HOW SERIOUS ARE DRUG TRAFFICKING CHARGES?

HOW SERIOUS ARE DRUG TRAFFICKING CHARGES?
On behalf of Law Office Of Scott G. Cerbin, Esq., PLLC posted in drug trafficking on Friday, July 19, 2019.

New York residents like you are facing some potentially hefty penalties if you are convicted of drug trafficking charges. We at the Law Office of Scott G. Cerbin, Esq., PLLC, are here to explain some common concerns and questions that people facing these charges may ask.

On the topic of how serious these charges are, they are more severe than drug possession charges. Drug possession is typically a more common charge, as prosecutors only need to prove that you were aware that you had the drug in your possession in order to have a good chance of getting a conviction. With trafficking charges, they also need to prove that you had an intent to sell.

Because of this, many cases for drug trafficking are based on circumstantial pieces of evidence. This can include incriminating notes or phone calls. Sometimes, drug trafficking charges may come from “stings” in which police go undercover in an attempt to bust people.

In New York, trafficking charges are all felonies. There are five degrees that you can be charged with. A first offense fifth degree felony will still result in one to two years of time in jail. A major offender may be sentenced from 15 years to life. Anyone who is convicted will also have to deal with hefty fines, regardless of the degree.

Have you been charged with matters related to drug trafficking offenses? If so, consider taking a look at our web page on drug trafficking charges, linked here. We have a helpful frequently asked questions segment that can clear up some confusion and misconceptions surrounding this area of law.