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# Drug Distribution: Courts-Martial at Nellis AFB vs. Federal Court in the District of Nevada
- URL: https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal-drug-distribution-nellis-afb-vs-district-of-nevada/
- Published: 2026-11-03T06:10:52.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-03T06:10:52.000Z
- Description: Air Force courts-martial at Nellis AFB recorded 16 drug distribution convictions with trial dates from 2017 to 2021, and 5 of the 10 with a plea recorded (50%) were guilty pleas. The median adjudged confinement was 7.9 months. In the District of Nevada, 833 people were sentenced in federal court for
- Author: Jocelyn C. Stewart
- Tags: Understanding Trends, Federal

[Trends](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/) › [Federal Prosecution Analysis](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal/) › [Drug Distribution and Importation](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal-drug-distribution-importation-vs-article-112a/) › Drug Distribution: Nellis AFB

**In brief:** Air Force courts-martial at Nellis AFB recorded 16 drug distribution convictions with trial dates from 2017 to 2021, and 5 of the 10 with a plea recorded (50%) were guilty pleas. The median adjudged confinement was 7.9 months. In the District of Nevada, 833 people were sentenced in federal court for drug trafficking without an import statute in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 99% pleaded guilty, and the median prison term was 60 months (5 years).

Updated November 3, 2026 · Sources: U.S. Sentencing Commission and Federal Judicial Center, fiscal years 2016–2025 · Military Trial Results

This post uses the U.S. Sentencing Commission's records of 833 people sentenced in federal court in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, compared with court-martial results from this site's Military Trial Results data (updated November 2, 2026). Acquittals and dismissals come from a second source, the Federal Judicial Center's records of 753,808 federal defendants whose cases ended in fiscal years 2016 to 2025\. It is part of the [Federal Prosecution Analysis](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal/) series, which builds on [Military Moves Toward Sentencing Guidelines to Mirror the Federal System](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/military-sentencing-guidelines-federal-system/). How the numbers were built: [How the Federal Comparison Data Was Built](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal-data-methodology/).

## Guilty Pleas Were Less Common at Nellis

Only 10 of the 16 Nellis convictions have a plea recorded. Of those 10, 5 (50%) were guilty pleas. The other cases with a plea recorded were contested, meaning the accused pleaded not guilty to at least part of the charges.

Federal court in Nevada recorded guilty pleas more often: 822 of 833 (99%). Only 11 people were convicted after a trial. Among the federal guilty pleas, 95% had a written plea agreement and 5% were straight pleas with no agreement.

After a guilty plea at Nellis, the median confinement was 6.2 months (5 cases with confinement). In contested cases ending in conviction, it was 11.8 months (2 cases with confinement). These are very small counts.

## The Base and the District Are Counted Differently

Nellis AFB, Nevada is in the federal District of Nevada. The 833 federal sentences are cases from the whole district, not from the base, and most did not involve service members. The records do not show that any Nellis case would have been tried in the district court.

For the court-martial side, the records list the trial location as "Nellis AFB, Nevada". The offense is Article 112a wrongful distribution. The federal cases were sentenced under primary guideline §2D1.1 without an import statute, mostly 21 U.S.C. 841 and 846.

## Confinement Compared With Prison

At Nellis, 13 of the 16 convictions with a sentence recorded (81%) included confinement. A quarter received 11.8 months or more. The Nellis median of 7.9 months was higher than the 4.9-month median for all 408 court-martial convictions for this offense in the data.

In the district, 775 of 833 (93%) received a prison term and 34 (4%) received probation only. A quarter of those sent to prison received 92.5 months or more, and a quarter received 33 months or less. The median after a guilty plea was 60 months, and after a trial it was 104 months. Across all federal districts, the median prison term was 65 months for 160,460 people.

|                                    | Courts-martial at Nellis AFB       | Federal court, District of Nevada     |
| ---------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- | ------------------------------------- |
| Convictions or people sentenced    | 16                                 | 833                                   |
| Sentenced to confinement or prison | 81%                                | 93%                                   |
| Median confinement or prison       | 7.9 months                         | 60 months                             |
| A quarter received this or more    | 11.8 months                        | 92.5 months                           |
| Pleaded guilty                     | 5 of 10 with a plea recorded (50%) | 99%                                   |
| Mandatory minimum applied          | See the caveats                    | 534 of 833 with the information (64%) |

## Discharges and Earlier Versus Later Trials

Of 15 enlisted members convicted, 11 (73%) received a punitive discharge: 2 dishonorable discharges and 9 bad-conduct discharges. The 1 officer convicted was dismissed. A general court-martial heard 7 of the 16 convictions (44%).

