Judge Frank DeArmon Whitney — Federal Sentencing Patterns

U.S. District Judge Frank DeArmon Whitney sits in the Western District of North Carolina (WDNC) and granted a downward variance in 169 of 588 federal sentencings (28.7%) from FY2012–FY2025. This page shows aggregate sentencing patterns for Judge Frank DeArmon Whitney, including the most common reasons cited on the Statement of Reasons (SOR) for granting a downward variance.

Top reasons Judge Frank DeArmon Whitney grants downward variances

Reasons included across all guideline chapters (169 below-guideline cases out of 588 cases identified)

ReasonCasesAvg % Below Min
  1. 1.(5H1.6) Family ties and responsibilities25-39.7%
  2. 2.Reduce Disparity (aggregated reason)24-26.6%
  3. 3.Avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities among defendants21-33.5%
  4. 4.Cooperation without motion (not §5K1.1) (aggregated reason)19-28.3%
  5. 5.Mule/Role in the offense18-46.0%
  6. 6.Criminal History Issues (aggregated reason)17-35.2%
  7. 7.Acceptance of responsibility13-18.9%
  8. 8.(5H1.4) Physical condition10-51.5%
  9. 9.Remorse10-33.9%
  10. 10.(5H1.4) Drug dependence and alcohol abuse10-30.5%

Zone D sentencing variance — Judge Frank DeArmon Whitney

Imprisonment-only recommended sentencing zone (offense level 14+ at any criminal history). Of Judge Frank DeArmon Whitney's 532 Zone D sentencings, 141 (26.5%) fell below range.

Zone D · imprisonment recommended532 cases
  • Within range
    375(70.5%)
  • Below range
    141(26.5%)
    avg −24.8% below min
  • Above range
    16(3.0%)
    avg +33.3% above max

Need case-level analysis for Judge Frank DeArmon Whitney?

Want to see what those 169 below-guideline cases actually looked like? Just Metrics shows you the actual matched cases — same judge, same guideline chapter, same guideline range — and tells you what they did.

Just Metrics also surfaces Judge Frank DeArmon Whitney's trial tax (sentences after trial vs. plea) and the average §5K1.1 cooperation discount.

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