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The United States Sentencing Commission brings you its annual conference on federal sentencing in Chicago, Illinois, from August 18 to 20, 2026. The conference is free and open to anyone working in the field of federal sentencing, including judges, attorneys, and probation officers. The Commissioners and other federal sentencing experts will discuss the newly adopted guideline amendments, case law, ethics, and other critical issues impacting federal sentencing. Attorneys who attend are eligible to earn CLE credits. Please join us if you want to connect with your peers and learn about the latest in federal sentencing.
Honorable Carlton W. Reeves
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Judge Carlton W. Reeves has served as a United States District Court Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi since 2010. Judge Reeves was previously a partner at Pigott Reeves Johnson & Minor, P.A. from 2001 to 2010. From 1995 to 2001, Judge Reeves served as Chief of the Civil Division for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi. From 1991 to 1995, Judge Reeves was an associate at Phelps Dunbar LLP. In 1991, Judge Reeves was a staff attorney for the Supreme Court of Mississippi. Judge Reeves served as a law clerk for Justice Reuben V. Anderson on the Mississippi Supreme Court from 1989 to 1990.
Judge Reeves received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1989 and his B.A. from Jackson State University in 1986.
Alan Dorhoffer
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Alan Dorhoffer is the Director of the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice and has worked at the Commission for close to 30 years. He has conducted hundreds of training programs for judges, attorneys, law clerks, probation officers, and federal bar associations on federal sentencing. Alan has also conducted numerous webcasts and broadcasts on the Federal Judicial Training Network (FJTN). During his time at the Commission, Alan has chaired policy teams on Sex Offenses, Criminal History, and Firearms, and been a member of several other teams. Alan specializes in analyzing Supreme Court and appellate court decisions interpreting the federal sentencing issues, and in presenting complex legal concepts in terms guideline users can readily understand.
Alan has been an Adjunct Professor at the George Mason School of Law, and was law clerk to the Honorable Edmund A. Sargus, U.S. District Judge, Southern District of Ohio, in Columbus. Alan is a graduate of Binghamton University and the George Washington University School of Law.
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The Commissioners will discuss recently promulgated Guideline Amendments and the 2026-27 Commission priorities.
Honorable Carlton W. Reeves
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Judge Carlton W. Reeves has served as a United States District Court Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi since 2010. Judge Reeves was previously a partner at Pigott Reeves Johnson & Minor, P.A. from 2001 to 2010. From 1995 to 2001, Judge Reeves served as Chief of the Civil Division for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi. From 1991 to 1995, Judge Reeves was an associate at Phelps Dunbar LLP. In 1991, Judge Reeves was a staff attorney for the Supreme Court of Mississippi. Judge Reeves served as a law clerk for Justice Reuben V. Anderson on the Mississippi Supreme Court from 1989 to 1990.
Judge Reeves received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1989 and his B.A. from Jackson State University in 1986.
Honorable Luis Felipe Restrepo
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Judge Luis Felipe Restrepo has served as a United States Court of Appeals Judge for the Third Circuit since 2016. Judge Restrepo previously served as a United States District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania from 2013 to 2016. Judge Restrepo served as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania from 2006 to 2013. Judge Restrepo was a partner at Krasner & Restrepo from 1993 to 2006. From 1990 to 1993, he served as an Assistant Federal Defender in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and from 1987 to 1990 as an Assistant Defender with the Defender Association of Philadelphia.
Judge Restrepo received his J.D. from Tulane Law School in 1986 and his B.A from the University of Pennsylvania in 1981.
Honorable Laura E. Mate
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Laura E. Mate served as Director of the Sentencing Resource Counsel for the Federal Public and Community Defenders from 2020 to 2022. Prior to her position as Director, Ms. Mate served as a member of the Sentencing Resource Counsel from 2010 to 2020. From 2001 to 2010, Ms. Mate served in the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Washington in various roles, including as Assistant Federal Public Defender. Ms. Mate was an associate at Perkins Coie LLP from 1998 to 2001.
Ms. Mate received her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1998 and her B.A. from Kenyon College in 1992.
Honorable Claire Murray
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Claire Murray served as the Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General of the United States Department of Justice from 2019 to 2021. She also served as Acting Associate Attorney General in 2021 and as Counselor to the Attorney General in 2019. From 2017 to 2019, Ms. Murray served in the White House Counsel’s Office as Special Assistant and Associate Counsel to the President. From 2013 to 2017, Ms. Murray worked at Kirkland & Ellis as an associate until she was elevated to partner in 2015. From 2010 to 2012, Ms. Murray served as a trial attorney in the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice as part of the Attorney General’s Honors Program and as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia in 2011. She served as a law clerk for Justice Samuel Alito on the Supreme Court of the United States from 2012 to 2013 and for then-Judge Brett Kavanaugh on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from 2009 to 2010.
Ms. Murray received her J.D. from Yale Law School in 2009 and her A.B., magna cum laude, from Harvard College in 2004. She also received an M.Phil. from the University of Cambridge in 2008 and a d.e.a. from l’Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris in 2005.
Honorable Candice C. Wong
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Candice C. Wong served from 2015 to 2024 as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, where she led the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section for more than two years. Ms. Wong also served in various senior leadership positions in the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice, including as acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General as well as Chief of Staff. From 2020 to 2021, Ms. Wong served as the Department of Justice’s ex officio member on the United States Sentencing Commission. Prior to entering public service, Ms. Wong worked at Bancroft PLLC and King & Spalding LLP. Ms. Wong served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Sandra Day O’Connor and Honorable Sonia M. Sotomayor on the United States Supreme Court, and to the Honorable Brett M. Kavanaugh on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Ms. Wong received her J.D. from Harvard Law School and her A.B. from Harvard College.
Honorable Scott A.C. Meisler
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Ex officio member of the United States Sentencing Commission representing the Attorney General. Mr. Meisler serves as Deputy Chief of the Appellate Section in the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice. Previously, Mr. Meisler was a Trial Attorney in the Appellate Section, which he joined in 2009. He has also served in several other roles in the Department of Justice: as an Assistant to the Solicitor General (2015-16); an Assistant Special Counsel in the Office of Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller, III (2017-19); and a member of the Criminal Division’s National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (2022-23).
Before joining the Department of Justice, Mr. Meisler was an associate at Sidley Austin LLP. He served as a law clerk to Judge Ronald L. Gilman on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and Judge John D. Bates on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Mr. Meisler received his B.A. from Duke University, an M.A. in Hispanic Language and Literature from New York University, and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.
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This session will provide attendees with the opportunity to ask the Commissioners questions about federal sentencing.
Honorable Carlton W. Reeves
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Judge Carlton W. Reeves has served as a United States District Court Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi since 2010. Judge Reeves was previously a partner at Pigott Reeves Johnson & Minor, P.A. from 2001 to 2010. From 1995 to 2001, Judge Reeves served as Chief of the Civil Division for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi. From 1991 to 1995, Judge Reeves was an associate at Phelps Dunbar LLP. In 1991, Judge Reeves was a staff attorney for the Supreme Court of Mississippi. Judge Reeves served as a law clerk for Justice Reuben V. Anderson on the Mississippi Supreme Court from 1989 to 1990.
