U.S.S.G. § 5G1.1

Sentencing on a Single Count of Conviction

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(a) Where the statutorily authorized maximum sentence is less than the minimum of the applicable guideline range, the statutorily authorized maximum sentence shall be the guideline sentence.

(b) Where a statutorily required minimum sentence is greater than the maximum of the applicable guideline range, the statutorily required minimum sentence shall be the guideline sentence.

(c) In any other case, the sentence may be imposed at any point within the applicable guideline range, provided that the sentence—

(1) is not greater than the statutorily authorized maximum sentence, and

(2) is not less than any statutorily required minimum sentence.

Commentary

This section describes how the statutorily authorized maximum sentence, or a statutorily required minimum sentence, may affect the determination of a sentence under the guidelines. For example, if the applicable guideline range is 51–63 months and the maximum sentence authorized by statute for the offense of conviction is 48 months, the sentence required by the guidelines under subsection (a) is 48 months. If the applicable guideline range is 41–51 months and there is a statutorily required minimum sentence of 60 months, the sentence required by the guidelines under subsection (b) is 60 months. If the applicable guideline range is 51–63 months and the maximum sentence authorized by statute for the offense of conviction is 60 months, the guideline range is restricted to 51–60 months under subsection (c).

Historical Note: Effective November 1, 1987. Amended effective November 1, 1989 (amendment 286); November 1, 2025 (amendment 836).

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 958 cases (179 in the last 5 years), 1989–2026 · leading case: United States v. Doe, 564 F.3d 305 (3rd Cir. 2009).

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United States v. Doe, 564 F.3d 305 (3rd Cir. 2009). · cites it 9× “As the mandatory minimum sentence exceeded the Guidelines range, the mandatory minimum became the Guidelines sentence, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5G1.1. [3] This mandatory minimum Guidelines sentence was not applied to John Doe, however, because of substantial assistance he provided…”

United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2004). · cites it 2× “, at 396 ; see *332 also USSG § 5G1.1; cf. Witte, 515 U. S., at 399 (explaining that the Guidelines range "still falls within the scope of the legislatively authorized penalty").”

United States v. Hameed, 614 F.3d 259 (6th Cir. 2010). · cites it 7× “See U.S.S.G. § 5G1.1(b). Second, Hameed argues that his sentence was "based on" the § 2D1.”

Dorsey v. United States, 132 S. Ct. 2321 (2012). · cites it 2× “§§994 (a), (b)(1); USSG §5G1.1; Neal v. United States, 516 U.”

Kevin Spencer v. United States, 773 F.3d 1132 (11th Cir. 2014). · cites it 3× “See U.S.S.G. § 5G1.1(a) (“Where the statutorily authorized maximum sentence is less than the minimum of the 18 Case: 10-10676 Date Filed: 11/14/2014 Page: 19 of 107 applicable guideline range, the statutorily authorized maximum sentence shall be the guideline sentence.”

United States v. Pembrook, 609 F.3d 381 (6th Cir. 2010). · cites it 4× “Further, U.S.S.G. § 5G1.1 and United States v. Johnson, 564 F.”

United States v. Gregory Randolph Berry, 701 F.3d 374 (11th Cir. 2012). · cites it 3× “Even if Berry's new statutory mandatory minimum were ten years under the FSA, his sentencing guidelines range under U.S.S.G. § 5G1.1 would be 360 months to life.”

In Re Sealed Case, 722 F.3d 361 (D.C. Cir. 2013). · cites it 5× “U.S.S.G. § 5G1.1, cmt. The mandatory minimum, in other words, acts upon the already- *370 determined “applicable guideline range”; it does not become the guideline range.”

United States v. Jones, 569 F.3d 569 (6th Cir. 2009). · cites it 4× “" U.S.S.G. § 5G1.1(b). Thus, § 5G1.1(b) contemplates a two-step process: first, the sentencing court must calculate the applicable guideline range; next, the sentencing court must determine whether the statutory minimum exceeds the top of the properly calculated guideline range.”

United States v. Broxmeyer, 699 F.3d 265 (2d Cir. 2012). · cites it 2× “See U.S.S.G. § 5G1.1(a); United States v. Dorvee, 616 F.”

Ezell Gilbert v. United States, 640 F.3d 1293 (11th Cir. 2011). · cites it 2× “See U.S.S.G. § 5G1.1 (a)–(b) (stating that when the statutory maximum is less than the minimum of the applicable guidelines range, or when the statutory minimum is greater than the maximum of the applicable guidelines range, the statutory maximum and minimum prevail); see…”

United States v. Cook, 594 F.3d 883 (D.C. Cir. 2010). · cites it 3× “U.S.S.G. § 5G1.1, Sentencing on a Single Count of Conviction, provides, as relevant: 3 .”

