Judge Samuel H. Mays Jr. — Federal Sentencing Patterns

U.S. District Judge Samuel H. Mays Jr. sits in the Western District of Tennessee (WDTN) and granted a downward variance in 147 of 416 federal sentencings (35.3%) from FY2012–FY2023. This page shows aggregate sentencing patterns for Judge Samuel H. Mays Jr., including the most common reasons cited on the Statement of Reasons (SOR) for granting a downward variance.

Top reasons Judge Samuel H. Mays Jr. grants downward variances

Reasons included across all guideline chapters (147 below-guideline cases out of 416 cases identified)

ReasonCasesAvg % Below Min
  1. 1.Criminal History Issues (aggregated reason)41-41.9%
  2. 2.(5H1.5) Previous employment record13-81.2%
  3. 3.Avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities among defendants13-44.2%
  4. 4.Pursuant to a NONbinding (or unknown type) plea agreement13-39.0%
  5. 5.(5H1.6) Family ties and responsibilities11-61.6%
  6. 6.Mule/Role in the offense10-46.5%
  7. 7.General Guideline Adequacy Issues (aggregated reason)10-34.0%
  8. 8.(5H1.4) Drug dependence and alcohol abuse9-27.0%
  9. 9.Cooperation without motion (not §5K1.1) (aggregated reason)7-35.5%
  10. 10.Provide Restitution to any victims of the offense6-70.1%

Zone D sentencing variance — Judge Samuel H. Mays Jr.

Imprisonment-only recommended sentencing zone (offense level 14+ at any criminal history). Of Judge Samuel H. Mays Jr.'s 360 Zone D sentencings, 125 (34.7%) fell below range.

Zone D · imprisonment recommended360 cases
  • Within range
    228(63.3%)
  • Below range
    125(34.7%)
    avg −42.3% below min
  • Above range
    7(1.9%)
    avg +51.0% above max

Need case-level analysis for Judge Samuel H. Mays Jr.?

Want to see what those 147 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 Samuel H. Mays Jr.'s trial tax (sentences after trial vs. plea) and the average §5K1.1 cooperation discount.

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