Federal Prosecution Is Seeking 5x The Sentencing Guidelines

I have a question regarding a case with a family member that is being prosecuted in federal court. The charge is a transportation of stolen goods charge. They pleaded guilty and now await sentencing.

They fall into sentencing guidelines of 6-12 months, but the prosecution is pushing for an upward departure of around 60 months. They feel aggravating factors were “not represented well by existing law”.

Why would the prosecution push for a sentence so much higher than the guidelines? And how do judges typically react to such requests? Obviously no one can predict what the outcome may be, but what is the likelihood a judge departs in drastic fashion?