Order Code RL30722
Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Drug Offenses: Maximum Fines and Terms of
Imprisonment for Violation of the Federal
Controlled Substances Act and Related Laws
Updated January 30, 2003
Charles Doyle
Senior Specialist
American Law Division
Congressional Research Service Ëœ The Library of Congress

Drug Offenses: Maximum Fines and Terms of
Imprisonment for Violation of the Federal Controlled
Substances Act and Related Laws
Summary
This is a chart of the maximum fines and terms of imprisonment that may be
imposed as a consequence of conviction for violation of the federal Controlled
Substances Act (CSA) and other drug supply and drug demand related laws.
It lists the penalties for: heroin, cocaine, crack, PCP, LSD, marihuana
(marijuana), amphetamine, methamphetamine, listed (precursor) chemicals,
paraphernalia, date rape drugs, rave drugs, designer drugs, ecstasy, drug kingpins, as
well as the other substances including narcotics and opiates assigned to Schedule I,
Schedule II, Schedule III, Schedule IV, and Schedule V of the Controlled Substances
Act and the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (Title II and Title III of the
Comprehensive Drug Abuse and Control Act).
It maps the penalty structure for violations of 21 U.S.C. 841 (drug trafficking),
21 U.S.C. 960 (illicit drug import and export), 21 U.S.C. 962 (recalcitrant drug
smugglers), 46 U.S.C. App. 1903 (maritime drug law enforcement), 21 U.S.C.
841(b)(6)(environmental damage from illegal manufacturing), 21 U.S.C.
841(e)(booby traps on federal lands), 21 U.S.C. 842 (regulatory offenses), 21 U.S.C.
843 (communications-related offenses), 21 U.S.C. 844 (simple possession), 21
U.S.C. 846, 963 (attempt and conspiracy), 21 U.S.C. 849 (drug dealing at truck
stops), 21 U.S.C. 848 (continuing criminal enterprises (CCE)), 21 U.S.C. 854
(investment of illicit drug profits), 21 U.S.C. 859 (distribution to infants, minors,
children, juveniles, and those under 18 years of age), 21 U.S.C. 861 (distribution to
pregnant women), 21 U.S.C. 860 (distribution in school zones), 18 U.S.C. 1962
(racketeering (RICO)), 18 U.S.C. 1952 (Travel Act), 18 U.S.C. 924(e) (armed career
criminals), 18 U.S.C. 3559(c)(three strikes), 18 U.S.C. 1956 (money laundering), 31
U.S.C. 5322 (currency transaction reporting (smurfing)), 21 U.S.C. 1906 (financial
transactions with designated foreign narcotics traffickers), 26 U.S.C. 7201 (tax
evasion), 26 U.S.C. 7203 (failure to file required returns), 26 U.S.C. 7206 (fraud and
false statements).
It is an excerpt from CRS Report 97-141 A, Drug Smuggling, Drug Dealing and
Drug Abuse: Background and Overview of the Sanctions Under the Federal
Controlled Substances Act and Related Statutes.

Contents
Chart 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Drug Offenses: Maximum Fines and Terms
of Imprisonment for Violation of the Federal
Controlled Substances Act and Related
Laws
Chart 1
Unlawful distribution, possession with intent to distribute,
manufacture, importation and exportation, etc. (21 U.S.C. 841, 960,
962, and 46 U.S.C.App. 1903)1
1st offense
Substance
Amount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fine
. . . . . . . . . . . . . Imprisonment
Heroin
One kilogram or more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . 10 years to life
100 grams to one kilogram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2/5 million . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 to 40 years
Less than 100 grams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1/5 million . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 20 years
Coca leaf and derivatives
5 kilograms or more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . 10 years to life
500 grams to 5 kilograms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2/5 million . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 to 40 years
Less than 500 grams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1/5 million . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 20 years
Ecgonine (a cocaine precursor)
5 kilograms or more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . 10 years to life
100 grams to 5 kilograms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2/5 million . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 to 40 years
Less than 100 grams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1/5 million . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 20 years
Coca leaves, cocaine, or ecgonine containing cocaine base ("Crack," etc.)
50 grams or more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . 10 years to life
5 to 50 grams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2/5 million . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 to 40 years
Less than 5 grams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1/5 million . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 20 years
PCP (phencyclidine)
100 grams or more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . 10 years to life
10 to 100 grams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2/5 million . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 to 40 years
Less than 10 grams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1/5 million . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 20 years
Mixture or substance containing detectable amount of PCP
1 kilogram or more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . 10 years to life
100 grams to 1 kilogram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2/5 million . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 to 40 years
Less than 100 grams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1/5 million . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 20 years
LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide)
10 grams or more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . 10 years to life

