Judge Frank Montalvo — Federal Sentencing Patterns

U.S. District Judge Frank Montalvo sits in the Western District of Texas (WDTX) and granted a downward variance in 285 of 797 federal sentencings (35.8%) from FY2012–FY2024. This page shows aggregate sentencing patterns for Judge Frank Montalvo, including the most common reasons cited on the Statement of Reasons (SOR) for granting a downward variance.

Top reasons Judge Frank Montalvo grants downward variances

Reasons included across all guideline chapters (285 below-guideline cases out of 797 cases identified)

ReasonCasesAvg % Below Min
  1. 1.Criminal History Issues (aggregated reason)49-33.0%
  2. 2.Pursuant to a NONbinding (or unknown type) plea agreement28-51.1%
  3. 3.Mental and Emotional Conditions (aggregated reason)19-51.6%
  4. 4.Unspecified government motion (Not 5K1.1 or 5K3.1)17-41.9%
  5. 5.(5K2.0) General aggravating or mitigating circumstance15-51.2%
  6. 6.Proposed changes to the 2D1.1 drug quantity table13-40.3%
  7. 7.(5K3.1) Early Disposition. Fast Track program12-49.4%
  8. 8.First Step Act Safety Valve9-19.6%
  9. 9.Applied proposed guideline amendment7-41.4%
  10. 10.Party Motion /Agreement /Consent (Reason Unspecified)6-62.9%

Zone D sentencing variance — Judge Frank Montalvo

Imprisonment-only recommended sentencing zone (offense level 14+ at any criminal history). Of Judge Frank Montalvo's 445 Zone D sentencings, 186 (41.8%) fell below range.

Zone D · imprisonment recommended445 cases
  • Within range
    244(54.8%)
  • Below range
    186(41.8%)
    avg −41.8% below min
  • Above range
    15(3.4%)
    avg +59.8% above max

Need case-level analysis for Judge Frank Montalvo?

Want to see what those 285 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 Montalvo's trial tax (sentences after trial vs. plea) and the average §5K1.1 cooperation discount.

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