Drug Offender Function in the United States

This list of drug offender functions are used by the United States Sentencing Commission.

These drug offender functions are listed in descending order from most serious to least serious:

Importer/High Level Supplier (Imports or otherwise supplies large quantities of drugs (1 kilogram or more); is near the top of the distribution chain; has ownership interest in drugs (not merely transporting drugs for another individual); usually supplies drugs to other drug distributors and generally does not deal in retail amounts; may employ no or very few subordinates.)
Organizer/Leader (Organizes, leads, directs, or otherwise runs a drug distribution organization; has the largest share of the profits and the most decision-making authority.)
Grower/Manufacturer (Grows, cultivates, or manufactures a controlled substance, and is the principal owner of the drugs.)
Financier/Money Launderer (Provides money for purchase, importation, manufacture, cultivation, transportation, or distribution of drugs; launders proceeds of drugs sales or purchases. Not an individual who merely transports money for the organization.)
Aircraft Pilot/Vessel Captain (Pilots vessel or aircraft; requires special skill; does not include offender who is only participant directing a small boat (e.g., a go-fast boat) onto which drugs had been loaded from a “mother ship” (such person is a courier).)
Wholesaler (Sells more than retail/user-level quantities in a single transaction; sells at least 1 ounce (28 grams) but less than 1 kilogram at one time, possesses or buys at least 2 ounces (56 grams) at one time, sells any amount to another dealer.)
Manager (Serves as a lieutenant to assist one of the above; manages all or a significant portion of a drug manufacturing, importation, or distribution operation; takes instructions from one of the above and conveys to subordinates; supervises directly at least one other co-participant in an organization of at least five co-participants.)
Bodyguard/Strongman/Debt collector (Provides physical and personal security for another co-participant in the offense; collects debts owed, or punishes recalcitrant persons.)
Chemists/Cooks/Chemical Supplier (Produces LSD, methamphetamine, crack or other illegal drugs, but does not qualify as a Grower/Manufacturer because he/ she is not the principal owner of the drugs. Chemical supplier does not handle drugs themselves but engages in the unlawful diversion, sale, or furnishing of listed chemicals or equipment used in the synthesis or manufacturing of controlled substances.)
Supervisor (Supervises at least one other co-participant, however, has limited authority and does not qualify as a Manager.)
Street Level Dealer (Distributes retail quantities directly to the user; sells less than 1 ounce (28 grams) quantities to any user(s); if any amount is sold to another dealer use the wholesaler function.).
Broker/Steerer/Go Between (Arranges for two parties to buy/sell drugs, or directs potential buyer to a potential seller.)
Courier (Transports or carries drugs with the assistance of a vehicle or other equipment. Includes situations where the offender, who is otherwise considered to be a crew member, is the only participant directing a vessel onto which drugs had been loaded from a “mother-ship.”)
Mule (Transports or carries drugs internally or on their person, often by airplane, or by walking across a border. Also, includes an offender who only transports or carries drugs in baggage, souvenirs, clothing, otherwise.)
Renter/Storer (Provides (for profit/compensation) own residence, structures (barns, storage bins, buildings), land, or equipment for use to further the offense. This offender is distinguished from the enabler because he is paid (in some way) for his services.)
Money Runner (Transports/carries money and/or drugs to and from the street-level dealer.)
Off Loader/Loader (Performs the physical labor required to put large quantities of drugs into storage, hiding, or onto some mode of transportation.)
Gopher/Lookout/Deckhand/Worker/Employee (Performs very limited, low-level function in the offense (whether or not ongoing); includes running errands, answering the telephone, receiving packages, packaging the drugs, manual labor, acting as a lookout to provide early warnings during meetings, exchanges, or off-loading, or acting as a deckhand/crew member on vessel or aircraft used to transport large quantities of drugs.)
Enabler (Passive) (Plays no more than passive role in the offense, knowingly permitting certain unlawful criminal activity to take place without affirmatively acting in any way to further such activity; may be coerced or unduly influenced to play such a function (e.g. a parent or grandparent threatened with displacement from a home unless they permit the activity to take place), or may do so as a “favor” (without compensation).)
User Only (Possesses small amount of drugs apparently for personal use only; no apparent function in any conspiratorial criminal activity.)