This is a list of longest prison sentences ever given to a single person, worldwide. Listed are instances where people have been sentenced to jail terms in excess of a human lifetime, but effectively the same purpose. Note that many national legislations worldwide do not allow for such sentences.
Since the sentence given is not necessarily equivalent to time served, see the list of longest prison sentences served for those who have spent the longest continuous time in prison.
Prisoners not sentenced to life imprisonment
These sentences differ technically from sentences of life imprisonment in that the designated jail times have specific lengths, although in practical terms they effectively serve the same purpose.
Prisoners sentenced to 10,000 years or more in prison
World's longest sentence for corporate fraud according to Guinness World Records 2006. Also the longest, non-life, officially confirmed sentence ever handed in the world. She defrauded more than 16,000 Thais in a pyramid scheme worth $204 million at the time.[1] However, the Thai law of the time specified that those convicted of fraud could not serve more than twenty years in prison and her mandatory release was 2009, she was paroled after only eight.[2]
Sentenced for their roles in the 2004 Madrid train bombings.[3] Under Spanish law, the maximum sentence that any of them can serve is 40 years. The release date is scheduled for March 19, 2044, for El Gnaoui. Both Zougam and Trashorras will be released 17 days before El Gnaoui. Zougam will be 71 years old, El Gnaoui will be 69 years old, and Trashorras would be 67 years old.[4] It is the longest, non-life, officially confirmed sentence ever handed in the European Union.
Longest jail term to a single American on multiple counts. Also the longest sentence ever handed in the United States. Robinson was sentenced to 5,000 years for each of the six counts against him for raping a 3-year-old girl in Oklahoma.[5]
Convicted of 2,653 counts of fraud. He admitted running a Ponzi scheme whereby he promised investors artificially high financial returns. About 40,000 people were persuaded to pour more than $160m (£120m) into his companies. Prosecutors told the court that Kittithradilok organised seminars where attendees were encouraged to invest in what he said were businesses linked to property development, beauty, used cars and exports, among other things. They recommended 5 years for each count and an additional 10 years. Totalling, 13,275 years. Due to his confession, his sentence was halved to 6,637 years and six months. Under Thailand law, a convicted fraudster can't serve above 20 years. He will be released in 2037.[7]
Greatest amount of jail time given as a result of an appeal. Found guilty of crimes ranging from rape of an elderly woman in Tulsa County, Oklahoma to larceny, robbery and kidnapping, and sentenced to 2,250 years. He appealed, was reconvicted, re-sentenced and received an additional jail term of 9,500 years, later reduced by 500 years.[8][6]
Televangelist and cult leader. Nation's longest sentence for fraud and sexual abuse commitment according to TRT. Originally sentenced to 1,075 years.[11] On November 17, 2022, he was retried and sentenced to 8,658 years.[12]
Perpetrator of 2012 shooting outside a southwest Houston nightclub that left three people dead and two others injured, including rapper Trae tha Truth.[14][15]
Pair of brothers given 5,005 years each in Dallas, Texas for the kidnapping of Amanda Mayhew Dealey, the daughter-in-law of Joe Dealey, the then-President of the Dallas News. The brothers had kept Dealey in an abandoned duplex for 60 hours and released her after her family paid a ransom of $250,000. The brothers were arrested, and the money recovered, just four hours after her release.[18][19][20] Woodrow Ransonette was released on parole in 1999, and Franklin Ransonette died in prison in 2008.[21]
Perpetrator of the 1990 Happy Land fire in which 87 people died. The amount of years Gonzalez was sentenced to comes from the 174 counts he was found guilty of, each of which carried at least 25 years, and was denied parole in 2015.[22] He died of a heart attack the following year.[23]
Sexually assaulted three teenage girls over two years. Convicted of 40 counts of sexual assault and 3 counts of sexual performance of a child. Given 40 sentences of 100 years (40 life terms) for sexual assault and 3 sentences of 20 years for child molestation. This is equivalent to 40 life terms plus 60 years.[24] Currently incarcerated at W.J. Estelle Unit.[25]
Serial rapist known as Cleveland's "West Side Rapist", terrorized Ohioans for over 5 years in the 1980s, amassing 49 counts of rape and 230 criminal charges overall. Parole date was scheduled for 2094. Shelton committed suicide in prison on September 25, 2018.[26]
Kiel sold "a small amount" of cocaine to an undercover policeman in Oklahoma. After his arrest, 86 grams of cocaine, 40 grams of marijuana, and $1,800 was seized from his car. Kiel received 1,000 years for drug trafficking, 1,000 for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, 250 years for failure to have a tax stamp on the drugs, 250 years for maintaining a vehicle for illegal drugs, and 1 year for possession of drug paraphernalia, for a total of 2,501 years.[29] Paroled on June 16, 2009.
