Federal Drug Offenses
The possession, production, and distribution of controlled substances is illegal under both state and federal law. Lawmakers consider unprescribed and unsupervised use of these substances dangerous to the individual and society. The main types of drugs involved in drug crimes are heroin, cocaine, PCP, LSD, marijuana, and meth.
Possession is knowingly and intentionally possessing a quantity of a controlled substance that is sufficient for personal use or sale. It could be considered possession with intent to distribute if there’s a lot of the drug and/or it’s packaged for sale.
Production of a drug involves growing, creating, or cultivating a controlled substance. This could range from growing marijuana plants to manufacturing meth in a lab.
Distribution, also known as trafficking, is the most common federal drug charge. Distribution includes the act of moving a drug from one place to another for the purpose of selling it. When drugs are seized while being moved across state lines or brought into the country, the case is almost always charged federally.
Other circumstances under which a drug charge is federal include allegations of a crime on federal property, that was investigated by the DEA, that was involved other offenses such as gun crimes, was related to organized crime, involved the sale of large quantities, involved interstate couriers such as the USPS, or was discovered through a federal informant.
With the landmark decision from the 2020 Supreme Court case McGirt v Oklahoma, there is an influx of drug crimes being charged federally because the accused is a tribal member.
Federal defense attorney Ted Hasse has worked on a number of McGirt cases since then. He also has extensive experience handling federal drug charges. If you’ve been charged with a federal drug crime, whether you’re a tribal member or not, you should choose Ted Hasse to represent you in federal court.
Federal Drug Crime Punishments
The punishment for drug crimes ranges based on which drug it is and how much there is. The sentence for the following drugs and quantities is the same: 1 kg of heroin, 5 kg of cocaine, 100 g of PCP (or 1 kg of mix), 10 g of LSD, 1,000 kg of marijuana (or 1,000 plants), and 50 g of meth (or 500 g of mix).
Possession of these drug amounts carries a minimum sentence of ten years and a maximum sentence of life. There is a maximum fine of $10 million dollars. If death or serious bodily injury occurs because of the drug, the minimum sentence goes up to 20 years, and the fine maximum becomes $20 million dollars.
If the convict has a prior drug or violent crime conviction, the minimum sentence is 15 years. Ten years of supervised release is required for convicts with a prior conviction. Otherwise, only 5 years is required.
Lesser quantities of drugs lead to lesser sentences. The following drugs and quantities carry the same sentence: 100 g of heroin, 500 g of cocaine, 10 g of PCP (or 100 g of mix), 1 g of LSD, 100 kg of marijuana (or 100 plants), and 5 g of meth (or 50 g of mix).
The minimum sentence for possessing these drugs is five years. The maximum sentence is 40 years. The maximum fine is $5 million dollars. In the case of death or serious bodily injury resulting from use of these drugs, the minimum goes up to 20 years, and the maximum increases to life. The maximum fine goes up to $8 million dollars.
If there’s a prior conviction, the minimum sentence becomes ten years, with a maximum sentence of life. If the drug caused death or serious injury and the convict has a prior conviction, they face mandatory life in prison.
There is a four-year requirement for supervised release. With a prior conviction, that requirement goes up to eight years.
Now that you know how severe the sentencing is for federal drug crimes, you should understand that it’s crucial to have skilled representation from a federal defense attorney. Ted Hasse will work hard to ensure the best outcome for your situation.
Free Consultation with a Federal Defense Attorney
The federal government takes drug crimes very seriously. That’s why they have imposed minimum sentences. If you are being charged with a federal drug crime, don’t let these minimums overwhelm you. When you retain the legal counsel of Ted Hasse, you can trust that you are his top priority. He will give you his full attention. His experience and knowledge make him formidable in federal court. While there are minimum sentences if you’re convicted, he will fight to protect you from higher sentences. For a free consultation with Ted Hasse, call (918) 932-2744.