Judge Sam Sparks — Federal Sentencing Patterns

U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks sits in the Western District of Texas (WDTX) and granted a downward variance in 90 of 483 federal sentencings (18.6%) from FY2012–FY2020. This page shows aggregate sentencing patterns for Judge Sam Sparks, including the most common reasons cited on the Statement of Reasons (SOR) for granting a downward variance.

Top reasons Judge Sam Sparks grants downward variances

Reasons included across all guideline chapters (90 below-guideline cases out of 483 cases identified)

ReasonCasesAvg % Below Min
  1. 1.Pursuant to a NONbinding (or unknown type) plea agreement31-54.5%
  2. 2.(5H1.1) Age (Defendant's youth or old age)7-52.7%
  3. 3.Avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities among defendants6-50.7%
  4. 4.Criminal History Issues (aggregated reason)5-53.9%
  5. 5.Mule/Role in the offense3-83.3%
  6. 6.Provide Restitution to any victims of the offense3-73.9%

Zone D sentencing variance — Judge Sam Sparks

Imprisonment-only recommended sentencing zone (offense level 14+ at any criminal history). Of Judge Sam Sparks's 402 Zone D sentencings, 76 (18.9%) fell below range.

Zone D · imprisonment recommended402 cases
  • Within range
    298(74.1%)
  • Below range
    76(18.9%)
    avg −45.0% below min
  • Above range
    28(7.0%)
    avg +42.4% above max

Need case-level analysis for Judge Sam Sparks?

Want to see what those 90 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 Sam Sparks's trial tax (sentences after trial vs. plea) and the average §5K1.1 cooperation discount.

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