Judge Reeves received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1989 and his B.A. from Jackson State University in 1986.
Honorable Luis Felipe Restrepo
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Judge Luis Felipe Restrepo has served as a United States Court of Appeals Judge for the Third Circuit since 2016. Judge Restrepo previously served as a United States District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania from 2013 to 2016. Judge Restrepo served as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania from 2006 to 2013. Judge Restrepo was a partner at Krasner & Restrepo from 1993 to 2006. From 1990 to 1993, he served as an Assistant Federal Defender in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and from 1987 to 1990 as an Assistant Defender with the Defender Association of Philadelphia.
Judge Restrepo received his J.D. from Tulane Law School in 1986 and his B.A from the University of Pennsylvania in 1981.
Honorable Laura E. Mate
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Laura E. Mate served as Director of the Sentencing Resource Counsel for the Federal Public and Community Defenders from 2020 to 2022. Prior to her position as Director, Ms. Mate served as a member of the Sentencing Resource Counsel from 2010 to 2020. From 2001 to 2010, Ms. Mate served in the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Washington in various roles, including as Assistant Federal Public Defender. Ms. Mate was an associate at Perkins Coie LLP from 1998 to 2001.
Ms. Mate received her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1998 and her B.A. from Kenyon College in 1992.
Honorable Claire Murray
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Claire Murray served as the Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General of the United States Department of Justice from 2019 to 2021. She also served as Acting Associate Attorney General in 2021 and as Counselor to the Attorney General in 2019. From 2017 to 2019, Ms. Murray served in the White House Counsel’s Office as Special Assistant and Associate Counsel to the President. From 2013 to 2017, Ms. Murray worked at Kirkland & Ellis as an associate until she was elevated to partner in 2015. From 2010 to 2012, Ms. Murray served as a trial attorney in the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice as part of the Attorney General’s Honors Program and as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia in 2011. She served as a law clerk for Justice Samuel Alito on the Supreme Court of the United States from 2012 to 2013 and for then-Judge Brett Kavanaugh on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from 2009 to 2010.
Ms. Murray received her J.D. from Yale Law School in 2009 and her A.B., magna cum laude, from Harvard College in 2004. She also received an M.Phil. from the University of Cambridge in 2008 and a d.e.a. from l’Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris in 2005.
Honorable Candice C. Wong
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Candice C. Wong served from 2015 to 2024 as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, where she led the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section for more than two years. Ms. Wong also served in various senior leadership positions in the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice, including as acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General as well as Chief of Staff. From 2020 to 2021, Ms. Wong served as the Department of Justice’s ex officio member on the United States Sentencing Commission. Prior to entering public service, Ms. Wong worked at Bancroft PLLC and King & Spalding LLP. Ms. Wong served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Sandra Day O’Connor and Honorable Sonia M. Sotomayor on the United States Supreme Court, and to the Honorable Brett M. Kavanaugh on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Ms. Wong received her J.D. from Harvard Law School and her A.B. from Harvard College.
Honorable Scott A.C. Meisler
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Ex officio member of the United States Sentencing Commission representing the Attorney General. Mr. Meisler serves as Deputy Chief of the Appellate Section in the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice. Previously, Mr. Meisler was a Trial Attorney in the Appellate Section, which he joined in 2009. He has also served in several other roles in the Department of Justice: as an Assistant to the Solicitor General (2015-16); an Assistant Special Counsel in the Office of Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller, III (2017-19); and a member of the Criminal Division’s National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (2022-23).
Before joining the Department of Justice, Mr. Meisler was an associate at Sidley Austin LLP. He served as a law clerk to Judge Ronald L. Gilman on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and Judge John D. Bates on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Mr. Meisler received his B.A. from Duke University, an M.A. in Hispanic Language and Literature from New York University, and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.
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This interactive session will test your knowledge of the sentencing guidelines and help you decide on which sessions will most valuable to you during the Seminar.
Alan Dorhoffer
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Alan Dorhoffer is the Director of the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice and has worked at the Commission for close to 30 years. He has conducted hundreds of training programs for judges, attorneys, law clerks, probation officers, and federal bar associations on federal sentencing. Alan has also conducted numerous webcasts and broadcasts on the Federal Judicial Training Network (FJTN). During his time at the Commission, Alan has chaired policy teams on Sex Offenses, Criminal History, and Firearms, and been a member of several other teams. Alan specializes in analyzing Supreme Court and appellate court decisions interpreting the federal sentencing issues, and in presenting complex legal concepts in terms guideline users can readily understand.
Alan has been an Adjunct Professor at the George Mason School of Law, and was law clerk to the Honorable Edmund A. Sargus, U.S. District Judge, Southern District of Ohio, in Columbus. Alan is a graduate of Binghamton University and the George Washington University School of Law.
Ross Thomas
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Ross Thomas, Deputy Director of the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the Commission in 2020. During his time at the Commission, Ross has been a member of policy teams on Compassionate Release, Career Offender, Criminal History, and Drug Trafficking. He has co-authored two Commission Reports: Recidivism and Federal Bureau of Prisons Programs: Drug Program Participants Released in 2010 (May 2022) and Recidivism and Federal Bureau of Prisons Programs: Vocational Program Participants Released in 2010 (June 2022).
Before coming to the Commission, Ross worked for the Federal Public Defender's Office, District of Connecticut, both as an Assistant Federal Public Defender and a Research and Writing Attorney. Ross also served as a law clerk to the Honorable Vanessa L. Bryant, United States District Judge, District of Connecticut, and as a staff attorney for the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Ross received his undergraduate degree from Columbia University and graduated cum laude from Cornell Law School.
Lori Baker
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Lori Baker, Senior Education and Sentencing Practice Specialist in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the staff of the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 2020. She previously worked as a U.S. Probation Officer in the Middle District of Pennsylvania for over 20 years, including time spent as both a Sentencing Guideline Specialist and Supervisor. Although the majority of her career focused on the preparation of presentence investigation reports, her experience also includes pretrial services and post-conviction.
Lori enjoys working with those who are newer to federal sentencing including U.S. Probation Officers attending the Initial Probation and Pretrial Training Academy in Charleston, South Carolina. She uses her own experiences to identify concepts which are easily misunderstood and focuses her training efforts on these topics. Lori is particularly passionate about teaching the proper application of guidelines pertaining to sex offenses.
Lori holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration of Justice from the Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Science degree in Administration of Justice from Shippensburg University.
Jessica Collins
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Jessica Collins, Senior Attorney in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 2023. Before coming to the Commission, Jessica was an Assistant U.S. Attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, where she served as the Deputy Chief of the Southern Division. Jessica was also a Trial Attorney with the Fraud Section, Criminal Division, of the U.S. Department of Justice and worked as an attorney in private practice. Since coming to the Commission, Jessica has trained thousands of practitioners on the Sentencing Guidelines and served as the chair of a policy team on Firearms.
