U.S.S.G. §2M6.1

(a) Base Offense Level (Apply the Greatest):

(1) 42, if the offense was committed with intent (A) to injure the United

States; or (B) to aid a foreign nation or a foreign terrorist organization;

(2) 28, if subsections (a)(1), (a)(3), and (a)(4) do not apply;

(3) 22, if the defendant is convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 175b; or

(4) 20, if (A) the defendant is convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 175(b); or

(B) the offense (i) involved a threat to use a nuclear weapon, nuclear

material, or nuclear byproduct material, a chemical weapon, a biological agent, toxin, or delivery system, or a weapon of mass destruction;

but (ii) did not involve any conduct evidencing an intent or ability to

carry out the threat.

(b) Specific Offense Characteristics

(1) If (A) subsection (a)(2) or (a)(4)(A) applies; and (B) the offense involved

a threat to use, or otherwise involved (i) a select biological agent; (ii) a

listed precursor or a listed toxic chemical; (iii) nuclear material or nuclear byproduct material; or (iv) a weapon of mass destruction that

contains any agent, precursor, toxic chemical, or material referred to

in subdivision (i), (ii), or (iii), increase by 2 levels.

(2) If (A) subsection (a)(2), (a)(3), or (a)(4)(A) applies; and (B)(i) any victim

died or sustained permanent or life-threatening bodily injury, increase by 4 levels; (ii) any victim sustained serious bodily injury, increase by 2 levels; or (iii) the degree of injury is between that specified

in subdivisions (i) and (ii), increase by 3 levels.

(3) If (A) subsection (a)(2), (a)(3), or (a)(4) applies; and (B) the offense resulted in (i) substantial disruption of public, governmental, or business functions or services; or (ii) a substantial expenditure of funds to

clean up, decontaminate, or otherwise respond to the offense, increase

by 4 levels.

(c) Cross References

(1) If the offense resulted in death, apply §2A1.1 (First Degree Murder) if

the death was caused intentionally or knowingly, or §2A1.2 (Second

Degree Murder) otherwise, if the resulting offense level is greater

than that determined above.

(2) If the offense was tantamount to attempted murder, apply §2A2.1 (Assault with Intent to Commit Murder; Attempted Murder), if the resulting offense level is greater than that determined above.

(d) Special Instruction

(1) If the defendant is convicted of a single count involving (A) conduct

that resulted in the death or permanent, life-threatening, or serious

bodily injury of more than one victim, or (B) conduct tantamount to

the attempted murder of more than one victim, Chapter Three, Part D

(Multiple Counts) shall be applied as if such conduct in respect to each

victim had been contained in a separate count of conviction.

Commentary

Statutory Provisions: 18 U.S.C. §§ 175, 175b, 175c, 229, 831, 832, 842(p)(2) (only with respect to

weapons of mass destruction as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 2332a(c)(2)(B), (C), and (D)), 1992(a)(2), (a)(3),

(a)(4), (b)(2), 2283, 2291, 2332h; 42 U.S.C. §§ 2077(b), 2122, 2131. For additional statutory provision(s),

see Appendix A (Statutory Index).

Application Notes:

1. Definitions.—For purposes of this guideline:

“Biological agent” has the meaning given that term in 18 U.S.C. § 178(1).

“Chemical weapon” has the meaning given that term in 18 U.S.C. § 229F(1).

“Foreign terrorist organization” (A) means an organization that engages in terrorist activity

that threatens the security of a national of the United States or the national security of the

United States; and (B) includes an organization designated by the Secretary of State as a foreign

terrorist organization pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.

§ 1189). “National of the United States” has the meaning given that term in section 101(a)(22) of

the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(22)).

“Listed precursor or a listed toxic chemical” means a precursor or a toxic chemical, respectively, listed in Schedule I of the Annex on Chemicals to the Chemical Weapons Convention. See

18 U.S.C. § 229F(6)(B), (8)(B). “Precursor” has the meaning given that term in 18 U.S.C.

§ 229F(6)(A). “Toxic chemical” has the meaning given that term in 18 U.S.C. § 229F(8)(A).

“Nuclear byproduct material” has the meaning given that term in 18 U.S.C. § 831(g)(2).

“Nuclear material” has the meaning given that term in 18 U.S.C. § 831(g)(1).

“Select biological agent” means a biological agent or toxin identified (A) by the Secretary of

Health and Human Services on the select agent list established and maintained pursuant to

section 351A of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. § 262a); or (B) by the Secretary of Agriculture on the list established and maintained pursuant to section 212 of the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. § 8401).

“Toxin” has the meaning given that term in 18 U.S.C. § 178(2).

“Weapon of mass destruction” has the meaning given that term in 18 U.S.C. § 2332a(c)(2)(B),

(C), and (D).

2. Threat Cases.—Subsection (a)(4)(B) applies in cases that involved a threat to use a weapon,

agent, or material covered by this guideline but that did not involve any conduct evidencing an

intent or ability to carry out the threat. For example, subsection (a)(4)(B) would apply in a case

in which the defendant threatened to contaminate an area with anthrax and also dispersed into

the area a substance that appeared to be anthrax but that the defendant knew to be harmless

talcum powder. In such a case, the dispersal of talcum powder does not evidence an intent on the

defendant’s part to carry out the threat. In contrast, subsection (a)(4)(B) would not apply in a

case in which the defendant threatened to contaminate an area with anthrax and also dispersed

into the area a substance that the defendant believed to be anthrax but that in fact was harmless

talcum powder. In such a case, the dispersal of talcum powder was conduct evidencing an intent

to carry out the threat because of the defendant’s belief that the talcum powder was anthrax.

Subsection (a)(4)(B) shall not apply in any case involving both a threat to use any weapon, agent,

or material covered by this guideline and the possession of that weapon, agent, or material. In

such a case, possession of the weapon, agent, or material is conduct evidencing an intent to use

that weapon, agent, or material.

3. Application of Special Instruction.—Subsection (d) applies in any case in which the defendant is convicted of a single count involving (A) the death or permanent, life-threatening, or serious bodily injury of more than one victim, or (B) conduct tantamount to the attempted murder of

more than one victim, regardless of whether the offense level is determined under this guideline

or under another guideline in Chapter Two (Offense Conduct) by use of a cross reference under

subsection (c).