Hunter Biden has been charged with federal crimes, not sentenced | Fact check

BrieAnna J. Frank, USA TODAY
·3 min read
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The claim: Hunter Biden’s prison term has been announced

A Dec. 19 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) claims there’s been a major development in the ongoing legal woes of America’s first son.

“Hunter’s Prison Term Announced,” reads the post. “Joe Biden STUNNED.”

The post was shared more than 20 times in two days. Other versions of the claim were shared dozens of additional times.

More from the USA TODAY Fact-Check Team:

Our rating: False

Hunter Biden has been charged with various crimes in two separate indictments, but he has not been convicted or sentenced for any of them. If convicted on all charges, he could potentially face decades in prison.

Hunter Biden indicted twice, but no convictions

Hunter Biden has been indicted twice but has not been convicted or sentenced on any criminal charges.

Biden was indicted in California on federal tax charges in December, as USA TODAY reported. He faces up to 17 years in prison if he is convicted of those charges, according to a Justice Department news release.

His initial appearance is scheduled for Jan. 11.

Biden was also indicted in Delaware on federal gun charges in September. Those charges could result in up to a 25-year prison sentence if he is convicted, the Justice Department said.

Biden pleaded not guilty to the gun charges in October after a plea deal fell through in July. In December, Biden asked a federal judge to dismiss the gun charges. Prosecutors have until Jan. 16 to respond to that request, USA TODAY reported.

Fact check: Post wrongly compares firearm offenses of Hunter Biden and Kodak Black

Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, speaking to the media outside the United States Capitol offering to publicly testify in House Republicans request on Dec. 13, 2023 in Washington, D.C.
Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, speaking to the media outside the United States Capitol offering to publicly testify in House Republicans request on Dec. 13, 2023 in Washington, D.C.

Some Republicans have sought to make Hunter Biden’s legal problems an issue for President Joe Biden as he seeks re-election in 2024. Both the president and his son have described the attention on Hunter Biden's legal issues as politically-motivated.

USA TODAY has debunked an array of claims about Hunter Biden, including that a video showed him on the day cocaine was discovered at the White House and that Joe Biden threatened to withhold $1 billion from Ukraine to save Hunter Biden’s job.

USA TODAY reached out to users who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

PolitiFact also debunked the claim.

Our fact-check sources:

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: False claim Hunter Biden was sentenced for federal crimes | Fact check