Jessica received her undergraduate degree from Tulane University. She graduated magna cum laude from New York University School of Law. Following law school, Jessica served as a law clerk to the Honorable Henry F. Floyd of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, as well as to the Honorable J. Frederick Motz and Honorable Catherine B. Blake of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.
Peter Madsen
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Peter Madsen, Senior Education and Sentencing Practice Specialist in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, has been on the staff of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, Washington, D.C. since April 2015.
Prior to coming to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, Pete was a U.S. Probation Officer in the District of Minnesota for eight years. He also worked for two and a half years in in the Northern District of Texas and one year in the Southern District of Ohio.
Pete graduated from the University of Minnesota-Duluth with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology and Sociology, and from Nova Southeastern University with a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice.
Angela Miller
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Angela Miller, Senior Attorney in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 2025. Before coming to the Commission, Angela worked in the Department of Justice for over 20 years, both in the Civil Rights Division’s and the Criminal Division’s Appellate Sections, where she focused on criminal appeals, and most recently in the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section, where she advised on criminal civil rights prosecutions.
Angela received her undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary and a graduate degree from George Washington University. She graduated summa cum laude from George Mason University School of Law, where she is an Adjunct Professor and coteaches a Civil Rights Prosecutions course. Following law school, she served as a law clerk to the Honorable David B. Sentelle of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Angela Walker
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Angela Walker, Senior Attorney in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 2025. Before coming to the Commission, Angela was a Senior Attorney with the Firearms and Explosives Law Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Prior to that role, she served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona for over sixteen years, focusing on prosecution of violent offenses and weapons trafficking. Angela also prosecuted a wide variety of other federal offenses, served in the Office’s Civil Division, and handled a significant number of appellate matters.
Angela received her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin, and her juris doctorate from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law. Following law school, Angela served as a law clerk and practiced as a Deputy County Attorney in the Special Victims Unit of the Pima County Attorney’s Office for three years. She was an adjunct professor at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law for seven years, where she taught advanced criminal procedure. She has also organized and presented at numerous Continuing Legal Education courses, judicial conferences, law enforcement training programs, and other legal seminars.
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This session will review the rules in §1B1.3 (Relevant Conduct (Factors that Determine the Guideline Range)) and will focus on when a defendant is held accountable for the acts of others, “expanded” relevant conduct, and “advanced” relevant conduct principles.
Ross Thomas
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Ross Thomas, Deputy Director of the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the Commission in 2020. During his time at the Commission, Ross has been a member of policy teams on Compassionate Release, Career Offender, Criminal History, and Drug Trafficking. He has co-authored two Commission Reports: Recidivism and Federal Bureau of Prisons Programs: Drug Program Participants Released in 2010 (May 2022) and Recidivism and Federal Bureau of Prisons Programs: Vocational Program Participants Released in 2010 (June 2022).
Before coming to the Commission, Ross worked for the Federal Public Defender's Office, District of Connecticut, both as an Assistant Federal Public Defender and a Research and Writing Attorney. Ross also served as a law clerk to the Honorable Vanessa L. Bryant, United States District Judge, District of Connecticut, and as a staff attorney for the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Ross received his undergraduate degree from Columbia University and graduated cum laude from Cornell Law School.
Lori Baker
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Lori Baker, Senior Education and Sentencing Practice Specialist in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the staff of the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 2020. She previously worked as a U.S. Probation Officer in the Middle District of Pennsylvania for over 20 years, including time spent as both a Sentencing Guideline Specialist and Supervisor. Although the majority of her career focused on the preparation of presentence investigation reports, her experience also includes pretrial services and post-conviction.
Lori enjoys working with those who are newer to federal sentencing including U.S. Probation Officers attending the Initial Probation and Pretrial Training Academy in Charleston, South Carolina. She uses her own experiences to identify concepts which are easily misunderstood and focuses her training efforts on these topics. Lori is particularly passionate about teaching the proper application of guidelines pertaining to sex offenses.
Lori holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration of Justice from the Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Science degree in Administration of Justice from Shippensburg University.
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This session will address application issues in §2L1.1 (Smuggling, Transporting, or Harboring an Unlawful Alien) and §2L1.2 (Unlawfully Entering or Remaining in the United States).
Peter Madsen
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Peter Madsen, Senior Education and Sentencing Practice Specialist in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, has been on the staff of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, Washington, D.C. since April 2015.
Prior to coming to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, Pete was a U.S. Probation Officer in the District of Minnesota for eight years. He also worked for two and a half years in in the Northern District of Texas and one year in the Southern District of Ohio.
Pete graduated from the University of Minnesota-Duluth with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology and Sociology, and from Nova Southeastern University with a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice.
Angela Walker
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Angela Walker, Senior Attorney in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 2025. Before coming to the Commission, Angela was a Senior Attorney with the Firearms and Explosives Law Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Prior to that role, she served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona for over sixteen years, focusing on prosecution of violent offenses and weapons trafficking. Angela also prosecuted a wide variety of other federal offenses, served in the Office’s Civil Division, and handled a significant number of appellate matters.
Angela received her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin, and her juris doctorate from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law. Following law school, Angela served as a law clerk and practiced as a Deputy County Attorney in the Special Victims Unit of the Pima County Attorney’s Office for three years. She was an adjunct professor at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law for seven years, where she taught advanced criminal procedure. She has also organized and presented at numerous Continuing Legal Education courses, judicial conferences, law enforcement training programs, and other legal seminars.
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This session will review recent Supreme Court and appellate cases involving sentencing-related issues.
Jessica Collins
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Jessica Collins, Senior Attorney in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 2023. Before coming to the Commission, Jessica was an Assistant U.S. Attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, where she served as the Deputy Chief of the Southern Division. Jessica was also a Trial Attorney with the Fraud Section, Criminal Division, of the U.S. Department of Justice and worked as an attorney in private practice. Since coming to the Commission, Jessica has trained thousands of practitioners on the Sentencing Guidelines and served as the chair of a policy team on Firearms.
Jessica received her undergraduate degree from Tulane University. She graduated magna cum laude from New York University School of Law. Following law school, Jessica served as a law clerk to the Honorable Henry F. Floyd of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, as well as to the Honorable J. Frederick Motz and Honorable Catherine B. Blake of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.
Angela Miller
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Angela Miller, Senior Attorney in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 2025. Before coming to the Commission, Angela worked in the Department of Justice for over 20 years, both in the Civil Rights Division’s and the Criminal Division’s Appellate Sections, where she focused on criminal appeals, and most recently in the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section, where she advised on criminal civil rights prosecutions.