Show all 958 citing cases →

— U.S.S.G. §5G1.1(a) — 246 cases

Kevin Spencer v. United States, 773 F.3d 1132 (11th Cir. 2014). “See U.S.S.G. § 5G1.1(a) (“Where the statutorily authorized maximum sentence is less than the minimum of the 18 Case: 10-10676 Date Filed: 11/14/2014 Page: 19 of 107 applicable guideline range, the statutorily authorized maximum sentence shall be the guideline sentence.”

United States v. Broxmeyer, 699 F.3d 265 (2d Cir. 2012). “See U.S.S.G. § 5G1.1(a); United States v. Dorvee, 616 F.”

United States v. Irey, 612 F.3d 1160 (11th Cir. 2010).

United States v. Noel, 581 F.3d 490 (7th Cir. 2009).

Ezell Gilbert v. United States, 640 F.3d 1293 (11th Cir. 2011). “See U.S.S.G. § 5G1.1 (a)–(b) (stating that when the statutory maximum is less than the minimum of the applicable guidelines range, or when the statutory minimum is greater than the maximum of the applicable guidelines range, the statutory maximum and minimum prevail); see…”

— U.S.S.G. §5G1.1(b) — 298 cases

United States v. Doe, 564 F.3d 305 (3rd Cir. 2009). “As the mandatory minimum sentence exceeded the Guidelines range, the mandatory minimum became the Guidelines sentence, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5G1.1. [3] This mandatory minimum Guidelines sentence was not applied to John Doe, however, because of substantial assistance he provided…”

United States v. Hameed, 614 F.3d 259 (6th Cir. 2010). “See U.S.S.G. § 5G1.1(b). Second, Hameed argues that his sentence was "based on" the § 2D1.”

In Re Sealed Case, 722 F.3d 361 (D.C. Cir. 2013). “U.S.S.G. § 5G1.1, cmt. The mandatory minimum, in other words, acts upon the already- *370 determined “applicable guideline range”; it does not become the guideline range.”

United States v. Carter, 595 F.3d 575 (5th Cir. 2010).

United States v. Albert Savani, 733 F.3d 56 (3rd Cir. 2013).

— U.S.S.G. §5G1.1(c) — 32 cases

United States v. Neal, 578 F.3d 270 (5th Cir. 2009).

United States v. Gregory Randolph Berry, 701 F.3d 374 (11th Cir. 2012). “Even if Berry's new statutory mandatory minimum were ten years under the FSA, his sentencing guidelines range under U.S.S.G. § 5G1.1 would be 360 months to life.”

United States v. Nicodemo Scarfo, 41 F.4th 136 (3rd Cir. 2022).

United States v. Carol Kozinski, Ilmi Fejzoski, James Havelka, Jeanette Martinez, James Brennan, James Abney, Mark Morgan, & Peter Demopoulos, 16 F.3d 795 (7th Cir. 1994).

United States v. Joshua Herman, 930 F.3d 872 (7th Cir. 2019).

— U.S.S.G. §5G1.1(c)(1) — 46 cases

United States v. Thomas, 498 F.3d 336 (6th Cir. 2007).

United States v. Pedro Payano, 930 F.3d 186 (3rd Cir. 2019).

United States v. Grossman, 513 F.3d 592 (6th Cir. 2008).

United States v. Ramos, 695 F.3d 1035 (10th Cir. 2012).

United States v. Michael Carr, 895 F.3d 1083 (8th Cir. 2018).

— U.S.S.G. §5G1.1(c)(2) — 122 cases

United States v. Jones, 569 F.3d 569 (6th Cir. 2009). “" U.S.S.G. § 5G1.1(b). Thus, § 5G1.1(b) contemplates a two-step process: first, the sentencing court must calculate the applicable guideline range; next, the sentencing court must determine whether the statutory minimum exceeds the top of the properly calculated guideline range.”

Wade v. United States, 504 U.S. 181 (1992).

United States v. Terrence Smith, 289 F.3d 696 (11th Cir. 2002).

United States v. Robert Brehm, 442 F.3d 1291 (11th Cir. 2006).

— U.S.S.G. §5G1.1(c)(l) — 1 case

United States v. Cordova-Casillas, 29 F. App'x 394 (7th Cir. 2002).

— U.S.S.G. §5G1.1(d) — 1 case

United States v. James Bartholomew Huskey, 349 F. App'x 495 (11th Cir. 2009).

— U.S.S.G. §5G1.1(e)(1) — 1 case

United States v. Steven Richard Allen, 182 F. App'x 903 (11th Cir. 2006).

— U.S.S.G. §5G1.1(e)(2) — 2 cases

United States v. John R. Marshall, 95 F.3d 700 (8th Cir. 1996).

United States v. Lubio, 697 F. App'x 591 (10th Cir. 2017).

— U.S.S.G. §5G1.1(g) — 1 case

United States v. Cook, 594 F.3d 883 (D.C. Cir. 2010). “U.S.S.G. § 5G1.1, Sentencing on a Single Count of Conviction, provides, as relevant: 3 .”

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