Trials in 2016 to 2019 had a median confinement of 8.9 months (8 cases with confinement). Trials in 2020 to 2025 had a median of 6.2 months (5 cases). Both groups are small, and the records cannot show why the medians differ.

## How Nevada Federal Sentences Related to the Guidelines

Of 832 sentences with the information, 52% (430) were below the guideline range at the government's request. Another 25% (204) were below the range without a government request. Sentences within the range made up 23% (194), and less than 1% (4) were above it.

A mandatory minimum prison term applied to 534 people (64%). Supervised release followed prison for 774 (93%), with a median term of 48 months, and 2 received it for life. Fines were ordered for 20 (2%) and restitution for 2 (less than 1%).

## Gaps in the Comparison

Court-martial sentences are as adjudged, before clemency or appeal, and federal terms are those imposed, not time served. The military numbers run by calendar year of trial; federal fiscal years start October 1.

Federal records show 48% of the district's defendants in criminal history category I and 11% in category VI. Court-martial records carry no such field. Neither record explains how the facts of individual cases shaped their sentences.

### How We Counted

Courts-martial with trial dates in 2016 to 2025 whose recorded trial location is Nellis AFB, Nevada, ending in a conviction for drug distribution (Article 112a wrongful distribution; federal drug trafficking without an import statute) (16). Federal: people sentenced in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 in the District of Nevada (U.S. Sentencing Commission district label "Nevada") under primary guideline §2D1.1 without an import statute (mostly 21 U.S.C. 841 and 846) (833). The installation is matched to the federal district for the county where it sits.

Federal fiscal years run from October 1 to September 30\. No person, judge, or lawyer is identified in any of these records.

### What to Keep in Mind

**Who is in each set of numbers.** The federal sentencing numbers come from the U.S. Sentencing Commission. They count only people who were convicted and sentenced in federal district court. People whose cases were dismissed or who were acquitted are not in them. The military numbers come from court-martial results, which include acquittals. To compare acquittal or dismissal rates, the federal side uses a different source: the Federal Judicial Center's case data, which counts every defendant whose case ended.

**Different cases reach each system.** Federal prosecutors bring a narrow set of cases. In fiscal year 2024, immigration and drug trafficking cases were 59% of everyone sentenced in federal court (36,664 of 61,678). Many crimes that the military prosecutes, such as most assaults, most sexual assaults between adults, and drug use, are usually state crimes for civilians and reach federal court only in special situations, such as on federal land or in Indian Country. A federal case and a court-martial for the same crime can involve different kinds of facts.

**No parole in federal prison; credit for good conduct.** Federal prison has no parole for crimes committed on or after November 1, 1987\. A federal prisoner can earn up to 54 days of good conduct credit for each year of the sentence the judge imposed, which is about 15%. Some federal prisoners can also earn First Step Act time credits, but many offenses make a person ineligible. The numbers in this post are the sentences judges imposed, not the time people actually served.

**Military confinement credit and parole.** For military sentences adjudged after 2004, good conduct time is 5 days for each month of confinement, about 16%. Military prisoners can also earn up to 8 more days a month for work and programs and up to 2 days a month for special acts, with a limit of 15 days a month in total. Military prisoners can be considered for parole by their service's clemency and parole board. The military numbers in this post are the confinement adjudged at trial, not the time served.

**Military sentences include punishments federal sentences do not.** A court-martial sentence can include a punitive discharge (bad-conduct discharge, dishonorable discharge, or dismissal for officers), reduction in rank, and forfeiture of pay. These have no federal counterpart. A comparison of months of confinement leaves them out. A short confinement term combined with a dishonorable discharge is a heavier sentence than the months alone show.

**Time periods.** Federal numbers are by federal fiscal year (October 1 to September 30), based on the sentencing date. The military numbers are by trial date. Neither source has the date of the offense, so a change in law shows up in either data set gradually.

**Offense categories do not line up exactly.** Each comparison uses a federal offense group chosen to match the military article as closely as possible (see the crosswalk). Some matches are close; others are partial. The post says which federal guideline or statute was used and why it is not an exact match.

**Mandatory minimum sentences.** Many federal statutes on drugs, images of child exploitation, child sex abuse, and firearms carry mandatory minimum prison terms. The UCMJ has mandatory minimums only for a few offenses (a dishonorable discharge or dismissal for rape and sexual assault, and life for premeditated murder). Federal sentences for these offenses are partly set by Congress, not by the judge.