Angela received her undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary and a graduate degree from George Washington University. She graduated summa cum laude from George Mason University School of Law, where she is an Adjunct Professor and coteaches a Civil Rights Prosecutions course. Following law school, she served as a law clerk to the Honorable David B. Sentelle of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
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This session will cover the primary rules of legal ethics generally applicable to defense counsel and prosecutors in criminal cases and specifically will address ethical issues arising in the federal sentencing context.
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This session will address best practices for probation officers in implementing the Commission’s more significant changes over the last several years, including the elimination of departures and supervised release.
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This session will discuss complex sentencing issues that practitioners face in the field.
Ross Thomas
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Ross Thomas, Deputy Director of the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the Commission in 2020. During his time at the Commission, Ross has been a member of policy teams on Compassionate Release, Career Offender, Criminal History, and Drug Trafficking. He has co-authored two Commission Reports: Recidivism and Federal Bureau of Prisons Programs: Drug Program Participants Released in 2010 (May 2022) and Recidivism and Federal Bureau of Prisons Programs: Vocational Program Participants Released in 2010 (June 2022).
Before coming to the Commission, Ross worked for the Federal Public Defender's Office, District of Connecticut, both as an Assistant Federal Public Defender and a Research and Writing Attorney. Ross also served as a law clerk to the Honorable Vanessa L. Bryant, United States District Judge, District of Connecticut, and as a staff attorney for the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Ross received his undergraduate degree from Columbia University and graduated cum laude from Cornell Law School.
Lori Baker
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Lori Baker, Senior Education and Sentencing Practice Specialist in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the staff of the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 2020. She previously worked as a U.S. Probation Officer in the Middle District of Pennsylvania for over 20 years, including time spent as both a Sentencing Guideline Specialist and Supervisor. Although the majority of her career focused on the preparation of presentence investigation reports, her experience also includes pretrial services and post-conviction.
Lori enjoys working with those who are newer to federal sentencing including U.S. Probation Officers attending the Initial Probation and Pretrial Training Academy in Charleston, South Carolina. She uses her own experiences to identify concepts which are easily misunderstood and focuses her training efforts on these topics. Lori is particularly passionate about teaching the proper application of guidelines pertaining to sex offenses.
Lori holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration of Justice from the Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Science degree in Administration of Justice from Shippensburg University.
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This session will address select issues in §2D1.1 (Unlawful Manufacturing, Importing, Exporting, or Trafficking (Including Possession with Intent to Commit These Offenses); Attempt or Conspiracy), including determining the base offense level and applying common specific offense characteristics. This session will also cover recent amendments relating to mitigating role, fentanyl or fentanyl analogue misrepresentation, and fentanyl-related substances.
Peter Madsen
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Peter Madsen, Senior Education and Sentencing Practice Specialist in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, has been on the staff of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, Washington, D.C. since April 2015.
Prior to coming to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, Pete was a U.S. Probation Officer in the District of Minnesota for eight years. He also worked for two and a half years in in the Northern District of Texas and one year in the Southern District of Ohio.
Pete graduated from the University of Minnesota-Duluth with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology and Sociology, and from Nova Southeastern University with a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice.
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This session will address application issues involving §2B1.1 (Fraud, Theft, and Embezzlement), with a focus on loss. It will address the general rule for calculating loss, special rules for certain offense types, and key relevant conduct principles.
Jessica Collins
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Jessica Collins, Senior Attorney in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 2023. Before coming to the Commission, Jessica was an Assistant U.S. Attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, where she served as the Deputy Chief of the Southern Division. Jessica was also a Trial Attorney with the Fraud Section, Criminal Division, of the U.S. Department of Justice and worked as an attorney in private practice. Since coming to the Commission, Jessica has trained thousands of practitioners on the Sentencing Guidelines and served as the chair of a policy team on Firearms.
Jessica received her undergraduate degree from Tulane University. She graduated magna cum laude from New York University School of Law. Following law school, Jessica served as a law clerk to the Honorable Henry F. Floyd of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, as well as to the Honorable J. Frederick Motz and Honorable Catherine B. Blake of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.
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This session will address the categorical approach, that is, the method for determining whether an offense meets a given definition, such as “crime of violence” or “controlled substance offense.” Specifically, the session will outline a four-step approach to applying the categorical (and modified categorical) approach and review key issues relating to the force and enumerated clauses, drug predicates, and inchoate offenses.
Angela Miller
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Angela Miller, Senior Attorney in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 2025. Before coming to the Commission, Angela worked in the Department of Justice for over 20 years, both in the Civil Rights Division’s and the Criminal Division’s Appellate Sections, where she focused on criminal appeals, and most recently in the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section, where she advised on criminal civil rights prosecutions.
Angela received her undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary and a graduate degree from George Washington University. She graduated summa cum laude from George Mason University School of Law, where she is an Adjunct Professor and coteaches a Civil Rights Prosecutions course. Following law school, she served as a law clerk to the Honorable David B. Sentelle of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
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This session will address common guideline application issues in §2K2.1 (Unlawful Receipt, Possession, or Transportation of Firearms or Ammunition; Prohibited Transactions Involving Firearms or Ammunition). This session also will cover recent amendments applicable to firearm offenses.
Angela Walker
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Angela Walker, Senior Attorney in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 2025. Before coming to the Commission, Angela was a Senior Attorney with the Firearms and Explosives Law Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Prior to that role, she served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona for over sixteen years, focusing on prosecution of violent offenses and weapons trafficking. Angela also prosecuted a wide variety of other federal offenses, served in the Office’s Civil Division, and handled a significant number of appellate matters.
Angela received her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin, and her juris doctorate from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law. Following law school, Angela served as a law clerk and practiced as a Deputy County Attorney in the Special Victims Unit of the Pima County Attorney’s Office for three years. She was an adjunct professor at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law for seven years, where she taught advanced criminal procedure. She has also organized and presented at numerous Continuing Legal Education courses, judicial conferences, law enforcement training programs, and other legal seminars.
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This session will address common guideline application issues for fraud and other economic offenses, such as how to identify the base offense level and apply selected specific offense characteristics under §2B1.1 (Fraud, Theft, and Embezzlement). This session also will discuss the interaction between §2B1.1 and §2S1.1 (Money Laundering).
Jessica Collins
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Jessica Collins, Senior Attorney in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 2023. Before coming to the Commission, Jessica was an Assistant U.S. Attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, where she served as the Deputy Chief of the Southern Division. Jessica was also a Trial Attorney with the Fraud Section, Criminal Division, of the U.S. Department of Justice and worked as an attorney in private practice. Since coming to the Commission, Jessica has trained thousands of practitioners on the Sentencing Guidelines and served as the chair of a policy team on Firearms.
Jessica received her undergraduate degree from Tulane University. She graduated magna cum laude from New York University School of Law. Following law school, Jessica served as a law clerk to the Honorable Henry F. Floyd of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, as well as to the Honorable J. Frederick Motz and Honorable Catherine B. Blake of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.
