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Where All The Bodies Are Buried

Understanding Trends

Analysis of real court-martial records: charges, verdicts, sentences, counsel experience, and law changes.

18 U.S.C. 514, Fictitious obligations: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025Where All The Bodies Are Buried
Understanding Trends

18 U.S.C. 514, Fictitious obligations: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025

Among 45 federal defendants whose cases ended in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 with 18 U.S.C. 514 as the most serious charge, 10 (22%) went to trial, and 1 of those trials ended in an acquittal (10%). Of the 35 convicted, 34 (97%) received a prison term on that charge. The median term was 33 months (2.8

18 U.S.C. 1031, Major fraud against the United States: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025Where All The Bodies Are Buried
Understanding Trends

18 U.S.C. 1031, Major fraud against the United States: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025

Under 18 U.S.C. 1031, 8 of the 51 defendants (16%) whose cases ended in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 went to trial, and 1 was acquitted (1 of 8). Another 29 (57%) pleaded guilty and 14 (27%) had their cases dismissed. Of the 36 convicted, 23 (64%) received a prison term on that charge, with a median of

18 U.S.C. 1114, Protection of officers and employees of the United States: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025Where All The Bodies Are Buried
Understanding Trends

18 U.S.C. 1114, Protection of officers and employees of the United States: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025

All 41 federal defendants convicted under 18 U.S.C. 1114 in cases that ended in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term on that charge, with a median of 201 months (16.8 years). Of the 53 defendants counted, 31 (58%) pleaded guilty, 10 (19%) had their cases dismissed, and 12 (23%) went to t

29 U.S.C. 439, Violations and penalties: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025Where All The Bodies Are Buried
Understanding Trends

29 U.S.C. 439, Violations and penalties: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025

All 53 federal defendants whose most serious charge at the end of the case was under 29 U.S.C. 439 were charged at the Class A misdemeanor level. In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 50 (94%) pleaded guilty, 2 (4%) had their cases dismissed, and 1 went to a bench trial that did not end in an acquittal. Of

49 U.S.C. 46314, Entering aircraft or airport area in violation of security requirements: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025Where All The Bodies Are Buried
Understanding Trends

49 U.S.C. 46314, Entering aircraft or airport area in violation of security requirements: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025

In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 54 federal defendants had a most serious charge under 49 U.S.C. 46314 when their cases ended. The charge was a felony for 26 (48%) and a Class A misdemeanor for 28 (52%). Of the 50 convicted, 24 (48%) received a prison term on that charge, with a median of 11 months.

18 U.S.C. 553, Importation or exportation of stolen motor vehicles, off-highway mobile equipment, vessels, or aircraft: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025Where All The Bodies Are Buried
Understanding Trends

18 U.S.C. 553, Importation or exportation of stolen motor vehicles, off-highway mobile equipment, vessels, or aircraft: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025

Federal courts closed 62 cases in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 in which 18 U.S.C. 553 was the most serious charge. Most of them ended in the last 2 years: 14 in fiscal year 2024 and 24 in fiscal year 2025. No case went to trial, 53 (85%) ended in a guilty plea, and 48 of the 53 convicted (91%) received

18 U.S.C. 1204, International parental kidnapping: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025Where All The Bodies Are Buried
Understanding Trends

18 U.S.C. 1204, International parental kidnapping: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025

Dismissal was the most common way a federal case under 18 U.S.C. 1204 ended in fiscal years 2016 to 2025: 33 of 69 defendants (48%). Another 31 (45%) pleaded guilty, and 5 went to trial, none ending in an acquittal. Of the 36 convicted, 31 received a prison term on this charge, with a median of 19 m

18 U.S.C. 1348, Securities and commodities fraud: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025Where All The Bodies Are Buried
Understanding Trends

18 U.S.C. 1348, Securities and commodities fraud: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025

Only 70 federal defendants had cases end under 18 U.S.C. 1348 in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 15 of them (21%) went to trial. Of those 15 trials, 5 ended in an acquittal (33%). Most defendants were convicted: 49 of 70 (70%), and 45 of the 49 (92%) received a prison term on this charge, with a medi

18 U.S.C. 894, Collection of extensions of credit by extortionate means: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025Where All The Bodies Are Buried
Understanding Trends

18 U.S.C. 894, Collection of extensions of credit by extortionate means: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025

Federal trials under 18 U.S.C. 894 were few in fiscal years 2016 to 2025: 7 of the 70 defendants (10%) went to trial, and 4 of those 7 ended in an acquittal. Most defendants pleaded guilty: 59 (84%). Of the 62 convicted, 52 (84%) received a prison term on that charge, with a median of 30 months (2.5

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