Spokane Drug Trafficking Attorney

Do Not Wait to Call Maxey Law Office if You Have Been Arrested

Drug trafficking charges are not like your average drug crime allegations. They are much more serious and can be filed as a state or federal offense. If you are convicted of drug trafficking, then you could be sent to prison for years or even decades. Do not wait to get legal help from an experienced attorney if you have been arrested for drug trafficking.

To speak with an experienced Spokane drug trafficking lawyer, give us a call at (509) 652-3330 or contact us online today.

What Is Drug Trafficking?

Drug trafficking is a type of drug crime that involves the sale, transport, or distribution of controlled substances. While drug crimes may be charged as misdemeanors or felonies, drug trafficking is almost always a felony.

Drug trafficking charges can be filed as a state or federal offense. State charges are usually filed when a person is accused of trafficking a small amount of drugs. Federal charges are usually filed when a person is accused of trafficking a large amount of drugs.

What Are the Penalties for Drug Trafficking?

The penalties for drug trafficking can vary depending on whether you are charged with a state or federal offense, as well as the type and amount of drugs involved. In either case, though, the consequences can be severe.

State Drug Trafficking Penalties

• Less than 2 kilograms: Class B felony with up to 10 years in prison and $25,000 in fines
• 2 to 10 kilograms: Class A felony with up to life in prison and $50,000 in fines
• More than 10 kilograms: Class A felony with up to life in prison and $100,000 in fines

Federal Drug Trafficking Penalties

• Less than 50 grams of methamphetamine: Up to 20 years in prison and $1,000,000 in fines
• Less than 50 grams of cocaine: Up to 20 years in prison and $1,000,000 in fines
• Less than 1 kilogram of heroin: Up to 20 years in prison and $1,000,000 in fines
• Less than 1 kilogram of fentanyl: Up to 20 years in prison and $1,000,000 in fines
• Less than 100 marijuana plants: Up to 5 years in prison and $250,000 in fines
• Less than 100 kilograms of marijuana: Up to 5 years in prison and $250,000 in fines
• Less than 5 grams of LSD: Up to 5 years in prison and $250,000 in fines
• Less than 100 grams of PCP: Up to 5 years in prison and $250,000 in fines
• Less than 1 gram of methamphetamine: Up to 20 years in prison and $1,000,000 in fines
• Less than 1 gram of LSD: Up to 20 years in prison and $1,000,000 in fines
• Less than 10 grams of PCP: Up to 20 years in prison and $1,000,000 in fines
• More than the above amounts: Mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison and $5,000,000 in fines

These are just a few examples of the penalties for drug trafficking. There are many other factors that can influence the penalties in these cases, so it is important to speak to an attorney about the specific charges you are facing.

How to Defend Against Drug Trafficking Charges

Prosecutors have the burden to prove that you are guilty of drug trafficking beyond a reasonable doubt. However, they do not have to prove that you were caught in the act of trafficking drugs in order to secure a conviction. They only have to prove that you were in possession of a large amount of drugs, which is why people are often charged with drug trafficking after they are found with a large amount of drugs in their possession.

An experienced Spokane drug trafficking attorney can challenge the evidence presented by the prosecution. If the police found drugs in your home, your attorney can argue that the drugs were not yours. Or, if the drugs were found in your car, your attorney can argue that the drugs belonged to someone else who left them behind.

Your attorney can also challenge the way that the drugs were seized. If the police conducted an illegal search and seizure, then the drugs cannot be used against you in court. Your attorney will review the details of your arrest to determine if your rights were violated.

In some cases, an attorney may be able to get the charges against you reduced to a lesser offense. For example, your attorney may be able to get the charges reduced to drug possession if the prosecution does not have enough evidence to prove that you intended to sell or distribute the drugs.

To speak with an experienced Spokane drug trafficking lawyer, give us a call at (509) 652-3330 or contact us online today.