Criminal Defense Lawyer in Greenville, North Carolina
North Carolina state and federal courts can be harsh toward drug offenders, even first timers and students.
Given this reality, you need an effective and experienced lawyer if you or someone you care about has been arrested for possession of an illegal drug with intent to sell or for transporting, distributing or selling a controlled substance.
For a no-cost consultation with an experienced Pitt County drug distribution lawyer, contact Frank Harper of Everett & Hite, L.L.P., in Greenville, North Carolina, at 252-758-4257 or toll free at 877-290-6948.
Penalties — Possession With Intent to Sell, Trafficking
If you are in possession with more than a small amount of a drug, there is a chance police will seek a charge of possession with intent to distribute. The accusation is not that you are a drug user, but that you are a dealer.
The consequences are more severe for such crimes — lighter for marijuana, and heavier for "hard drugs" like cocaine. It is not uncommon for such charges to lead to fines and months or years in jail.
Trafficking is a legal term that applies to a person who knowingly sells, manufactures, delivers, transports or possesses a certain amount of a drug, or conspires to do the same. Consider the following minimum penalty ranges for trafficking involving several pounds of marijuana, just a few ounces of heroin and less than a half pound of cocaine or meth.
| Marijuana | 10-49 pounds | 25-30 months in prison | $5,000 fine |
| Heroin | 4-13 grams | 70-84 months in prison | $50,000 fine |
| Cocaine | 28-199 grams | 35-42 months in prison | $50,000 fine |
| Meth | 28-199 grams | 70-84 months in prison | $50,000 fine |
That adds up to two and a half years in prison for the marijuana offense, and up to seven years for the methamphetamine offense. Penalties increase dramatically for greater amounts, particularly the harder drugs.
The Sobering Reality: You Need a Greenville Drug Trafficking Lawyer
Hiring a competent and experienced drug trafficking lawyer like Frank Harper of Everett & Hite, L.L.P., may help you:
- Avoid prison time
- Escape onerous fines
- Prevent or expunge a damaging criminal record
- Retain voting rights and other privileges by pleading down a felony conviction
For a no-cost consultation with an experienced drug trafficking defense attorney, contact me at 252-758-4257 or toll free at 877-290-6948, or by e-mail.
