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# Theft and Fraud: Courts-Martial at Camp Lejeune vs. Federal Court in the Eastern District of North Carolina
- URL: https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal-theft-fraud-camp-lejeune-vs-eastern-district-of-north-carolina/
- Published: 2026-11-03T06:10:54.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-03T06:10:54.000Z
- Description: At Camp Lejeune, 66 of 69 Article 121 convictions for larceny, theft, and fraud (96%) included confinement, and the median adjudged confinement was 7.5 months for trials from 2017 to 2025. In the Eastern District of North Carolina, 374 of 504 people sentenced under guideline §2B1.1 (74%) received a
- Author: Jocelyn C. Stewart
- Tags: Understanding Trends, Federal

[Trends](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/) › [Federal Prosecution Analysis](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal/) › [Theft and Fraud by Dollar Loss](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal-theft-fraud-dollar-loss-vs-article-121/) › Theft and Fraud: Camp Lejeune

**In brief:** At Camp Lejeune, 66 of 69 Article 121 convictions for larceny, theft, and fraud (96%) included confinement, and the median adjudged confinement was 7.5 months for trials from 2017 to 2025\. In the Eastern District of North Carolina, 374 of 504 people sentenced under guideline §2B1.1 (74%) received a prison term in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, with a median of 24 months. The district figures count all federal cases there, and most of them did not involve service members.

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 504 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/).

## Confinement and Discharges at Camp Lejeune

The court-martial records for Camp Lejeune hold 69 convictions for this offense: 65 Marine Corps cases and 4 Navy cases. Nearly all of the sentences included confinement. A quarter of those convicted received 15.5 months or more.

Punitive discharges were common. Of the 68 enlisted members convicted, 60 (88%) received one: 9 dishonorable discharges and 51 bad-conduct discharges.

General courts-martial, the highest level of military trial court, accounted for 28 of the 69 convictions (41%). The rest were tried at lower levels.

## Earlier and Later Trial Years

For trials in 2016 to 2019, the median confinement was 10.9 months, based on 44 cases with confinement. For trials in 2020 to 2025, it was 6 months, based on 22 cases.

The later median is lower, and it rests on fewer cases. The records do not show why the median changed between the 2 periods.

## Federal Court in the Eastern District of North Carolina

Camp Lejeune lies within this federal district. The 504 federal sentences are cases from the district as a whole, not from the base. Courts-martial are tried in military courts, and nothing here suggests that any Camp Lejeune case would have gone to the district court.

Among the 504, 93 (18%) received probation only. For those sent to prison, a quarter received 12 months or less and a quarter received 42 months or more. The district median of 24 months was higher than the 21-month median for all federal districts, which sentenced 53,639 people under this guideline.

|                                    | Courts-martial at Camp Lejeune      | Federal court, Eastern District of North Carolina |
| ---------------------------------- | ----------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- |
| Convictions or people sentenced    | 69                                  | 504                                               |
| Sentenced to confinement or prison | 96%                                 | 74%                                               |
| Median confinement or prison       | 7.5 months                          | 24 months                                         |
| A quarter received this or more    | 15.5 months                         | 42 months                                         |
| Pleaded guilty                     | 55 of 62 with a plea recorded (89%) | 98%                                               |
| Mandatory minimum applied          | See the caveats                     | 69 of 503 with the information (14%)              |

## How Often Did Each Side Go to Trial?

Very few federal cases in the district were tried. Of the 504, 495 (98%) pleaded guilty and 9 were convicted after a trial. Those 9 had a median prison term of 51 months, compared with 24 months after a guilty plea.

Among the federal guilty pleas, 95% were made under a written plea agreement and 5% were straight pleas with no agreement.

At Camp Lejeune, 55 of the 62 convictions with a plea recorded (89%) were guilty pleas. The guilty-plea median was 7 months across 53 cases with confinement. The contested cases that ended in conviction had a median of 4.7 months across 6 cases, a count too small to read much into.

## The Guideline Range in This District

The most common position in this district was within the guideline range: 52% (263). Below the range at the government's request were 26% (133), and below it without such a request were 20% (99). Above the range were 2% (9).

A mandatory minimum prison term applied to 69 people (14%). Restitution was ordered in 430 cases (85%), a fine in 24 (5%), and supervised release in 372 (74%), with a median supervised release term of 36 months.

## Limits on What This Shows

Court-martial sentences here are as adjudged, before clemency or appeal, and federal prison terms are as imposed, not as served. Court-martial years go by trial date, while the federal years are fiscal years that start October 1.

Federal records place 70% of these defendants in criminal history category I and 4% in category VI. Court-martial records carry no criminal history field. For context, all courts-martial for this offense in the data total 626 convictions, with a median confinement of 5 months.