1 to 10 grams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2/5 million . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 to 40 years
Less than 10 grams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1/5 million . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 20 years
N-phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinyl] propanamide
(Fentanyl, i.e., "synthetic heroin")
400 grams or more (or 100 grams or more of a
mixture or substance containing a detectable
amount of it or any analogue of it) . . . . . . . $4/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . 10 years to life
1 All trafficking offenses are subject to the same imprisonment penalty -- 20 years to life
-- if death or serious bodily injury results from the use of the substance involved. Unless otherwise indicated
weights apply to any mixture containing a detectable amount of the substance regardless of the weight of the
substance in the mixture.
A reference to a fine of "$4/10 million" means a fine of not less than $4 million or more than 10 million and
a reference to "10 years to life" means a term of imprisonment of not less than 10 years nor more than life.

CRS-2
40 to 400 grams (or 10 grams of a mixture
containing detectable amount) . . . . . . . . . . $2/5 million . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 to 40 years
Less than 40 grams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1/5 million . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 20 years
Marihuana
1000 kilograms or more
or 1000 or more plants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . 10 years to life
100 to 1000 kilograms
or 100 to 1000 plants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2/5 million . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 to 40 years
50 to 100 kilograms or 100 plants . . . . . . . . . . . $1/5 million . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 20 years
Under 50 kilograms2, 10 kilograms of hashish, or
one kilogram of hashish oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . $250,000/$1 million . . . . . . Up to 5 years
Methamphetamine3
50 grams or more
or 500 grams or more of a mixture . . . . . . . $4/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . 10 years to life
5 to 50 grams
or 50 to 500 grams of a mixture . . . . . . . . . $2/5 million . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 to 40 years
Less than 5 grams
or less than 50 grams of a mixture . . . . . . . $1/5 million . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 20 years
Gamma hydroxybutyric acid
any weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1/5 million . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 20 years
Flunitrazepam
1 gram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1/5 million . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 20 years
30 milligrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $250,000/$1 million . . . . . . Up to 5 years
Any other Schedule I or II substance4
any weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1/5 million . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 20 years
Any Schedule III substance
any weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $250,000/$1 million . . . . . . Up to 5 years
Any Schedule IV substance
any weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $250,000/$1 million . . . . . . Up to 3 years
Any Schedule V substance
any weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $100,000/$250,000 . . . . . . . Up to 1 year
2nd offense5
Heroin
One kilogram or more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8/20 million . . . . . . . . . . . 20 years to life
100 grams to one kilogram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . 10 years to life
Less than 100 grams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 30 years
Coca leaf and derivatives
5 kilograms or more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8/20 million . . . . . . . . . . . 20 years to life
500 grams to 5 kilograms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . 10 years to life
Less than 500 grams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 30 years
Ecgonine (a cocaine precursor)
5 kilograms or more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8/20 million . . . . . . . . . . . 20 years to life
100 grams to 5 kilograms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . 10 years to life
Less than 100 grams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 30 years
Coca leaves, cocaine, or ecgonine containing cocaine base ("Crack," etc.)
50 grams or more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8/20 million . . . . . . . . . . . 20 years to life
5 to 50 grams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . 10 years to life
Less than 5 grams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 30 years
2 Except in the case of 50 or more marihuana plants regardless of weight, and except that under section 841(b)(4)
distribution of a small amount of marihuana for no remuneration is treated as a simple possession offense and
punished under section 844, infra.
3 The penalties do not apply to importation or exportation, which are subject to imprisonment for not more than
20 years and a fine of not more than $1 million for individuals and not more than $5 million for organizations,
regardless of the amount of the controlled substance involved.
4 The penalties do not apply to importation or exportation, which are subject to imprisonment for not more than
20 years and a fine of not more than $2/5 million where the substance involved is under schedule I or II and
imprisonment for not more than 5 years and a fine of not more than $250,000/1 million where it is under III, IV
or V.
5 A second offense is one committed after a prior conviction for any felony drug offense, under any Federal, State,
or foreign law that prohibits or restricts conduct relating to narcotic drugs, marihuana, or depressant or stimulant
substances.

