Mississippi Drug Trafficking Defense
Defending Clients from Felony Drug Charges
Drug trafficking is a serious criminal charge that could result in prison time and fines, as it’s always charged as a felony. If you want to avoid harsh penalties, you need to discuss your legal rights with a Mississippi criminal defense attorney you can trust to represent you in state or federal court.
You’ll get the legal advice you need when you reach out to Tannehill Carmean, PLLC, to review the facts of your case. Hiring our legal team ensures that you will have compassionate lawyers by your side to skillfully advise you on every step of the legal process. If you’re ready to start working toward a favorable outcome with the guidance of experienced attorneys, call our Mississippi criminal law firm today for an initial consultation.
How Does Mississippi Law Define Drug Trafficking?
Drug trafficking may be defined differently in state and federal courts. If you’re facing this charge, it’s important to know what Mississippi law says about it. In general, you can be charged with drug trafficking if there’s evidence you were in any way involved with selling, delivering, or transporting controlled substances.
Even if you’re not explicitly caught selling drugs, you can be charged for drug trafficking in this state simply for having high quantities of controlled substances, since the police might assume you intend to sell them. Each type of drug has a different statutory threshold that could lead to serious charges.
For example, possession of more than 30 grams of a Schedule I or II drug like cocaine, heroin, or meth could elevate a drug possession charge to a drug trafficking charge. Possession of more than 1 kilogram of marijuana or over 500 grams of Xanax or ketamine could also lead to felony drug trafficking charges.
Whether you were found in possession of large quantities of controlled substances, allowed your vehicle to be used for drug distribution, or had drug packaging and other drug paraphernalia at your home, you could face serious criminal charges. You deserve to get quality legal advice from a criminal defense attorney who will work hard to get you the most favorable outcome possible. Contact our law firm today to learn how we can help you fight your charges.
What Are the Penalties for Drug Trafficking in Mississippi?
Drug trafficking is a felony, which means you could be sentenced to prison time, fines, and other penalties if you’re convicted of this criminal charge. Generally, prison time ranges from 10 to 40 years, accompanied by fines of up to $1 million and additional penalties, including mandatory drug treatment or community service.
Your specific punishment will depend on a few factors, including whether you have other drug charges on your criminal record, as well as the type and quantity of drug allegedly in your possession at the time of your arrest. For example, trafficking Schedule I or II drugs could lead to 25 years in prison, while trafficking a similar amount of Schedule III or IV drugs could result in a 10-year sentence.
On the other hand, certain aggravating factors could lead to harsher penalties. For instance, if you’re accused of trafficking 200 grams or more of a Schedule I or II drug, you could face 25 years to life in prison without the possibility of parole or probation. You could also be charged with aggravated drug trafficking if you were in possession of a dangerous weapon during your arrest, involved a minor in the drug crime, trafficked drugs near a school, or have a lengthy criminal record.
Regardless of the details of your Mississippi drug case, you can rely on our legal team to provide the skillful criminal defense services you need for the best possible outcome. During our years spent providing legal counsel, we’ve been able to defend clients from a variety of misdemeanor and felony charges, including drug possession, drug trafficking, aggravated assault, possession of drug paraphernalia, and more.
Whether a conviction could result in jail time or the death penalty, aggressive criminal defense services are critical if you want to get your case dismissed or avoid a guilty verdict. Contact our law office for a consultation with a caring lawyer who is dedicated to defending clients’ rights while working toward the best outcome.
What Are Some Potential Defense Angles for Drug Trafficking Charges?
When you’re facing criminal charges, it’s essential to remember that they don’t necessarily have to result in convictions. You can fight them with the help of an experienced criminal defense lawyer who will strategize the most effective angle for you, which will depend on the details of your criminal case.
Some of the most common strategies for attorneys to use in drug cases include:
- You did not know about or intend to distribute the controlled substances in your possession.
- The drugs that were seized from you or your property were mishandled, misidentified, or weighed inaccurately during the police investigation.
- Witnesses in your case have mistaken your identity or made false accusations against you.
- The prosecution team has insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you’re guilty of drug trafficking.
- The police lacked probable cause to search your property or arrest you for drug trafficking.
- The crime was a result of entrapment, as you normally would not have committed the offense without the influence of the police.
When you meet with an attorney to discuss your legal options, you’ll learn which defense angle would best suit your criminal case based on the evidence. So, if you tell your attorney that the police coerced you into committing a drug crime or didn’t read you your Miranda rights during your arrest, they’ll investigate to find support for this claim before presenting it to the court. Similarly, if you know the amount of drugs you possessed was much smaller than the police claimed, you can tell your lawyer so they can look for proof of this while preparing for court.
If your attorney believes a judge or jury would find you guilty, they might seek a plea deal to reduce your charges and penalties. For example, they may reduce a felony trafficking charge to possession, which could be a misdemeanor with potential jail time rather than years in prison. This depends on the evidence and your record. Contact our law firm for a consultation to learn the best defense approach for your case.
Why Should You Hire a Mississippi Drug Trafficking Defense Attorney to Handle Your Criminal Case?
When you’re accused of drug trafficking, your future and freedom are at stake since a conviction for this crime can result in several years in prison. This is why you need to contact a skilled attorney who is ready to fight for you in court. At Tannehill Carmean, PLLC, our attorneys have years of experience defending our clients in court by challenging misleading evidence and pointing out violations of our clients’ rights.
Whether you’re facing a felony or misdemeanor charge in Mississippi, you deserve aggressive legal representation from attorneys who know how critical it is to protect your future by getting the best outcome on your case. Our trusted legal team has provided counsel to clients in need of assistance across various practice areas, including criminal law, personal injury, and more. If you’re ready to get legal assistance from caring attorneys with the skills to represent you, call our law firm today at 662-200-8734 for a consultation with our team.
