Top Cary, NC Drug Trafficking Lawyers Near You
Former prosecutor with 22+ years of experience. Client focused with proven results. Available after 5pm and on Weekends!
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2310 South Miami Blvd, Durham, NC 27703
Richardson Law Office PLLC, is a law firm in Cary, North Carolina with experience resolving cases in Drug Trafficking.
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3801 Western Blvd, Ste 107, Raleigh, NC 27606
In the Cary, North Carolina area, Hale Law Firm, PC can help you resolve your Drug Trafficking issues.
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512 W. Thomas St Rocky, Rocky Mount, NC 27804
Representing clients with Drug Trafficking issues in North Carolina, Bennett & Gulley, P.A., a reputable law firm based in Cary.
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19 West Hargett Street, Suite 400, Raleigh, NC 27601
555 Fayetteville St, Suite 300, Raleigh, NC 27601
5 W Hargett St, Suite 500, Raleigh, NC 27601
19 W Hargett St, Suite 508, Raleigh, NC 27601
4208 Forks Road, Suite 1000, Raleigh, NC 27609
5400 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27612
5 W Hargett St, Suite 711, Raleigh, NC 27601
555 Fayetteville St, 3rd Floor #14, Raleigh, NC 27601
150 Fayetteville Street, Suite 300, Raleigh, NC 27601
150 Fayetteville St., Suite 1900, Raleigh, NC 27601
434 Fayetteville Street, #710, Raleigh, NC 27601
5425 Page Rd, Suite 430, Durham, NC 27703
421 Fayetteville St, Suite 1210, Raleigh, NC 27601
434 Fayetteville Street, Suite 2800, Raleigh, NC 27601
4008 Barrett Drive, Suite 101, Raleigh, NC 27609
434 Fayetteville St, Suite 1730, Raleigh, NC 27601
212 W Church St, Nashville, NC 27856
2609 Atlantic Ave, Suite 207, Raleigh, NC 27604
5540 Centerview Dr, Suite 315, Raleigh, NC 27606
608 W. Johnson St., Suite 13, Raleigh, NC 27603
2500 Regency Pkwy, Suite 173, Cary, NC 27518
1100 Wake Forest Rd, Suite 205, Raleigh, NC 27604
Cary Drug Trafficking Information
Lead Counsel independently verifies Drug Trafficking attorneys in Cary and checks their standing with North Carolina bar associations.
Our Verification Process and Criteria
Ample Experience
Attorneys must meet stringent qualifications and prove they practice in the area of law they’re verified in.Good Standing
Be in good standing with their bar associations and maintain a clean disciplinary record.Annual Review
Submit to an annual review to retain their Lead Counsel Verified status.Client Commitment
Pledge to follow the highest quality client service and ethical standards.
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.