Serial killer responsible for most of the so-called "ABC Murders" in Gauteng province, South Africa. Found guilty of 40 counts of rape, 38 counts of murder, and six counts of robbery.
Broke out of Alfalfa County jail in Oklahoma; Woolsey was being held on kidnap and rape charges, and Whitlock had been sentenced to 10 years for receiving stolen property. The men overpowered an officer and stole his police car, later abandoning the car but taking with them an AR-15 automatic rifle and an M-1 carbine, which they used to steal a pickup truck from an oil-field worker. When they were located two days later, they led police on a 32-mile high-speed chase through Bryan and Marshall Counties, exchanging gunfire with them. Two officers were shot, later making a full recovery, and one more was treated for injuries from broken glass. A Bryan County judge gave them 2,000 years each: 1,000 years for shooting with intent to kill, 500 years for possession of stolen property, and 500 years for running a roadblock. Tried separately in Marshall County, they additionally each received two life sentences and 20 years.[32][33][34][35]
Convicted of 234 counts of sexual abuse in Pennsylvania, creating and possessing child pornography for abusing a teenage girl for four years, filming and photographing the abuse. Parole date scheduled in 2948.[36]
For his part in a 2001 Virginia home invasion, Stephens was sentenced to 1,823 years and his co-defendant, Darnell Nolan, was sentenced to 35 years. In December 2021, Stephens was granted a conditional pardon by Governor Ralph Northam and his sentence was commuted. He was released in January 2022 after 20 years in prison, though the details of the pardon are currently unclear.[37][38][39][40][41]
Convicted of repeatedly raping his daughter over a four-year period in central California. Based on a diary in which she recorded the attacks, corroborated by other evidence, he was convicted of 186 separate assaults. He had rejected 13- and 22-year plea bargain deals, as he maintained his innocence.[47]
Convicted of 17 counts of aggravated robbery, 8 counts of robbery, and 1 count of weapons violation. He was given 17 64 year sentences and 8 24 year sentences totalling 1,256 years. Given another 10-year sentence.[51] Sentenced to 6 years in 2003 for the bank robbery before.
Perpetrators of the 1995 Vallecas bombing. They were expected to serve a maximum sentence of 30 years. Both to be released in 2037. Goñi will wait until he's nearly 67 years old. Guridi will wait until he's 70 years old.
Mass murderer who systematically tortured, raped, and murdered eight student nurses from South Chicago Community Hospital on July 14, 1966. Sentenced originally to death in the electric chair in 1967, sentence commuted in 1972. Died of a heart attack on December 5, 1991.
A leader of Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) convicted of 24 counts of aggravated homicide between 2017 and 2018, being sentenced to 20 years for each case.[53][54]
A former youth pastor who plead guilty to multiple child-sex crimes such as sexual abuse, sodomy, enticing a child for sex, and traveling to meet a child for sexual abuse which included 28 counts involving six boys between the ages of 13 and 16.[55]
Military officer during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet who was convicted of more than 80 counts of kidnapping, torture and disappearance of persons, which occurred between 1974 and 1976.[56]
Sentenced in February 1970 for the armed robbery of a dry cleaners in Dallas, which netted $73.10.[61][62] Although at the time reported to be "probably the longest" sentence ever handed down in Texas,[63] Lee Robertson's 1905 sentence of 1,001 years was longer. Sills' conviction was upheld on appeal.[64] However, he was released in 1983 after serving 13 years.[49]
Sentenced in June 1970 in Dallas for rape. The Assistant District Attorney had asked for a sentence of 5,000 years.[65] Ronald Lewis Jones, an accomplice to the crime, was given a life sentence.[66] Hill was paroled in 1983.[49]
Convicted of raping an eight-months-pregnant woman and stealing $3 from her purse. Given 500 years for rape and 500 for robbery with a dangerous weapon.[67][68] In 1973, Duffey's sentence was reduced to two life terms.[69]
Sentenced to 1,000 years each in Oklahoma for first degree rape; sentences upheld in 1972.[70][71] A key witness in the case, Jesse Stewart, died at the time of the sentencing after suffering a broken leg in a motorcycle accident. Stewart had previously told assistant prosecutors that if he testified, he was "a dead man." However, prosecutors believed his death to be a "weird coincidence."[72] Phillips sentence was commuted to 99 years in 1979 and Fields sentence was commuted to 99 years in 1980 by governor David Boren.[73] Fields was released on March 22, 1989.[74] and Phillips was released on January 10, 2013.[74]
