Top Greenbelt, MD Drug Trafficking Lawyers Near You
Drug Trafficking Lawyers | Serving Washington, MD
Nationally Recognized Trial Attorney. Unwavering Representation, As If You Are Family. Call Us For Your Drug Case!
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Drug Trafficking Lawyers | Serving Baltimore, MD
Maryland's Premier Criminal Defense Firm. Nationally Acclaimed. 40+ Years Of Experience Providing Defense For Drug Violations. Call Now.
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2122 University Blvd W, Silver Spring, MD 20902
6220 Rhode Island Ave, Riverdale, MD 20737
1451 Rockville Pike, Suite 250, Rockville, MD 20852
8630 Fenton Street, Suite 320, Silver Spring, MD 20910
14300 Gallant Fox Ln, Ste 223, Bowie, MD 20715-4003
4350 East-West Hwy, Suite 350, Bethesda, MD 20814
One Church Street, Ste 801, Rockville, MD 20850
914 Silver Spring Ave, Ste 116, Silver Spring, MD 20910
12805 Old Fort Rd, Suite 302, Fort Washington, MD 20744
9701 Apollo Drive, Suite 100, Largo, MD 20774
200-A Monroe Street, Ste 310, Rockville, MD 20850
7315 Hanover Pkwy, Ste D, Greenbelt, MD 20770
8720 Georgia Ave, Suite 505, Silver Spring, MD 20910
401 East Jefferson Street, # 201B, Rockville, MD 20850
33 Wood Lane, Rockville, MD 20850
132 Main Street, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
3010 Crain Highway, Suite 100B, Waldorf, MD 20601
25 Wood Lane, The Adams Law Center, Rockville, MD 20850
7315 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 800 West, Bethesda, MD 20814
11810 Grand Park Ave, Suite 500, North Bethesda, MD 20852
11 North Washington Street, Suite 700, Rockville, MD 20850-4229
108 Byte Dr, Suite 102-A, Frederick, MD 21702
2670 Crain Highway, Suite 411, Waldorf, MD 20601
1 Research Court, Suite 450, Rockville, MD 20850
98 Church Street, Rockville, MD 20850
Greenbelt Drug Trafficking Information
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What Is Drug Trafficking?
Drug trafficking, from a legal perspective, refers to the unlawful sale or even movement of drugs (as determined by both state and federal statutes). Per the drug scheduling system set out by the United States government, almost all recreational drugs — and some prescription drugs with federally defined medicinal properties — are covered under the offense of drug trafficking.
Drug trafficking is differentiated from simple possession both in terms of the act itself — trafficking involving movement and sale, rather than purchase (or cultivation, in some states, regarding marijuana) — as well as the scale and severity of the offense.
What Is the Difference Between Drug Trafficking and Smuggling?
Smuggling is a broader category of offense in which a variety of goods can be transported unlawfully, from general merchandise such as food or clothing to more controversial products such as firearms.
Drug trafficking can be considered a form of smuggling as both the transport and sale of the drugs in question are conducted away from the authorities.
In short, all drug trafficking involves an element of smuggling, while not all smuggling operations concern themselves with drug trafficking.
How Much Jail Time Can You Get for Drug Trafficking?
Penalties for drug trafficking can be quite severe. For example, if you are found guilty of trafficking more than 1 kilogram of heroin, 5 kilograms of cocaine, 10 grams of LSD, 1,000 kilograms of marijuana or 50 grams of methamphetamine, you could face the stiffest sentencing under federal guidelines and could end up serving between 10 years to life behind bars. The minimum sentence for a violation of this statute, in federal court, is enhanced to 20 years if an individual dies or suffers serious bodily injury as a result of the use of said drugs. Penalties are not quite as strict for lesser amounts.
State laws also show little lenience toward those found guilty of drug trafficking offenses. Those found guilty of trafficking marijuana in Nevada, if the sum weight of the cannabis exceeds 5,000 pounds or 100 pounds of concentrate, such as oil or resin could lead to 15 years or life imprisonment in addition to fines of up to $200,000. To provide an example of a less substantial weight, some state laws demand that offenders trafficking over 25 pounds or 300 cannabis plants of marijuana be sentenced to a minimum of three years imprisonment. A fine of $25,000 is also attached to this sentence.
Drug trafficking charges can result in between three to six years incarceration for those found guilty of lower-level felony charges, but those convicted can spend life behind bars for weightier transactions or deals that result in injury or death.
Can You Beat a Drug Trafficking Charge?
It is possible to defeat drug trafficking charges in certain circumstances. If you’re facing charges related to drug trafficking, retaining experienced legal counsel should be a top priority. Not only will attorney-client privilege allow you to strategize with your lawyer — determining whether to take your case to trial or to attempt to negotiate a plea bargain — but having an experienced legal expert on the case can also improve your negotiating position.
Several common defenses can be deployed by a skilled criminal defense lawyer familiar with standing precedent and existing case law pertaining to drug trafficking charges in your state. A lack of evidence enough to secure a conviction on the part of the prosecution, allegations of entrapment or faulty evidence gathering and other material facts can be used to strengthen your defense.
It is imperative that you hire a criminal defense lawyer experienced defending drug trafficking defendants. He or she knows the defenses and errors investigators sometimes make that can help form your defense. You deserve aggressive representation when faced with such a serious charge.