Are You Under Investigation for Federal Drug Trafficking?

 Posted on January 21, 2024 in Drug Crimes

Drug trafficking is the illegal transportation of a controlled substance. Penalties for federal drug trafficking will depend largely on the type of substance that you had in your possession if you have prior offenses, and if there was a death or serious injury associated with the drug use.

If you are being investigated for drug trafficking, you need the assistance of a Chicago drug crimes lawyer who has a successful track record for defending these charges.

What is Federal Drug Trafficking?

Of the over 20,000 drug cases reported, 99% of these cases involved drug trafficking. Surprisingly, 41.7% of offenders had little or no criminal history.

Federal drug trafficking is the crime of manufacturing, transporting, or distributing illegal substances. The top seven illicit drugs that were distributed in fiscal year 2022 were:

• Methamphetamine
• Crack cocaine
• Power cocaine
• Heroin
• Fentanyl
• Oxycodone
• Marijuana

Classification of Drugs

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies drugs into five schedules. The drugs contained in schedules I and II are known to have little or no medical purpose but have a high rate of abuse.

Schedule I drugs include:

• Heroin
• Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)
• Marijuana (cannabis)
• Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy)
• Methaqualone
• Peyote

 Schedule II drugs include:

• Cocaine
• Methamphetamine
• Methadone
• Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
• Meperidine (Demerol)
• Oxycodone (OxyContin)
• Fentanyl
• Dexedrine
• Adderall
• Ritalin

 Penalties for Drug Trafficking

Even though drug trafficking can be prosecuted at either the state or federal level, if you move drugs interstate, you will likely be facing federal charges.

Even if you are trafficking small amounts of an illicit drug, the consequences are still serious. Transporting, manufacturing, or distributing small amounts of most Schedule II substances, such as LSD or heroin, could result in you being sentenced to between 5-40 years in prison. 

 However, if someone suffers bodily harm or death, then you will be imprisoned for a minimum of 20 years, with a potential life sentence. You may be fined $5 million as an individual, with a drug ring facing a potential fine of $25 million. These penalties apply if you have no prior offenses.

If it is your second offense, you will be facing ten years to life in prison. The fines for a second offense substantially increase, with an individual facing a minimum fine of $8 million and a drug ring potentially being fined $50 million.

How Can a Chicago Drug Crimes Lawyer Assist Me?

You may feel that if you are charged with federal drug trafficking, you will be found guilty, but that is not always the case. The police often make mistakes in drug trafficking cases, and a Chicago drug crimes lawyer will uncover any procedural errors.

There is also the chance that the charges are not legitimate. That could happen if someone placed the drugs in your backpack, and you were unaware that you were carrying them. In that situation, you want a drug crimes lawyer who can find evidence proving that you had no knowledge that you were carrying illegal drugs.

Charged with Drug Trafficking? Contact Our Chicago, IL, Federal Drug Crimes Lawyer Today

If you are under investigation for federal drug trafficking, you need a Chicago, IL, drug crimes lawyer who will stop at nothing to defend your freedom. Contact the Law Offices of Hal M. Garfinkel LLC, Chicago Criminal Defense Attorney online or by calling 312-629-0669 to schedule your free consultation.