CRS-3

PCP (phencyclidine)
100 grams or more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8/20 million . . . . . . . . . . . 20 years to life
10 to 100 grams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . 10 years to life
Less than 10 grams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 30 years
Mixture or substance containing detectable amount of PCP
1 kilogram or more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8/20 million . . . . . . . . . . . 20 years to life
100 grams to 1 kilogram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . 10 years to life
Less than 100 grams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 30 years
LSD(lysergic acid diethylamide)
10 grams or more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8/20 million . . . . . . . . . . . 20 years to life

1 to 10 grams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . 10 years to life
Less than 10 grams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 30 years
N-phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinyl] propanamide
(Fentanyl, i.e., "synthetic heroin")
400 grams or more (or 100 grams or more of a
mixture or substance containing a detectable
amount of it or any analogue of it) . . . . . . . $8/20 million . . . . . . . . . . . 20 years to life
40 to 400 grams (or 10 grams of a mixture
containing detectable amount) . . . . . . . . . . $4/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . 10 years to life
Less than 40 grams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 30 years
Marihuana
1000 kilograms or more
or 1000 or more plants) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8/20 million . . . . . . . . . . . 20 years to life
100 to 1000 kilograms
or 100 to 1000 plants) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . 10 yrs. to life

50 to 100 kilograms or 100 plants . . . . . . . . $2/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 30 years
Less than 50 kilograms6, 10 kilograms of hashish,
or one kilogram of hashish oil . . . . . . . . . . . $500,000/$2 million . . . . . . Up to 10 years
Methamphetamine7
100 grams or more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8/20 million . . . . . . . . . . . 20 years to life
10 to 100 grams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . 10 years to life
Less than 10 grams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 30 years
Gamma hydroxybutyric acid
any weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 30 years
Flunitrazepam
1 gram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 30 years
30 milligrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $500,000/$2 million . . . . . . Up to 10 years
Any other Schedule I or II substance8
any weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2/10 million . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 30 years
Any Schedule III substance
any weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $500,000/$2 million . . . . . . Up to 10 years
Any Schedule IV substance
any weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $500,000/$2 million . . . . . . Up to 6 years
Any Schedule V substance
any weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $200,000/$500,000 . . . . . . . Up to 2 year
3rd offense
A Schedule I or II substance singled out for special
penalty treatment (as indicated above) in amounts
constituting a top level offense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Same as 2d offense . . . . . . . Life, no release
Cultivation on Federal property (21 U.S.C. 841(b)(5))
Any offense
6 Except in the case of 50 or more marihuana plants regardless of weight and except that distribution of a small
amount of marihuana is punishable as simple possession under section 844, infra.
7 The penalties do not apply to importation or exportation, which are subject to imprisonment for not more than
30 years and a fine of not more than $2 million for individuals and not more than $10 million for organizations,
regardless of the amount of the controlled substance involved.
8 The penalties do not apply to importation or exportation, which are subject to imprisonment for not more than
30 years and fines of not more than $2/10 million where the substance involved is under schedule I or II and
imprisonment for not more than 10 years and fines of not more than $500,000/2 million where it is under III, IV
or V.