## Related Analysis

- [Military Moves Toward Sentencing Guidelines to Mirror the Federal System](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/military-sentencing-guidelines-federal-system/) (the background article)
- [Federal Prosecution Analysis](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal/) (all federal posts)
- [How the Federal Comparison Data Was Built](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal-data-methodology/) (sources and method)
- [Drug Distribution and Importation: Federal vs. Court-Martial Sentences, 2016–2025](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal-drug-distribution-importation-vs-article-112a/) (overview)
- [Federal Sentences in the District of Nevada, FY2016–2025](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal-district-district-of-nevada/) (the federal district)
- [Drug Possession: Courts-Martial at Nellis AFB vs. Federal Court in the District of Nevada](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal-drug-possession-nellis-afb-vs-district-of-nevada/) (same installation)
- [Drug Use: Courts-Martial at Nellis AFB vs. Federal Court in the District of Nevada](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal-drug-use-nellis-afb-vs-district-of-nevada/) (same installation)
- [Drug Distribution: Courts-Martial at Camp Lejeune vs. Federal Court in the Eastern District of North Carolina](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal-drug-distribution-camp-lejeune-vs-eastern-district-of-north-carolina/) (other installations)
- [Drug Distribution: Courts-Martial at Camp Pendleton vs. Federal Court in the Southern District of California](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal-drug-distribution-camp-pendleton-vs-southern-district-of-california/) (other installations)
- [Drug Distribution: Courts-Martial at Fort Bliss vs. Federal Court in the Western District of Texas](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal-drug-distribution-fort-bliss-vs-western-district-of-texas/) (other installations)
- [Drug Distribution: Federal Sentences vs. Air Force Courts-Martial, 2016–2025](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal-drug-distribution-vs-air-force/)
- [Drug Distribution: Federal Sentences vs. Army Courts-Martial](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal-drug-distribution-vs-army/)
- [Drug Distribution: Federal Sentences vs. Marine Corps Courts-Martial](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal-drug-distribution-vs-marine-corps/)
- [Army Article 112a Cases by the Numbers, 2021–2025](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/army-article-112a-trend-2021-2025/) (court-martial data)
- [What Sentence Follows an Army Drug Conviction?](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/army-article-112a-sent-2021-2025/) (court-martial data)
- [How Often Are Contested Army Article 112a Cases Acquitted?](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/army-article-112a-acq-2021-2025/) (court-martial data)
- [Guilty Pleas in Army Drug Cases: How Often, and What Came Next](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/army-article-112a-plea-2021-2025/) (court-martial data)
- [Are Air Force Drug Courts-Martial Disappearing? Article 112a, 2016–2025](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/air-force-article-112a-trend-2016-2025/) (court-martial data)
- [How Much Confinement for an Article 112a Conviction in the Air Force?](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/air-force-article-112a-sent-2016-2025/) (court-martial data)
- [Pleading Guilty to Article 112a in the Air Force: What Sentences Followed?](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/air-force-article-112a-plea-2016-2025/) (court-martial data)
- [Is Navy-Marine Corps Drug Prosecution Rising or Falling? Article 112a, 2017–2025](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/navy-marine-corps-article-112a-trend-2017-2025/) (court-martial data)
- [How Much Confinement for an Article 112a Conviction in the Navy-Marine Corps?](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/navy-marine-corps-article-112a-sent-2017-2025/) (court-martial data)
- [Fighting a Navy-Marine Corps Drug Charge: How Contested Cases Ended](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/navy-marine-corps-article-112a-acq-2017-2025/) (court-martial data)
- [When Navy-Marine Corps Accused Plead Guilty to Drug](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/navy-marine-corps-article-112a-plea-2017-2025/) (court-martial data)
- [Article 112a (Wrongful Use, Possession of Controlled Substances): Court-Martial Data and Trends](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/article-112a-courts-martial/) (court-martial data)
- [Article 112a UCMJ Drug Offenses and Positive Urinalysis](https://www.ucmj-defender.com/ucmj/article-112a-drug-offenses/?ref=bodiesburied.com) (law firm reference page)
- [U.S. Sentencing Commission, Individual Offender Datafiles](https://www.ussc.gov/research/datafiles/commission-datafiles?ref=bodiesburied.com) (source)
- [Federal Judicial Center, Integrated Database (criminal defendants)](https://www.fjc.gov/research/idb?ref=bodiesburied.com) (source)

**About the author.** Jocelyn C. Stewart is a retired Army JAG with more than 24 years of trying courts-martial and more than 200 jury trials. She hosts *Where All The Bodies Are Buried* and runs the [Law Office of Jocelyn C. Stewart](https://www.ucmj-defender.com/?ref=bodiesburied.com). This analysis is for education and information only. It is not legal advice, and every case is different.