Sentenced for beating a grocery store clerk with an iron bar before robbing the store. Byrd was already serving a different 101-year sentence for robbery, and shortly after a separate jury gave him an additional 10 years for assault with intent to rob.[75]
Sentenced for the 1963 murder of Bobbie Jewell Nuttycomb Smith.[76] Hackathorn was originally given the death penalty in 1963, but this was overturned several years later and he was given a new trial, where he was given a term of 1,000 years. The names of the jury members were kept secret after an anonymous telephone caller to the Associated Press threatened to kill the jury members if Hackathorn were not found guilty.[77][78] Hackathorn was paroled in 1976.[79]
For the murder of San Antonio policeman Antonio Canales. Spencer was initially assessed a term of 10,000 years,[86][87] and the New York Times reported him as receiving such a sentence.[88] However, under state law, the judge's assessment was not equivalent to a final sentencing,[89] and the amount of time was lowered to 1,000 years shortly after.[90]
Convicted of raping a 3-year-old girl. Given 500 years for lewd molestation and 500 years for producing child pornography.[95] Discharged on August 15, 2022, according to the Oklahoma department of corrections website.[96]
Convicted of raping an under 12-year-old juvenile girl 10 times. District Attorney Doug Valeska said it is the longest sentence he can remember being handed down during his tenure. Wood had sex with the victim at least 10 times over a three-year period, according to court testimony. The defense argued during the trial that the victim lied and had told the judge at a preliminary hearing that the rapes did not happen. The victim's mother also took the stand to testify against her daughter. They recommended 99 years for each of the number of times the girl was raped, resulting in a sentence of 990 years.[97] But, according to Alabama Department of Corrections, Wood received an additional 10 years for first-degree sexual abuse. This totals 1,000 years.[citation needed]
Prisoners sentenced to between 500 and 1000 years in prison
Convicted on 59 counts of possession of child pornography.[101] Later sentenced to an additional 30 years after pleading guilty to planning to sexually abuse and murder a 9-year-old girl on camera.
Janitor imprisoned for the rape and murder of a female student at University of Colorado Boulder. He proclaimed his innocence until he confessed to the crime in 1980. Died in prison in 2005.[103]
Found guilty of participation in the bankruptcy of the National Heritage Life Insurance Corporation in New York. One time featured in the FBI most wanted list. He appealed for a lesser sentence but was denied.[104][105] On January 19, 2021, his sentence was commuted by President Donald Trump.[106]
Convicted of 10 counts of promoting child pornography and 45 counts of possession of child pornography after creating an online blog that traded child pornography. A registered sex offender, he had previously been convicted in 1996 of attempted sexual assault on a 7-year-old child.[107][108]
A 19-year-old sentenced in Texas for the repeated rape of an 18-year-old girl over the course of several hours.[109] He will be eligible for parole in October 2030.[citation needed]
West Virginia man convicted of sexually assaulting his infant along with his girlfriend. Found guilty of 11 counts of first-degree sexual abuse, 4 counts of sexual assault and 5 counts of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, custodian or person in position of trust, being sentenced to 25 years for first-degree sexual abuse, 25 years for sexual assault, and 100 years for sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, custodian or person in position of trust for a total of 775 years.[110]
Female serial killer dubbed La Mataviejitas ("The Old Lady Killer"). Sentenced to 759 years in jail for killing and robbing sixteen elderly women in Mexico City, although some believe that she might have over 40 fatal victims. She beat and strangled her victims using moves that she had learnt as a professional wrestler (ring name La Dama del Silencio, "The Lady of Silence"). The sentence specifies that she will be paroled in 2058, at age 100.
Found guilty on 50 counts of producing child pornography and 10 counts of aggravated sexual battery.[111][112] That would be 12 years for 50 counts of producing child pornography, and 15½ years for 10 counts of aggravated sexual battery.