CRS-4
All substances/all weights
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Greater of $500,000/ . . . . . . Maximum term for

$1 million or the
distribution of the
maximum fine for
substance involved
distribution of the

substance involved
Environmental damage on Federal property resulting from controlled substance
manufacturing or distribution (21 U.S.C. 841(b)(6))
Any offense9
All substances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Up to $250,000 . . . . Up to 5 years
Use of a controlled substance to commit a
crime of violence (21 U.S.C. 841(b)(7)
Any offense10
All substances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Up to $250,000 . . . . Up to 20 years
Offenses involving precursor and essential (listed) chemicals,
generally (21 U.S.C. 841(d))
Any offense11

List I chemicals [under 21 U.S.C. 802(34)] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $250,000 . . . . . . . . . . Up to 20 years
List II chemicals [under 21 U.S.C. 802(35)]
Up to $250,000
Up to 10 years
Boobytraps on Federal property (21 U.S.C. 841(e))12
1st offense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $10,000 . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 10 years
2nd offense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $20,000 . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 20 years
Wrongful distribution or possession of precursor and
essential (listed) chemicals (21 U.S.C. 841(g))
Knowing unlawful distribution
Listed chemicals [under 21 U.S.C. 802 (34)] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $250,000 . . . . . . . . . . Up to 5 years
Knowing possession of unreported listed chemicals
Listed chemicals [under 21 U.S.C. 802 (34)] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $100,000 . . . . . . . . . . Up to 1 year
Regulatory offenses & use of communications
to facilitate distribution (21 U.S.C. 842, 843)
1st offense
Generally13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $100,000 . . . . . . . . . . Up to 1 year
9 Creating a serious hazard to human or animal life, or harming the environment, or causing water pollution as
a result of using poisons, chemicals or other hazardous substances on Federal property while in the course of
unlawfully manufacturing or otherwise distributing a controlled substance.
10 Distributing a controlled substance to another with the intent to commit a crime of violence upon the victim.
11 Possession with intent to use for unauthorized manufacture of a controlled substance; possession or distribution
knowing that the chemical will be used for unauthorized manufacture of a controlled substance; or, with intent of
causing evasion of the record-keeping or reporting requirements of 21 U.S.C. 830 (or regulations pursuant thereto),
receipt or distribution of a reportable amount in units small enough so that the making of records or filing of reports
is not required.
12 Assembly, maintenance, or placement -- in connection with the manufacture, distribution, or dispensing of a
controlled substance.
13 Knowingly distributing a controlled substance to an unauthorized person by a registrant, removing required
labels, unlawful use of information acquired during a controlled substance inspection, failing to keep required
records, etc.

CRS-5
Deception offenses, etc.14 Up to $250,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 4 years
Methamphetamine equipment offenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $30,000 . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 10 years
2nd offense
Generally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $250,000 . . . . . . . . . . Up to 2 years
Deception offenses, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $250,000 . . . . . . . . . . Up to 8 years
Methamphetamine equipment offenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $60,000 . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 20 years
Simple possession (21 U.S.C. 844)15
1st offense
Cocaine base, over 5 grams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $250,000 . . . . . . . . . . 5 to 20 years
All other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not less than $1,000 . . . . . . Up to 1 year
2nd offense16
Cocaine base, over 3 grams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $250,000 . . . . . . . . . . 5 to 20 years
All other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Not less than $2,500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 days to 2 years
3rd offense
Cocaine base, over 1 gram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $250,000 . . . . . . . . . . 5 to 20 years
All other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not less than $5,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 days to 3 years
Any offense
Flunitrazepam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $250,000 . . . . . . . . . . Up to 3 years
Attempt and conspiracy (21 U.S.C. 846, 963)
Any offense
All substances . . . . Same as penalties for the underlying offense
Manufacturing or Distributing Controlled Substances Within 1000 Feet
of a Truck Stop or Highway Rest Area (21 U.S.C. 849)
1st offense
All substances . . . . Up to twice the penalties otherwise authorized
2nd offense
All substances . . . . Up to three times the penalties otherwise authorized
Continuing Criminal Enterprise (CCE) ("kingpin") (21 U.S.C. 848)17
1st offense
All substances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $2 million . . . . . . . . . 20 years to life
14 To knowingly: use fictitious, revoked, suspended or expired registration number; obtain a controlled substance
by fraud, forgery, or other form of deceit; provide false information; use labels and other markings to render a drug
a counterfeit substance; unlawfully possess certain controlled substance manufacturing equipment; being a
registrant, unlawfully distribute a controlled substance in the course of legitimate business; create or receive a
mixture containing listed chemicals to evade regulatory requirements.
15 If convicted of a simple possession offense, the defendant is required, if able, to pay the "reasonable costs" of
the investigation and prosecution of the offense. Penalties for simple possession are also applicable to distribution
of a "small amount" of marihuana for no remuneration.
16 For purposes of the section under which the possession penalties are imposed, a prior conviction includes
conviction of any offense under the Controlled Substances Act or the Controlled Substances Import and Export
Act and any drug or narcotic offense chargeable under State law.
17 Under the statute, a person is considered to be engaged in a continuing criminal enterprise if (1) he commits
any felony violation of the Controlled Substances Act or the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act, (2) the
violation is a part of a continuing series of violations of those statutes (A) which are undertaken by the person in
concert with five or more other persons with respect to whom such person occupies a position of organizer, a
supervisory position, or any other position of management, and (B) from which such person obtains substantial
income or resources.
Note that some violations carry the death penalty as discussed supra.

