior to FY2003 the Government Sponsored category included §5K1.1 departures only. After FY2003, this category includes §5K1.1 departures, §5K3.1 departures, and any other below
range sentences originating from a government motion or agreement. White collar offenses are categorized based on offense of conviction and include fraud, embezzlement, tax, environmental offenses,
antitrust, and food and drug offenses. For a complete description of classifications, see the 2008 Sourcebook of Federal Sentencing Statistics, Appendix A.
Percentage of Fraud Defendants
Receiving Prison FY00-FY08
70%
60%
64%
61%
60%
68%
55%
50%
33%
40%
33%
31%
Prison
Only
28%
25%
30%
20%
10%
12%
8%
8%
7%
7%
2000
2003
2006
2007
2008
0%
SOURCE: US Sentencing Commission, 2000, 2003, 2006-2008 Datafiles, USSCFY00-USSCFY08.
Split
Sentence
Probation
Fraud Sentences Have
Steadily Increased
Source:2000,2003,2006, 2007, & 2008 Sourcebook of Federal Sentencing Statistics, U.S. Sentencing Commission
Median Loss Amounts for White Collar
Crime Offenders FY00–FY08
$50,000 Average Loss Amount
$46,192
$40,499
$40,000
$41,842
$38,485
$37,335
$39,105
$40,005
$41,320
$36,142
$30,000
$20,000
$10,000
$0
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
§2B1.1 Loss Specific Offense
Characteristic Frequencies for FY08
25%
20%
15%
10%
SOURCE: US Sentencing Commission 2008 Datafile,USSCFY08.
>$400MM
>$200MM
>$100MM
>$50MM
>$20MM
>$7MM
>$2.5MM
>$1MM
>$400K
>$200K
>$120K
>$70K
>$30K
>$10K
>$5K
0%
$5K<
5%
%
Web Site
www.ussc.gov
HelpLine
202-502-4545