Drug trafficking is the delivery of an illegal substance with knowledge of its contents. Typically, drug traffickers use private vehicles commercial trucks to smuggle unauthorized drugs through the state. They might use airports, airstrips, railroads, and ships to bring these substances in as well.
As a major crime in the state of Texas, drug trafficking charges and the sentence are very severe so it’s important to find a qualified lawyer to represent you. As a long-term Texas lawyer, Phillip Linder is on your side. You can expect the best outcome with your drug trafficking charges.
Several different crimes are tried under drug trafficking, and each crime has different stipulations and penalties. With Phillip Linder, he’s tried cases as a prosecutor and defender, meaning he can provide his clients with a thorough plan with the best chance of retaining freedom.
Here are the most common crimes that are considered drug trafficking:
Regardless of the crimes you’re charged with, additional penalties are levied if you’ve trafficked drugs to minors, which includes anyone under the age of 18. Providing illicit beverages to a minor is a Class A misdemeanor.
The penalty for trafficking drugs to minors will depend upon the type of drug, circumstances, and other factors. Ultimately, it’s important to know that the penalties are worse if minors are involved.
When it comes to the types of drugs being brought into the state of Texas, there is a range of severity of the charges.
Trafficking Prescription Medications
While there are states where trafficking marijuana is a small charge with fewer penalties, Texas isn’t one of them. If you’re arrested with marijuana, also commonly referred to as weed, in Texas, you may be punished with strict penalties and charges.
Unlike other drugs that are compiled into a penalty group, marijuana is in a category of its own. Your penalty for selling weed depends on the amount that was trafficked and the circumstances of the crime. Discover what marijuana trafficking charges are here in our state.
Even being caught with the smallest amount of marijuana, you’ll receive the minimum charges in Texas. Here’s what to expect from the least amount of penalties for marijuana trafficking:
– Jail sentence of 180 days
– Fines of $2000 or less
If you’ve been busted for even the slightest amount of marijuana trafficking, call Phillip Linder. He’ll put up the best fight possible against your drug charges and get you the best winning chance.
If you’ve been arrested for trafficking large quantities of marijuana, your punishment is likely to be more severe than in other states. For large amounts of weed, you may be subject to the following maximum penalties in Texas:
– Confinement in prison for 10-99 years
– Fines of up to $100,000
No matter how severe your marijuana trafficking charges, you’re going to need a lawyer. Attempting to defend your freedom alone can lead to a regretfully long jail sentence. You need a lawyer who knows the intricacies of the Texas drug laws, which Mr. Linder can definitely accomplish.
Cocaine is a highly-addictive drug, and the penalties for selling it are severe, both federally and in Texas. Cocaine is part of Penalty Group 1, a group that also includes methamphetamines and heroin.
When it comes to the penalties and charges of cocaine trafficking, the amount of the drug that was distributed is a key component. Additionally, judges and juries consider factors like if you have a criminal record, whether there were ancillary charges, and other circumstances of your case.
Here are the 5 categories for cocaine charges along with their corresponding penalties:
Less than 1g: Getting arrested for trafficking less than a gram of cocaine counts as a state jail felony. This means that you could end up serving 180 days to 2 years in a Texas state jail. Additionally, fines of up to $10,000 are common.
1-4g of Cocaine: Those who are charged with trafficking more than 1g but less than 4g of cocaine are facing a 2nd-degree felony. Much more serious than the previous category, a 2nd-degree felony in Texas can mean up to 20 years in prison and fines that total $10,000.
4-200g of Cocaine: Selling or delivering more than 4g of cocaine is where the penalties start to get especially serious. In Texas, trafficking 4-200g of cocaine or other drugs in this penalty group counts as a 1st-degree felony. Punishment for a 1st-degree felony in Texas can mean 5-99 years imprisonment and fines up to $10,000.
200-400g of Cocaine: For selling between 200 and 400 grams of cocaine, your penalty will greatly increase in severity. For example, the potential fines are 10 times higher in this category than in the next previous group. If arrested for trafficking 200-400g of cocaine in Texas, your prison sentence could range from 10-99 years, and your fines could be as high as $100,000.
400g or more of Cocaine: The most serious category for cocaine trafficking is for those who sell over 400g of the illicit substance. The sentences and fines for this crime are exponentially more severe than in lesser categories. For the charge of trafficking 400 or more grams of cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine, sentences can span between 15-99 years in prison, with fines totaling as much as $250,000.
Another group category of drug trafficking is Penalty Group 2 which includes MDMA, ecstasy, LSD, and other “club drugs.” These drugs are typically manufactured domestically and are dangerous because of the high death rates suffered by their users.
Often made with harmful ingredients to increase profits for the dealer, club drugs are considered a risk to the lives of our society and are punished heavily by Texas law.
With a wide range of drugs are covered under this penalty group, sentences will depend heavily on the conditions surrounding the case in addition to the amount that was trafficked and sold.
Here are the minimum and maximum penalties that can be given for club drug trafficking in Texas:
– Jail sentence of 180 days
– Fines up to $10,000
– Up to 99 years in prison
– Fines up to $250,000
Trafficking prescription medications is a rapidly growing crime in Texas. Due to their convenience and easy ability to possess, prescription drugs kill an increasing amount of people each year. The penalties for trafficking prescription drugs depend on factors like dosage and amount.
Here are the minimum and maximum penalties you can expect from trafficking charges in penalty groups 3 and 4.
– Jail sentence of up to 180 days
– Fines of up to 10,000
– Jail sentence of up to 99 years in prison
– Fines of up to $250,000