CRS-6
2nd offense
All substances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $4 million . . . . . . . . . 30 years to life
Any offense, if the offender is a major participant, involving
an enterprise that grosses $10 million a year or more or involving
300 times the amount of controlled substances required to trigger the
most severe distribution penalties of 21 U.S.C. 841
All substances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $4 million . . . . . . . . . life
Establishing manufacturing operations (21 U.S.C. 856)
Opening, maintaining, financing or making available a place for
unlawful manufacture, distribution or use of controlled substances
All substances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $500,000 . . . . . . . . . . Up to 20 years
Endangering human life while illegally manufacturing a controlled substance (21 U.S.C. 858)
Any offense
All substances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $250,000 . . . . . . . . . . Up to 10 years
Distribution to persons under age 21 by those age 18 or older
(21 U.S.C. 859)
1st offense
All substances . . . . Up to twice the penalties otherwise authorized18
2nd offense
All substances . . . . Up to three times the penalties otherwise authorized
Employment of persons under 18 years of age (for violation of the CSA)
or unauthorized distribution to a pregnant individual (21 U.S.C. 861)
1st offense
Generally . . . . . . . . Up to twice the penalties otherwise authorized for the underlying offense but
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . at least 1 year in prison19
2nd offense
Generally . . . . . . . . Up to three times the penalties otherwise authorized for the underlying offense but
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . at least 1 year in prison20
Any offense
Use of person under 14 or distribution to a person under 18 . . . . . . . . Up to $50,000 . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 5 years
Distribution or manufacturing in or near schools, colleges, or certain
youth-centered recreational facilities (21 U.S.C. 860)21
1st offense
All substances . . . . Up to twice the penalties otherwise authorized for distribution and
manufacture but at least 1 year in prison22
18 Except that violation carries a mandatory minimum of no less than one year unless the offense involves
marihuana in an amount of 5 grams or less.
19 Also, at least twice any term of supervised release otherwise authorized for a first offense. Any higher
mandatory penalty otherwise authorized for the offense would prevail.
20 Also, at least three times any term of supervised release otherwise authorized for a first offense. Penalties for
third and subsequent offenses are governed by 21 U.S.C. 841(b)(1)(A).
21 The offense includes distribution or manufacturing in or on, or within 1,000 feet of the real property comprising
a public or private elementary, vocational, or secondary school or a public or private college, junior college, or
university, or within 100 feet of a playground, public or private youth center, public swimming pool, or video
arcade facility.
22 Also, at least twice any term of supervised released otherwise authorized for a first offense. An exception to
the mandatory 1-year minimum is provided with respect to an offense involving 5 grams or less of marihuana.
Where the statute provides for a different mandatory penalty, the higher prevails.

