Legal Question in Legal Ethics in Virginia

Re: Purdue Pharma Sentencing

Whatever sentence is imposed, it will very likely be in conformance with the sentence for this particular offense which is prescribed by the United States Sentencing Guidelines (U.S.S.G.), whatever that may be. Even though these Guidelines have supposedly been advisory since the Booker and Fanfan cases were decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in January 2005, studies since then have shown that U.S. District Courts imposing sentences upon federal defendants adhere to the sentencing prescriptions of the Guidelines in roughly 85% of all federal sentencing matters.

The sentencing hearing on July 20th which you've referenced will not be a mere formality and the court may very well impose prison time on the guilty ones in addition to the fines. (The fine which allegedly has been agreed upon will in all probabilty be only one part of the total sentence which is imposed upon the guilty defendants.)