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This session will address application issues that have arisen in the context of the 2023–2025 Amendments. Specifically, the session will cover issues relating to the 2023 Firearms and Criminal History Amendments, 2024 Acquitted Conduct Amendment, and 2025 Drug and Supervised Release Amendments.
Ross Thomas
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Ross Thomas, Deputy Director of the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the Commission in 2020. During his time at the Commission, Ross has been a member of policy teams on Compassionate Release, Career Offender, Criminal History, and Drug Trafficking. He has co-authored two Commission Reports: Recidivism and Federal Bureau of Prisons Programs: Drug Program Participants Released in 2010 (May 2022) and Recidivism and Federal Bureau of Prisons Programs: Vocational Program Participants Released in 2010 (June 2022).
Before coming to the Commission, Ross worked for the Federal Public Defender's Office, District of Connecticut, both as an Assistant Federal Public Defender and a Research and Writing Attorney. Ross also served as a law clerk to the Honorable Vanessa L. Bryant, United States District Judge, District of Connecticut, and as a staff attorney for the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Ross received his undergraduate degree from Columbia University and graduated cum laude from Cornell Law School.
Angela Miller
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Angela Miller, Senior Attorney in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 2025. Before coming to the Commission, Angela worked in the Department of Justice for over 20 years, both in the Civil Rights Division’s and the Criminal Division’s Appellate Sections, where she focused on criminal appeals, and most recently in the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section, where she advised on criminal civil rights prosecutions.
Angela received her undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary and a graduate degree from George Washington University. She graduated summa cum laude from George Mason University School of Law, where she is an Adjunct Professor and coteaches a Civil Rights Prosecutions course. Following law school, she served as a law clerk to the Honorable David B. Sentelle of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
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This session will address the 2026 Multiple Counts Amendment. Specifically, participants will learn to apply the new multiple counts decision tree to determine a single offense level where there are multiple counts.
Ross Thomas
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Ross Thomas, Deputy Director of the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the Commission in 2020. During his time at the Commission, Ross has been a member of policy teams on Compassionate Release, Career Offender, Criminal History, and Drug Trafficking. He has co-authored two Commission Reports: Recidivism and Federal Bureau of Prisons Programs: Drug Program Participants Released in 2010 (May 2022) and Recidivism and Federal Bureau of Prisons Programs: Vocational Program Participants Released in 2010 (June 2022).
Before coming to the Commission, Ross worked for the Federal Public Defender's Office, District of Connecticut, both as an Assistant Federal Public Defender and a Research and Writing Attorney. Ross also served as a law clerk to the Honorable Vanessa L. Bryant, United States District Judge, District of Connecticut, and as a staff attorney for the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Ross received his undergraduate degree from Columbia University and graduated cum laude from Cornell Law School.
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This session will discuss child exploitation and sex offenses with a focus on §2G2.2 (Possession, Receipt, and Trafficking in Child Pornography) and §2G2.1 (Production of Child Pornography). Specifically, it will cover the relevant conduct principles relating to these offenses and the application of certain base offense levels, specific offense characteristics, and cross references.
Lori Baker
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Lori Baker, Senior Education and Sentencing Practice Specialist in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the staff of the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 2020. She previously worked as a U.S. Probation Officer in the Middle District of Pennsylvania for over 20 years, including time spent as both a Sentencing Guideline Specialist and Supervisor. Although the majority of her career focused on the preparation of presentence investigation reports, her experience also includes pretrial services and post-conviction.
Lori enjoys working with those who are newer to federal sentencing including U.S. Probation Officers attending the Initial Probation and Pretrial Training Academy in Charleston, South Carolina. She uses her own experiences to identify concepts which are easily misunderstood and focuses her training efforts on these topics. Lori is particularly passionate about teaching the proper application of guidelines pertaining to sex offenses.
Lori holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration of Justice from the Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Science degree in Administration of Justice from Shippensburg University.
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This session will review common application issues in the adjustments for vulnerable victim, role, abuse of trust, obstruction of justice, reckless endangerment, and acceptance of responsibility.
Angela Miller
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Angela Miller, Senior Attorney in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 2025. Before coming to the Commission, Angela worked in the Department of Justice for over 20 years, both in the Civil Rights Division’s and the Criminal Division’s Appellate Sections, where she focused on criminal appeals, and most recently in the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section, where she advised on criminal civil rights prosecutions.
Angela received her undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary and a graduate degree from George Washington University. She graduated summa cum laude from George Mason University School of Law, where she is an Adjunct Professor and coteaches a Civil Rights Prosecutions course. Following law school, she served as a law clerk to the Honorable David B. Sentelle of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Peter Madsen
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Peter Madsen, Senior Education and Sentencing Practice Specialist in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, has been on the staff of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, Washington, D.C. since April 2015.
Prior to coming to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, Pete was a U.S. Probation Officer in the District of Minnesota for eight years. He also worked for two and a half years in in the Northern District of Texas and one year in the Southern District of Ohio.
Pete graduated from the University of Minnesota-Duluth with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology and Sociology, and from Nova Southeastern University with a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice.
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This session will review basic criminal history. Specifically, it will address the definition of a prior sentence, treatment of multiple prior sentences as a single sentence, applicable time periods, offenses committed before 18, revocations, and other special rules, such as diversionary dispositions and the zero-point adjustment.
Angela Walker
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Angela Walker, Senior Attorney in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 2025. Before coming to the Commission, Angela was a Senior Attorney with the Firearms and Explosives Law Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Prior to that role, she served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona for over sixteen years, focusing on prosecution of violent offenses and weapons trafficking. Angela also prosecuted a wide variety of other federal offenses, served in the Office’s Civil Division, and handled a significant number of appellate matters.
Angela received her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin, and her juris doctorate from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law. Following law school, Angela served as a law clerk and practiced as a Deputy County Attorney in the Special Victims Unit of the Pima County Attorney’s Office for three years. She was an adjunct professor at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law for seven years, where she taught advanced criminal procedure. She has also organized and presented at numerous Continuing Legal Education courses, judicial conferences, law enforcement training programs, and other legal seminars.
Peter Madsen
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Peter Madsen, Senior Education and Sentencing Practice Specialist in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, has been on the staff of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, Washington, D.C. since April 2015.
Prior to coming to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, Pete was a U.S. Probation Officer in the District of Minnesota for eight years. He also worked for two and a half years in in the Northern District of Texas and one year in the Southern District of Ohio.
Pete graduated from the University of Minnesota-Duluth with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology and Sociology, and from Nova Southeastern University with a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice.
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This session will focus on more complex guideline application in child exploitation and sex offense cases. Specifically, it will cover the use of special instructions, §4B1.5 (Repeat and Dangerous Sex Offender Against Minors), and how to determine when restitution and assessments apply.
Lori Baker
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Lori Baker, Senior Education and Sentencing Practice Specialist in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the staff of the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 2020. She previously worked as a U.S. Probation Officer in the Middle District of Pennsylvania for over 20 years, including time spent as both a Sentencing Guideline Specialist and Supervisor. Although the majority of her career focused on the preparation of presentence investigation reports, her experience also includes pretrial services and post-conviction.
