[BigJJ]

These are federal, not state, charges.
In state criminal proceedings, there is much more leeway with regard to (i) pleaing to a deal, (ii) sentencing, and (iii) parole/time served for good behavior. We get many of our notions regarding a U.S. criminal system in which one can bargain, and receive little to no time, from state court results and reporting - as the vast majority of crimes are state crimes. So you'd get a guy charged with burglary of a home at night with a weapon who pleas to petty larceny, first time offense, and receives time served and a misdemeanor instead of a felony, that is maybe even expunged after 6 months.
With regard to federal criminal proceedings, there is much less leeway. The earlier post regarding the Feds crossing their t's and dotting their i's before they charge you is correct. They take their time, much more than state actors. But once they file, different ballgame than state charges. Federal white collar criminals DO go to prison. and there are fairly strict sentencing guidelines. not like state.