News articles and press releases from the DOJ often include a theoretical maximum sentence that is unconnected with how a judge will actually assign a sentence.

News articles and press releases from the DOJ often include a theoretical maximum sentence that is unconnected with how a judge will actually assign a sentence. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Federal_Sentencing_Guidelines https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Federal_Sentenci... A defendant with competent legal counsel (as Aaron Swartz had) would have been informed by them of the likely actual range of the sentence if found guilty.