minimal participant
minimal participant. Criminal law. Under the federal sentencing guidelines, a defendant who is among the least culpable of a group of criminal actors, as when the defendant does not understand the scope or structure of the criminal enterprise or the actions of the other members of the group. • The offense level for a crime of a minimal participant can be decreased by four levels. U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 3B1.2(a). Cf. MINOR PARTICIPANT. [Cases: Sentencing and Punishment 764.]