### How We Counted

Courts-martial with trial dates in 2016 to 2025 whose recorded trial location is Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, ending in a conviction for larceny, theft, and fraud (Article 121; federal guideline §2B1.1) (69). Federal: people sentenced in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 in the Eastern District of North Carolina (U.S. Sentencing Commission district label "N Carolina East") under primary guideline §2B1.1 (theft, embezzlement, fraud, and property damage) (504). 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.

## 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)
- [Theft and Fraud by Dollar Loss: Federal Sentences vs. Article 121 Courts-Martial](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal-theft-fraud-dollar-loss-vs-article-121/) (overview)
- [Federal Sentences in the Eastern District of North Carolina, FY2016–2025](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal-district-eastern-district-of-north-carolina/) (the federal district)
- [Child Pornography: Courts-Martial at Camp Lejeune vs. Federal Court in the Eastern District of North Carolina](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal-child-pornography-camp-lejeune-vs-eastern-district-of-north-carolina/) (same installation)
- [Child Sexual Abuse and Enticement: Courts-Martial at Camp Lejeune vs. Federal Court in the Eastern District of North Carolina](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal-child-sex-offenses-camp-lejeune-vs-eastern-district-of-north-carolina/) (same installation)
- [Drug Possession: Courts-Martial at Camp Lejeune vs. Federal Court in the Eastern District of North Carolina](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal-drug-possession-camp-lejeune-vs-eastern-district-of-north-carolina/) (same installation)
- [Drug Use: Courts-Martial at Camp Lejeune vs. Federal Court in the Eastern District of North Carolina](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal-drug-use-camp-lejeune-vs-eastern-district-of-north-carolina/) (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/) (same installation)
- [Aggravated Assault: Courts-Martial at Camp Lejeune vs. Federal Court in the Eastern District of North Carolina](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal-aggravated-assault-camp-lejeune-vs-eastern-district-of-north-carolina/) (same installation)
- [Obstruction of Justice: Courts-Martial at Camp Lejeune vs. Federal Court in the Eastern District of North Carolina](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal-obstruction-camp-lejeune-vs-eastern-district-of-north-carolina/) (same installation)
- [Theft and Fraud: Courts-Martial at Bremerton vs. Federal Court in the Western District of Washington](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal-theft-fraud-bremerton-vs-western-district-of-washington/) (other installations)
- [Theft and Fraud: Courts-Martial at Camp Pendleton vs. Federal Court in the Southern District of California](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal-theft-fraud-camp-pendleton-vs-southern-district-of-california/) (other installations)
- [Theft and Fraud: Courts-Martial at Fort Hood vs. Federal Court in the Western District of Texas](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal-theft-fraud-fort-hood-vs-western-district-of-texas/) (other installations)
- [Theft and Fraud: Federal Sentences vs. Air Force Courts-Martial, 2016–2025](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal-theft-fraud-vs-air-force/)
- [Theft and Fraud: Federal Sentences vs. Army Courts-Martial](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal-theft-fraud-vs-army/)
- [Theft and Fraud: Federal Sentences vs. Marine Corps Courts-Martial](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal-theft-fraud-vs-marine-corps/)
- [Army Article 121 Cases by the Numbers, 2021–2025](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/army-article-121-trend-2021-2025/) (court-martial data)
- [Article 121 Sentences in the Army: Confinement and Discharges, 2021–2025](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/army-article-121-sent-2021-2025/) (court-martial data)
- [Fighting an Army Larceny Charge: How Contested Cases Ended](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/army-article-121-acq-2021-2025/) (court-martial data)
- [Guilty Pleas in Army Larceny Cases: How Often, and What Came Next](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/army-article-121-plea-2021-2025/) (court-martial data)
- [Air Force Article 121 Cases by the Numbers, 2016–2025](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/air-force-article-121-trend-2016-2025/) (court-martial data)
- [What Sentence Follows an Air Force Larceny Conviction?](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/air-force-article-121-sent-2016-2025/) (court-martial data)
- [Pleading Guilty to Article 121 in the Air Force: What Sentences Followed?](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/air-force-article-121-plea-2016-2025/) (court-martial data)
- [How Has Article 121 Changed in Navy-Marine Corps Courts-Martial Since 2017?](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/navy-marine-corps-article-121-trend-2017-2025/) (court-martial data)
- [Article 121 Sentences in the Navy-Marine Corps: Confinement and Discharges, 2017–2025](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/navy-marine-corps-article-121-sent-2017-2025/) (court-martial data)
- [Not Guilty Pleas in Navy-Marine Corps Article 121 Cases: What Happened at Trial](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/navy-marine-corps-article-121-acq-2017-2025/) (court-martial data)
- [Guilty Pleas in Navy-Marine Corps Larceny Cases: How Often, and What Came Next](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/navy-marine-corps-article-121-plea-2017-2025/) (court-martial data)
- [Article 121 (Larceny): Court-Martial Data and Trends](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/article-121-courts-martial/) (court-martial data)
- [Article 121 UCMJ: Larceny and Wrongful Appropriation](https://www.ucmj-defender.com/practice-areas/court-martial/article-121/?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.