New York Drug Trafficking
Perhaps the most serious sort of drug-related charge a defendant can face is that which involves the trafficking of controlled substances. There are many reasons for this reality, one of which is simply a public policy effort in the never-ending "War on Drugs" that places a priority of prosecution on those who are seen as responsible for providing the substances to people who use them.
Thus, sentencing for a conviction of drug trafficking charges is quite severe in nature on both the state and federal level. If you face any sort of drug trafficking charge, the first step you need to take is to contact our defense lawyers to get the process of building your defense started. The attorneys at the firm possess a wealth of collective experience in fighting for the rights of the accused, and below is a look at the different types of charges the firm handles.
Federal Crimes
Federal drug trafficking charges arise when any aspect of the alleged trafficking crosses state lines as a general rule. This can mean that any of the substances sold are brought into another jurisdiction for sale, or even if any of the money allegedly paid for these substances travels across state lines. This is an important distinction for one reason above all others.
If a defendant is convicted at the federal level for drug trafficking, his or her fate will be decided by the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which provide little, if any, discretion by the judge when it comes to setting a prison term. These guidelines are defined by levels, with a Level 1 offense the least severe and a Level 35 or 40 offense carrying significant sentences, including life in prison in certain circumstances. These levels are defined by the type of drug or drugs involved, the number of previous offenses on a defendant's record and whether or not any violence allegedly occurred during these transactions.
Not only does the federal government have a very high conviction rate, but those who are sentenced to federal prison generally serve the vast majority of that sentence before eligibility for an early release becomes possible. This is why you need to begin the fight for your Constitutional rights immediately if you're charged with violating federal drug trafficking laws. Contact the Blanch Law Firm to do so as soon as possible if you're faced with this situation.
State Crimes
Of course, not all drug trafficking charges are federal in nature. However, if you are facing New York drug trafficking charges instead of federal charges, this should obviously not be viewed as 'good news.' The laws in New York, as is the case in any jurisdiction, are also extremely harsh in terms of their punishment, and there are guidelines in place that are encouraged to be used as a point of reference upon a conviction.
If you face any New York drug trafficking charges, your potential sentence will again depend on such factors as the type of substances involved, the amounts involved in terms of weight and volume, the presence of any violence in these transactions and the defendant's criminal history. As is the case with federal charges, the last thing you should do if you face this situation is to wait and hope it goes away — this will not happen.
Fortunately, you do have rights that are guaranteed as a defendant, and you need to be sure that you assert all of them in order to protect your freedom. Contact the Blanch Law Firm immediately if you're the subject of this sort of investigation, as you have no time to waste.
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