Lori enjoys working with those who are newer to federal sentencing including U.S. Probation Officers attending the Initial Probation and Pretrial Training Academy in Charleston, South Carolina. She uses her own experiences to identify concepts which are easily misunderstood and focuses her training efforts on these topics. Lori is particularly passionate about teaching the proper application of guidelines pertaining to sex offenses.
Lori holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration of Justice from the Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Science degree in Administration of Justice from Shippensburg University.
Alan Dorhoffer
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Alan Dorhoffer is the Director of the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice and has worked at the Commission for close to 30 years. He has conducted hundreds of training programs for judges, attorneys, law clerks, probation officers, and federal bar associations on federal sentencing. Alan has also conducted numerous webcasts and broadcasts on the Federal Judicial Training Network (FJTN). During his time at the Commission, Alan has chaired policy teams on Sex Offenses, Criminal History, and Firearms, and been a member of several other teams. Alan specializes in analyzing Supreme Court and appellate court decisions interpreting the federal sentencing issues, and in presenting complex legal concepts in terms guideline users can readily understand.
Alan has been an Adjunct Professor at the George Mason School of Law, and was law clerk to the Honorable Edmund A. Sargus, U.S. District Judge, Southern District of Ohio, in Columbus. Alan is a graduate of Binghamton University and the George Washington University School of Law.
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This session will focus on those offense types that are seen less frequently, such as official misconduct, obstruction, and hate crimes, but often raise complicated guideline application issues.
Jessica Collins
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Jessica Collins, Senior Attorney in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 2023. Before coming to the Commission, Jessica was an Assistant U.S. Attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, where she served as the Deputy Chief of the Southern Division. Jessica was also a Trial Attorney with the Fraud Section, Criminal Division, of the U.S. Department of Justice and worked as an attorney in private practice. Since coming to the Commission, Jessica has trained thousands of practitioners on the Sentencing Guidelines and served as the chair of a policy team on Firearms.
Jessica received her undergraduate degree from Tulane University. She graduated magna cum laude from New York University School of Law. Following law school, Jessica served as a law clerk to the Honorable Henry F. Floyd of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, as well as to the Honorable J. Frederick Motz and Honorable Catherine B. Blake of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.
Angela Miller
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Angela Miller, Senior Attorney in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 2025. Before coming to the Commission, Angela worked in the Department of Justice for over 20 years, both in the Civil Rights Division’s and the Criminal Division’s Appellate Sections, where she focused on criminal appeals, and most recently in the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section, where she advised on criminal civil rights prosecutions.
Angela received her undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary and a graduate degree from George Washington University. She graduated summa cum laude from George Mason University School of Law, where she is an Adjunct Professor and coteaches a Civil Rights Prosecutions course. Following law school, she served as a law clerk to the Honorable David B. Sentelle of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
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This session will address select issues in Chapter Five (Determining the Sentencing Range and Options under the Guidelines), including sentencing options, the interaction between the guideline range and statutory penalties, and §5G1.3 (Imposition of a Sentence on a Defendant Subject to an Undischarged Term of Imprisonment or Anticipated State Term of Imprisonment).
Ross Thomas
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Ross Thomas, Deputy Director of the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the Commission in 2020. During his time at the Commission, Ross has been a member of policy teams on Compassionate Release, Career Offender, Criminal History, and Drug Trafficking. He has co-authored two Commission Reports: Recidivism and Federal Bureau of Prisons Programs: Drug Program Participants Released in 2010 (May 2022) and Recidivism and Federal Bureau of Prisons Programs: Vocational Program Participants Released in 2010 (June 2022).
Before coming to the Commission, Ross worked for the Federal Public Defender's Office, District of Connecticut, both as an Assistant Federal Public Defender and a Research and Writing Attorney. Ross also served as a law clerk to the Honorable Vanessa L. Bryant, United States District Judge, District of Connecticut, and as a staff attorney for the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Ross received his undergraduate degree from Columbia University and graduated cum laude from Cornell Law School.
Peter Madsen
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Peter Madsen, Senior Education and Sentencing Practice Specialist in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, has been on the staff of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, Washington, D.C. since April 2015.
Prior to coming to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, Pete was a U.S. Probation Officer in the District of Minnesota for eight years. He also worked for two and a half years in in the Northern District of Texas and one year in the Southern District of Ohio.
Pete graduated from the University of Minnesota-Duluth with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology and Sociology, and from Nova Southeastern University with a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice.
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This session will address issues involving restitution orders, including who is a victim for purposes of restitution, when restitution can be ordered, the amount that can be ordered, and the procedures associated with orders.
Alan Dorhoffer
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Alan Dorhoffer is the Director of the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice and has worked at the Commission for close to 30 years. He has conducted hundreds of training programs for judges, attorneys, law clerks, probation officers, and federal bar associations on federal sentencing. Alan has also conducted numerous webcasts and broadcasts on the Federal Judicial Training Network (FJTN). During his time at the Commission, Alan has chaired policy teams on Sex Offenses, Criminal History, and Firearms, and been a member of several other teams. Alan specializes in analyzing Supreme Court and appellate court decisions interpreting the federal sentencing issues, and in presenting complex legal concepts in terms guideline users can readily understand.
Alan has been an Adjunct Professor at the George Mason School of Law, and was law clerk to the Honorable Edmund A. Sargus, U.S. District Judge, Southern District of Ohio, in Columbus. Alan is a graduate of Binghamton University and the George Washington University School of Law.
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This session will review how to apply the guidelines to RICO violations, including identifying racketeering activities, calculating base offense levels for single and multiple offenses, and advanced application issues. This session will discuss the impact of the 2026 Multiple Counts Amendment on RICO cases.
Jessica Collins
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Jessica Collins, Senior Attorney in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 2023. Before coming to the Commission, Jessica was an Assistant U.S. Attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, where she served as the Deputy Chief of the Southern Division. Jessica was also a Trial Attorney with the Fraud Section, Criminal Division, of the U.S. Department of Justice and worked as an attorney in private practice. Since coming to the Commission, Jessica has trained thousands of practitioners on the Sentencing Guidelines and served as the chair of a policy team on Firearms.
Jessica received her undergraduate degree from Tulane University. She graduated magna cum laude from New York University School of Law. Following law school, Jessica served as a law clerk to the Honorable Henry F. Floyd of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, as well as to the Honorable J. Frederick Motz and Honorable Catherine B. Blake of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.
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This session will use a variety of factual scenarios to highlight common issues in sentencing and guideline application.
Jessica Collins
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Jessica Collins, Senior Attorney in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 2023. Before coming to the Commission, Jessica was an Assistant U.S. Attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, where she served as the Deputy Chief of the Southern Division. Jessica was also a Trial Attorney with the Fraud Section, Criminal Division, of the U.S. Department of Justice and worked as an attorney in private practice. Since coming to the Commission, Jessica has trained thousands of practitioners on the Sentencing Guidelines and served as the chair of a policy team on Firearms.
