Greenville Federal Drug Crimes Attorney

Being charged with a federal drug crime can be daunting. Both state and federal drug offenses come with prison time and steep fines. However, you can expect stiffer penalties if you are being charged at the federal level. For this reason, you need to hire skilled representation.

The legal team at Ryan Beasley Law understands the tremendous stress that you are under during this time. We offer aggressive representation for those individuals fighting federal drug charges.

Federal Drug Crimes & Penalties

Federal drug crimes encompass a wide range of offenses. The most common drug crimes include:

Simple Possession

Simple possession is the crime of knowingly possessing or using an illicit substance for your own use. A misdemeanor offense, you could be imprisoned for one year, with a maximum fine of $1,000. However, if you have prior drug offenses, you can be charged with a felony, which comes with lengthier prison sentences and steeper fines.

Drug Possession with Intent to Distribute

A charge of possession with intent to distribute applies if you have a large volume of a controlled substance or if you told someone else that you planned to sell the drugs in your possession. Although there is usually a statutory maximum of 20 years of incarceration, sentencing will depend on the type of drug and quantity.

Drug Manufacturing

Manufacturing is the cultivation of an illicit substance, such as morphine (which comes from opium poppy), or the mixing of chemicals to produce methamphetamine. Penalties depend heavily on the type of drug and quantity. If you are charged under 18 U.S.C. §841, you will be sentenced to a minimum of five years in prison.

Attempt and Conspiracy

A conspiracy is an agreement between two individuals to commit a crime. A conspiracy charge is usually made in connection with drug trafficking and any other scheme to support the transportation and distribution of illegal substances.

Whether or not the scheme came to fruition, entirely or in part, or not at all, the penalties remain the same. If you are charged under 18 U.S.C. § 846, you could face ten years to life in prison, along with fines depending on the substance and quantity.

Distribution and Trafficking

Drug trafficking deals with the transportation of illicit substances. Depending on the type of drug, the quantity, and prior offenses, you could be serving anywhere between five years to life in prison.

For example, trafficking 4-399 grams of fentanyl carries a sentence of five years to 40 years. If anyone suffered bodily injury, you will be serving 20 years to a life sentence. If the defendant is an individual, a $5 million fine will be imposed, with a $25 million fine if the defendant is not an individual.

Defenses

Common defenses to federal drug charges include:

Mere Possession

If being charged with intent to distribute narcotics or any illicit substance, you could admit that the drugs were in your possession but that you had intent on selling them. While not an absolute defense, this could reduce your charges.

Lack of Knowledge

If you were unaware that you were transporting drugs or you had no intention of committing a crime, you could claim a lack of knowledge. While you must provide sufficient evidence to support this defense, it is the prosecution’s burden to ultimately prove your guilt.

Unlawful Search and Seizure

Police officers must have a warrant or probable cause to search your home or vehicle. Although exceptions may apply, warrantless searches are most often a violation of an individual’s Fourth Amendment rights. Hence, any obtained evidence may be unusable.

Federal Drug Crimes Attorneys Serving Greenville, SC

Being charged with a federal offense is frightening. You may not realize that you have been charged until you are under investigation. If you have been accused of a federal drug crime, our legal team is ready to assist you. To schedule your complimentary consultation, contact us today online or by phone.