SentenceCalc

Continuing Criminal Enterprise Sentence Calculator

This page covers cases where a person ran a large, ongoing drug organization. Federal sentences for continuing criminal enterprise are calculated under §2D1.5 of the Sentencing Guidelines. Answer the questions below to see the range for a specific case.

Verified Checked against the manual text in at least five AI-assisted review rounds. Not yet reviewed by an attorney. Guidelines Manual effective November 1, 2025Updated October 4, 2026

Calculate it

Change any answer and the sentence updates. Nothing you enter leaves this page.

 See the math

Starting level and typical ranges

The starting level for this offense depends on another offense: offense level from the drug trafficking guideline (§2D1.1) for the underlying drug crimes. Work out the drug offense level first with the “Sold, moved or made drugs” calculator (§2D1.1), then type that level here. No role adjustment applies under this guideline (§2D1.5, note 1), so leave out the parts of §2D1.1 that depend on one: the minor role reductions to the quantity table level (§2D1.1(a)(5)), the increases for a leadership role (§2D1.1(b)(15) and (b)(16)), and the reduction for a minimal role (§2D1.1(b)(17)). Keep the methamphetamine import increase (§2D1.1(b)(5)), which applies when no mitigating role adjustment is given. The 2-level safety valve reduction (§2D1.1(b)(18)) does not fit either, because its criteria exclude anyone engaged in a continuing criminal enterprise (§5C1.2(a)(4)). This guideline adds 4 levels, and the result is never lower than 38. Use the calculator above and enter that level when asked.

Important details

  • Do not add a leadership or other role adjustment (Chapter Three, Part B). The level here already accounts for the person's role (§2D1.5, note 1).
  • The law requires at least 20 years in prison for a first conviction, at least 30 years for a second, and life for the principal leaders of extremely large enterprises (§2D1.5, background).
  • A sentence for a conviction that came before the last act of this offense counts as criminal history, not as part of this offense (§2D1.5, note 2).

Frequently asked questions

Is the calculator accurate for continuing criminal enterprise?

It follows §2D1.5 of the Guidelines Manual effective November 1, 2025. It passed 5 review rounds, each comparing every number, rule and label with the manual text, and its last round found nothing to correct. Those reviews were done with AI tools, not by lawyers, and it has not yet been reviewed by an attorney, so mistakes are possible. The guidelines are advisory, and a lawyer who knows the case can tell you what actually applies.