Jessica received her undergraduate degree from Tulane University. She graduated magna cum laude from New York University School of Law. Following law school, Jessica served as a law clerk to the Honorable Henry F. Floyd of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, as well as to the Honorable J. Frederick Motz and Honorable Catherine B. Blake of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.
Angela Miller
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Angela Miller, Senior Attorney in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 2025. Before coming to the Commission, Angela worked in the Department of Justice for over 20 years, both in the Civil Rights Division’s and the Criminal Division’s Appellate Sections, where she focused on criminal appeals, and most recently in the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section, where she advised on criminal civil rights prosecutions.
Angela received her undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary and a graduate degree from George Washington University. She graduated summa cum laude from George Mason University School of Law, where she is an Adjunct Professor and coteaches a Civil Rights Prosecutions course. Following law school, she served as a law clerk to the Honorable David B. Sentelle of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Angela Walker
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Angela Walker, Senior Attorney in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 2025. Before coming to the Commission, Angela was a Senior Attorney with the Firearms and Explosives Law Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Prior to that role, she served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona for over sixteen years, focusing on prosecution of violent offenses and weapons trafficking. Angela also prosecuted a wide variety of other federal offenses, served in the Office’s Civil Division, and handled a significant number of appellate matters.
Angela received her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin, and her juris doctorate from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law. Following law school, Angela served as a law clerk and practiced as a Deputy County Attorney in the Special Victims Unit of the Pima County Attorney’s Office for three years. She was an adjunct professor at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law for seven years, where she taught advanced criminal procedure. She has also organized and presented at numerous Continuing Legal Education courses, judicial conferences, law enforcement training programs, and other legal seminars.
Honorable Carlton W. Reeves
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Judge Carlton W. Reeves has served as a United States District Court Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi since 2010. Judge Reeves was previously a partner at Pigott Reeves Johnson & Minor, P.A. from 2001 to 2010. From 1995 to 2001, Judge Reeves served as Chief of the Civil Division for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi. From 1991 to 1995, Judge Reeves was an associate at Phelps Dunbar LLP. In 1991, Judge Reeves was a staff attorney for the Supreme Court of Mississippi. Judge Reeves served as a law clerk for Justice Reuben V. Anderson on the Mississippi Supreme Court from 1989 to 1990.
Judge Reeves received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1989 and his B.A. from Jackson State University in 1986.
Alan Dorhoffer
United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
Alan Dorhoffer is the Director of the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice and has worked at the Commission for close to 30 years. He has conducted hundreds of training programs for judges, attorneys, law clerks, probation officers, and federal bar associations on federal sentencing. Alan has also conducted numerous webcasts and broadcasts on the Federal Judicial Training Network (FJTN). During his time at the Commission, Alan has chaired policy teams on Sex Offenses, Criminal History, and Firearms, and been a member of several other teams. Alan specializes in analyzing Supreme Court and appellate court decisions interpreting the federal sentencing issues, and in presenting complex legal concepts in terms guideline users can readily understand.
Alan has been an Adjunct Professor at the George Mason School of Law, and was law clerk to the Honorable Edmund A. Sargus, U.S. District Judge, Southern District of Ohio, in Columbus. Alan is a graduate of Binghamton University and the George Washington University School of Law.
United States Sentencing Commission
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Ex officio member of the United States Sentencing Commission representing the Attorney General. Mr. Meisler serves as Deputy Chief of the Appellate Section in the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice. Previously, Mr. Meisler was a Trial Attorney in the Appellate Section, which he joined in 2009. He has also served in several other roles in the Department of Justice: as an Assistant to the Solicitor General (2015-16); an Assistant Special Counsel in the Office of Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller, III (2017-19); and a member of the Criminal Division’s National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (2022-23).
Before joining the Department of Justice, Mr. Meisler was an associate at Sidley Austin LLP. He served as a law clerk to Judge Ronald L. Gilman on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and Judge John D. Bates on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Mr. Meisler received his B.A. from Duke University, an M.A. in Hispanic Language and Literature from New York University, and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.
United States Sentencing Commission
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Angela Walker, Senior Attorney in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 2025. Before coming to the Commission, Angela was a Senior Attorney with the Firearms and Explosives Law Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Prior to that role, she served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona for over sixteen years, focusing on prosecution of violent offenses and weapons trafficking. Angela also prosecuted a wide variety of other federal offenses, served in the Office’s Civil Division, and handled a significant number of appellate matters.
Angela received her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin, and her juris doctorate from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law. Following law school, Angela served as a law clerk and practiced as a Deputy County Attorney in the Special Victims Unit of the Pima County Attorney’s Office for three years. She was an adjunct professor at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law for seven years, where she taught advanced criminal procedure. She has also organized and presented at numerous Continuing Legal Education courses, judicial conferences, law enforcement training programs, and other legal seminars.
United States Sentencing Commission
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Angela Miller, Senior Attorney in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 2025. Before coming to the Commission, Angela worked in the Department of Justice for over 20 years, both in the Civil Rights Division’s and the Criminal Division’s Appellate Sections, where she focused on criminal appeals, and most recently in the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section, where she advised on criminal civil rights prosecutions.
Angela received her undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary and a graduate degree from George Washington University. She graduated summa cum laude from George Mason University School of Law, where she is an Adjunct Professor and coteaches a Civil Rights Prosecutions course. Following law school, she served as a law clerk to the Honorable David B. Sentelle of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
United States Sentencing Commission
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Lori Baker, Senior Education and Sentencing Practice Specialist in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the staff of the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 2020. She previously worked as a U.S. Probation Officer in the Middle District of Pennsylvania for over 20 years, including time spent as both a Sentencing Guideline Specialist and Supervisor. Although the majority of her career focused on the preparation of presentence investigation reports, her experience also includes pretrial services and post-conviction.
Lori enjoys working with those who are newer to federal sentencing including U.S. Probation Officers attending the Initial Probation and Pretrial Training Academy in Charleston, South Carolina. She uses her own experiences to identify concepts which are easily misunderstood and focuses her training efforts on these topics. Lori is particularly passionate about teaching the proper application of guidelines pertaining to sex offenses.
Lori holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration of Justice from the Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Science degree in Administration of Justice from Shippensburg University.
United States Sentencing Commission
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Peter Madsen, Senior Education and Sentencing Practice Specialist in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, has been on the staff of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, Washington, D.C. since April 2015.
Prior to coming to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, Pete was a U.S. Probation Officer in the District of Minnesota for eight years. He also worked for two and a half years in in the Northern District of Texas and one year in the Southern District of Ohio.
Pete graduated from the University of Minnesota-Duluth with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology and Sociology, and from Nova Southeastern University with a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice.