CRS-7
2nd offense
All substances . . . . Up to three times the penalties otherwise authorized for distribution but at least 3
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . years in prison
Trafficking in drug paraphernalia (21 U.S.C. 863)
Interstate or foreign sale and transportation of, or use of the
mails to sell, drug paraphernalia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $250,000 . . . . . . . . . . Up to 3 years
Violation of regulations proscribing financial transactions
with significant foreign narcotics traffickers (21 U.S.C.1906)
Any offense (individual)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $250,000 . . . . . . . . . Up to 10 years
Any offense (organization)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $10,000,000
Any offense (organization officer or agent) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $5,000,000 . . . . . . . . Up to 30 years
Commission of a pattern of racketeering activity including one or more
narcotic or dangerous drug felony to invest in, acquire, operate or participate
in the affairs of an interstate enterprise ((RICO)(18 U.S.C. 1962)
Any offense
Narcotic and dangerous drugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $250,000 . . . . . . . . . . Up to 20 years or life
if the maximum for the
predicate is life
Compensated crime of violence in aid of RICO (18 U.S.C. 1959)
Any offense
All substances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $250,000 . . . . . . . . . . Death or life in prison
(murder or kidnapping)

All substances. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $250,000 . . . . . . . . . . Up to 30 years

(maiming)
All substances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $250,000 . . . . . . . . . . Up to 20 years (serious
injury)
All substances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $250,000 . . . . . . . . . . Up to 5 years (threats)

injury)
All substances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $250,000 . . . . . . . . . . Up to 10 years
(attempt or conspiracy
to murder or kidnap)

All substances. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $250,000 . . . . . . . . . . Up to 3 years (attempt
or conspiracy to maim
or commit a serious
assault)
Aviation smuggling (19 U.S.C. 1590)
Any offense
All substances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $250,000 . . . . . . . . . Up to 20 years
General smuggling (18 U.S.C. 545)
Any offense
All substances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $250,000 . . . . . . . . . . Up to 5 years
Travel Act: use of interstate facilities in aid of
controlled substance violations (18 U.S.C. 1952)
Any Offense
All substances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $250,000 . . . . . . . . . . Up to 20 years, or any term of years
or life if death results

CRS-8
Armed career criminal: possession of a firearm by a convicted felon or other disqualified person with 3 or more prior serious controlled
substance convictions (drug crimes punishable by imprisonment for 10 years or more) or prior violent crime convictions (18 U.S.C.
924(e))
Any Offense
All substances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $250,000 . . . . . . . . . . Not less than 15 years
Three strikes: commission of a serious violent felony by an individual with a prior serious controlled substance conviction (drug kingpin
or most seriously punished trafficking offense) and a prior serious violent felony conviction or 2 or more prior serious violent felony
convictions (18 U.S.C. 3559(c))
Any Offense
All substances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $250,000 . . . . . . . . . . life
Laundering money from controlled substance violations
(18 U.S.C. 1956, 1957; 31 U.S.C. 5322)
Laundering (18 U.S.C. 1956)
Any offense
All substances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to greater of . . . . . . . . . . Up to 20 years
$500,000 or 2X
the amount of $
laundered
Monetary traffic in property derived from unlawful activity (18 U.S.C. 1957)
Any offense
All substances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to greater of . . . . . . . . . . Up to 10 years
$250,000 or 2X
the amount of $
laundered
Currency transaction and transportation reporting (31 U.S.C. 5322)
1st offense
All substances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $250,000 . . . . . . . . . . Up to 5 years
2d offense
All substances . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $500,000 . . . . . . . . . . Up to 10 years
Investment of illicit drug profits (21 U.S.C. 854, 855)
Any offense
All substances
Up to the greater of 2X profit/proceeds or $50,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to 10 years
Prohibited financial transactions in violation of the International Narcotics Trafficking Act (21 U.S.C. 1906)
Any Offense
All substances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $250,000 . . . . . . . . . . Up to 10 years
Any Offense by officials of an entity
All substances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $5 million . . . . . . . . . Up to 30 years
Tax Offenses (26 U.S.C. 7201, 7203, 7206)
Attempted evasion [concerning income from controlled substance violations] (26 U.S.C. 7201)
Any offense
All substances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $250,000 . . . . . . . . . . Up to 5 years

CRS-9
Willful failure to file return [concerning income for such violations] (26 U.S.C. 7203)
Any offense
All substances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $250,000 . . . . . . . . . . Up to 5 years
Fraud and false statements [concerning income from such violations] (26 U.S.C. 7206)
Any offense
All substances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Up to $250,000 . . . . . . . . . . Up to 3 years