Convicted in federal court of 24 counts of producing child pornography, 1 count of receiving child pornography, and 1 count of possession of child pornography. Died in prison in 2013.[113]
Given 99 years each for six counts (one of first-degree kidnapping, two counts of first-degree rape and three counts of first-degree sodomy), 20 years for felony first-degree theft of property, and 10 more for felony first-degree bail jumping. Previously sentenced to 120 years for other rapes.[114][115] He will be considered for parole in 2027.[citation needed]
Originally sentenced to 1,446 years for defrauding the public. They were arrested after numerous complaints. The Laemgate seafood restaurant had last year begun selling various food vouchers that required customers to pay in advance. One such deal offered a seafood meal at 880 baht (£22; $28) for 10 people – far cheaper than their usual prices. Initially, those who bought the vouchers were able to claim their meals at the restaurant but a long waiting list meant an advance booking of up to several months. But by March, the company announced its closure, claiming that it could not get hold of enough seafood to meet the demand. It offered to refund customers who had bought vouchers. About 375 out of 818 customers who complained got their money back. Bowornbancharak and Bowornbancha were arrested, later convicted, and sentenced to 1,446 years, although their sentences were cut in half due to the guilty plea. It was 723 counts of fraud. They would serve no more than 20 years. Their company, Laemgate Infinite, was also fined 1.8m baht, and the co-owners and the company was ordered to refund 2.5m baht in damages to the victims. They will be released in 2040.[117]
Lisa was a mother who raped her daughter and step-daughter, and was found guilty of two counts of first-degree rape, four counts of first-degree sodomy, one count of sexual torture, one count of second-degree sodomy, and one count of first-degree sexual abuse. Her husband Michael was sentenced to 438 years for his role in the abuse. According to Alabama Department of Corrections, Lisa received 99 years for four counts of first-degree sodomy, two counts of first-degree rape and one of sexual torture, 20 years for second-degree sodomy, and 10 years for first-degree sexual abuse.[118]
Lawyer and soccer coach nicknamed "the Instagram pedophile", found guilty of sexually abusing minors, recording the abuse, distributing child pornography, and cyber-bullying 98 victims.[120]
Convicted of sexually exploiting two young children. Charged with 20 counts of enticing two children under the age of 5 to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual production of such conduct, and given 30 years for each count. A search revealed 102 pornographic images that Miller had produced of the children.[126]
Convicted in Federal Court alongside his co-defendant Nicole F. Vaisey of six counts of sexual exploitation of children, including the kidnapping and sexual abuse of 2 Amish girls.[127]
Brazilian serial killer sentenced for homicide, abuse against dead bodies, and concealment of corpses. Suspected of being responsible for the murder of 42 children.[128]
Convicted of 12 counts of attempted murder on a peace officer, 19 counts of assault with a firearm on a peace officer, four counts of assault with a firearm, one count of assault on a police animal, shooting at an occupied vehicle and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.[130]
Convicted of one count of soliciting for sex over the internet, four counts of transmitting child pornography and 100 counts of possession of child pornography. He was sentenced to five years in prison for each of the 105 counts to run consecutively.[131]
A private tutor found guilty of sexually abusing ten boys as young as 12, and of showing pornography to children between 12 and 14. A second trial added 84 years in prison for other offenses.[132]
Convicted of 20 counts of money laundering and 1 count of conspiracy.[133] Juan Carlos Seresi and Vahe Andonian were released in 2020. Nazareth Andonian and Raul Silvio Vivas were released in 2021.
Filmed himself molesting two young children. Pled guilty to 46 charges, including 24 counts of using a child in display of sexually explicit conduct and 10 counts of first degree sexual abuse.[134]
March, a 22-year-old mailman in Palma de Mallorca, has occasionally been mentioned (sometimes erroneously as "Granados" or "Grandos") as the person sentenced to the longest prison term ever. He failed to deliver 42,784 letters, opening 35,718 of them and stealing their contents for value of 50,000 euro (2010 value). In consequence, March was charged with thousands of counts of fraud, wrongful appropriation of documents (one per undelivered letter) and theft, resulting in an unprecedented request of 384,912 years in prison and a 19-million-euro (2010 value) fine by the prosecutor. The actual sentence imposed was 14 years and 2 months in prison and a fine of 9,000 pesetas.[135][136]
"Two confidence tricksters" said to have received one year in prison per criminal count, resulting in the "longest recorded prison sentences" according to the 1975 editions of The People's Almanac and Guinness Book of World Records.[137][138]
Breivik, a convicted domestic terrorist who committed the 2011 Norway attacks. He was found guilty of mass murder of 77 people. This could extend 21 years on each person murdered, totalling 1,617 years. However, the sentence was 21 years instead with the minimum of 10 years. Although several European countries still authorize life sentences without the possibility of parole, many do not.[139]