United States Sentencing Commission
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Ross Thomas, Deputy Director of the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the Commission in 2020. During his time at the Commission, Ross has been a member of policy teams on Compassionate Release, Career Offender, Criminal History, and Drug Trafficking. He has co-authored two Commission Reports: Recidivism and Federal Bureau of Prisons Programs: Drug Program Participants Released in 2010 (May 2022) and Recidivism and Federal Bureau of Prisons Programs: Vocational Program Participants Released in 2010 (June 2022).
Before coming to the Commission, Ross worked for the Federal Public Defender's Office, District of Connecticut, both as an Assistant Federal Public Defender and a Research and Writing Attorney. Ross also served as a law clerk to the Honorable Vanessa L. Bryant, United States District Judge, District of Connecticut, and as a staff attorney for the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Ross received his undergraduate degree from Columbia University and graduated cum laude from Cornell Law School.
United States Sentencing Commission
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Jessica Collins, Senior Attorney in the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, joined the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 2023. Before coming to the Commission, Jessica was an Assistant U.S. Attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, where she served as the Deputy Chief of the Southern Division. Jessica was also a Trial Attorney with the Fraud Section, Criminal Division, of the U.S. Department of Justice and worked as an attorney in private practice. Since coming to the Commission, Jessica has trained thousands of practitioners on the Sentencing Guidelines and served as the chair of a policy team on Firearms.
Jessica received her undergraduate degree from Tulane University. She graduated magna cum laude from New York University School of Law. Following law school, Jessica served as a law clerk to the Honorable Henry F. Floyd of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, as well as to the Honorable J. Frederick Motz and Honorable Catherine B. Blake of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.
United States Sentencing Commission
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Candice C. Wong served from 2015 to 2024 as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, where she led the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section for more than two years. Ms. Wong also served in various senior leadership positions in the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice, including as acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General as well as Chief of Staff. From 2020 to 2021, Ms. Wong served as the Department of Justice’s ex officio member on the United States Sentencing Commission. Prior to entering public service, Ms. Wong worked at Bancroft PLLC and King & Spalding LLP. Ms. Wong served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Sandra Day O’Connor and Honorable Sonia M. Sotomayor on the United States Supreme Court, and to the Honorable Brett M. Kavanaugh on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Ms. Wong received her J.D. from Harvard Law School and her A.B. from Harvard College.
United States Sentencing Commission
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Laura E. Mate served as Director of the Sentencing Resource Counsel for the Federal Public and Community Defenders from 2020 to 2022. Prior to her position as Director, Ms. Mate served as a member of the Sentencing Resource Counsel from 2010 to 2020. From 2001 to 2010, Ms. Mate served in the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Washington in various roles, including as Assistant Federal Public Defender. Ms. Mate was an associate at Perkins Coie LLP from 1998 to 2001.
Ms. Mate received her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1998 and her B.A. from Kenyon College in 1992.
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Claire Murray served as the Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General of the United States Department of Justice from 2019 to 2021. She also served as Acting Associate Attorney General in 2021 and as Counselor to the Attorney General in 2019. From 2017 to 2019, Ms. Murray served in the White House Counsel’s Office as Special Assistant and Associate Counsel to the President. From 2013 to 2017, Ms. Murray worked at Kirkland & Ellis as an associate until she was elevated to partner in 2015. From 2010 to 2012, Ms. Murray served as a trial attorney in the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice as part of the Attorney General’s Honors Program and as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia in 2011. She served as a law clerk for Justice Samuel Alito on the Supreme Court of the United States from 2012 to 2013 and for then-Judge Brett Kavanaugh on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from 2009 to 2010.
Ms. Murray received her J.D. from Yale Law School in 2009 and her A.B., magna cum laude, from Harvard College in 2004. She also received an M.Phil. from the University of Cambridge in 2008 and a d.e.a. from l’Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris in 2005.
United States Sentencing Commission
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Judge Luis Felipe Restrepo has served as a United States Court of Appeals Judge for the Third Circuit since 2016. Judge Restrepo previously served as a United States District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania from 2013 to 2016. Judge Restrepo served as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania from 2006 to 2013. Judge Restrepo was a partner at Krasner & Restrepo from 1993 to 2006. From 1990 to 1993, he served as an Assistant Federal Defender in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and from 1987 to 1990 as an Assistant Defender with the Defender Association of Philadelphia.
Judge Restrepo received his J.D. from Tulane Law School in 1986 and his B.A from the University of Pennsylvania in 1981.
United States Sentencing Commission
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Alan Dorhoffer is the Director of the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice and has worked at the Commission for close to 30 years. He has conducted hundreds of training programs for judges, attorneys, law clerks, probation officers, and federal bar associations on federal sentencing. Alan has also conducted numerous webcasts and broadcasts on the Federal Judicial Training Network (FJTN). During his time at the Commission, Alan has chaired policy teams on Sex Offenses, Criminal History, and Firearms, and been a member of several other teams. Alan specializes in analyzing Supreme Court and appellate court decisions interpreting the federal sentencing issues, and in presenting complex legal concepts in terms guideline users can readily understand.
Alan has been an Adjunct Professor at the George Mason School of Law, and was law clerk to the Honorable Edmund A. Sargus, U.S. District Judge, Southern District of Ohio, in Columbus. Alan is a graduate of Binghamton University and the George Washington University School of Law.
United States Sentencing Commission
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Judge Carlton W. Reeves has served as a United States District Court Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi since 2010. Judge Reeves was previously a partner at Pigott Reeves Johnson & Minor, P.A. from 2001 to 2010. From 1995 to 2001, Judge Reeves served as Chief of the Civil Division for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi. From 1991 to 1995, Judge Reeves was an associate at Phelps Dunbar LLP. In 1991, Judge Reeves was a staff attorney for the Supreme Court of Mississippi. Judge Reeves served as a law clerk for Justice Reuben V. Anderson on the Mississippi Supreme Court from 1989 to 1990.
Judge Reeves received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1989 and his B.A. from Jackson State University in 1986.
Yes, you’ll need to register for the seminar and make your own hotel reservations. To make your hotel reservations, please click on the “Hotel" tab at the top of the page. If you do need to cancel your seminar registration, you will also need to cancel your hotel reservation.
Yes, the vFairs platform we are using will work with any computer or mobile device and will run on any browser.
Should you have technical questions, please contact Joe DiPietro, the Sentencing Commission's Training and Education Program Manager.
August in Chicago is typically warm, humid, and sunny, with average highs in the low 80s and low temperatures in the mid-60s.
There is no dress code for attendees. Comfortable clothing is encouraged as is a sweater or light jacket for use in the presentation space. We do our best to control the temperature, but rooms do tend to run a bit cool.
No. Although there are no costs associated with registering for the National Seminar, you are responsible for your own expenses, lodging, and travel.
Yes! The Commission is seeking approval for MCLE credits for the National Training Seminar and will update this section with specifics as soon as possible.
For general questions about the event, please email Alan Dorhoffer. For technical support, contact Joe DiPietro.

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