Ask a Drug Crime Lawyer: What Is the Penalty for Transporting Drugs Over State Lines?

In the US, drug crimes are considered very serious, and you’re likely to face a significant fine and a lengthy prison sentence. If you’ve simply been caught in the possession of drugs, your trial may be held by the state, but if you attempted to transport controlled substances over state lines, it’s likely that you’ve triggered a federal charge. You’ll need a highly experienced drug crime lawyer in Kansas City to help you avoid jail time.

Federal crimes are more challenging to fight because the agencies that investigate them have more resources than the state. However, a great lawyer has various techniques at their disposal, and they will attempt to suppress your case or the associated evidence before it even goes to trial. Alternatively, they can negotiate a favorable plea and minimize your sentence. Let’s have a closer look at what you can expect if you’ve been caught transporting drugs.

What Is the Penalty for Transporting Drugs? 

Any crime related to drugs is punished harshly in the US. Although marijuana has been legalized in certain states, it is still considered illegal in all forms in Kansas. Other drugs, such as cocaine or heroin, are considered even more dangerous, and your penalty will be harsher if you were found in possession of them. Attempting to transport controlled substances across state lines is a significant crime, and it will trigger a federal charge.

This means that you will be punished very harshly, and you might have to go to jail for many years. What’s more, you’ll likely have to pay a very hefty fine. Because the penalty is so severe, you should always get in touch with a lawyer experienced in drug crime cases who can help you find a way out of your situation.

A Federal Charge 

A federal crime is an offense that violates US federal laws, and the punishment is usually more severe than for a state crime. The people, such as the investigators and the judges, working on such cases are often more experienced, and they have more resources at their disposal. In fact, over 90% of the people prosecuted by the federal court are convicted. For this reason, your future is at risk, and you need to do everything you can to protect yourself.

A Mandatory Prison Sentence 

If you’ve transported drugs over a state line, you will almost certainly go to prison. In fact, trafficking Schedule I or Schedule II drugs such as cannabis, heroin, LSD, cocaine, morphine, or PCP could result in a prison sentence of five to forty years. What’s more, the penalty will be higher and could include a life sentence if you’ve caused an injury or death as a result of your actions or if you’re a repeat offender.

In addition to this prison time, you will also have to pay a hefty fine. In fact, your first offense could cost you up to $2 million. Although these figures are dependent on your situation and the amount of drugs you possessed, you can see that drug trafficking is a serious violation of the law and that your future is at risk.

Can a Drug Crime Lawyer in Kansas City Defend Me? 

Fortunately, there are people around who can help you get a better outcome or get your case dismissed. The stakes are high in this situation, so you should hire the best drug crime lawyer you can find in Kansas City. Go through the websites of local attorneys and choose one that has experience with similar cases. You can find out more by reading the “Practice Areas” sections and the biographies of the lawyers.

Once you’ve found someone who could be a good fit, you should give them a call and explain your situation. They will then invite you to an initial meeting, during which they can get more information about what happened. Your attorney will let you know whether they can take on your case and how they intend to fight the charges brought against you.

Pretrial Motions 

The best outcome would be that your case gets dismissed and your criminal record gets sealed. There are several ways your lawyer could achieve such a favorable outcome. For example, they can argue that your arrest was illegal. The police are not allowed to pull over a car without just cause, so your case might get thrown out if the traffic stop went against the law.

Even if there was a valid reason for you to get pulled over, the police have to let you go after a certain amount of time if they haven’t found anything relevant. What’s more, they aren’t allowed to search you unless you give them permission or there are exigent circumstances. Detaining you for too long or searching you without cause or permission could also be grounds for dismissal.

Fighting Charges and Negotiating a Favorable Plea 

Getting your case thrown out isn’t always an option. Unless the police have made a mistake while arresting you or the evidence is unclear, there is no easy way of clearing your record. However, that doesn’t mean your lawyer will give up or be unable to help you. There are still many ways to get the minimal penalty possible or get a favorable plea, particularly if you are a first-time offender.

In some cases, this could be the difference between spending a few years in jail and spending the rest of your life incarcerated. Together with expert witnesses, your lawyer will fight for your rights and minimize the consequences of your arrest.

What to Do Next 

Now you understand how serious transporting drugs over state lines can be, you’ll want to know how to move forward. The first thing you should do is get in touch with a lawyer who has experience with drug cases. Remember that anything you say to the police or judge can be used against you, so you should avoid speaking to them without your lawyer present. An experienced attorney can help you figure out how to word things so you won’t be penalized.

When preparing to meet your lawyer, you should compile all the facts and evidence of your case. The more you already have, the faster we can act and help you get out of your situation. Draw up a timeline of events and tell us in detail about your arrest. Every detail can help, so you should mention even those things that seem irrelevant to you.

Get Help How

Transporting drugs over state lines usually triggers a federal investigation, which can be much more severe than other a crime that is handled by the state. You’re likely to face time in jail if you can’t fight against the accusations. For this reason, you should hire the best drug crime lawyer in your local Kansas City area. They will help you fight for your rights by suppressing evidence or arguing that your arrest wasn’t legal.

A competent attorney will have many resources at their disposal, and they can get help from expert witnesses from relevant fields. What’s more, they will know all the local and federal laws. Working with such a professional gives you the greatest chance of being pardoned and staying out of jail. Contact us today at Henderson Legal Defense, LLC and request an initial consultation with one of our attorneys.