Criminal Defense Lawyer John E. MacDonald, Inc. of Providence, Rhode Island
Schedule a ConsultationIn the State of Rhode Island, Section 21-28-4.01 states that it is illegal to manufacture, deliver, or possess with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance. Violating this law can lead to drug trafficking charges and can also lead to more severe consequences if there’s a violation of the federal drug trafficking statute.
The Rhode Island courts take drug trafficking charges very seriously. If you’re facing a drug trafficking charge, it’s imperative to speak with an experienced Rhode Island drug crime defense attorney right away. The Law Office of John E. MacDonald have been specializing in drug crimes and drug trafficking cases for over 25 years. Rhode Island drug trafficking defense lawyer John E. MacDonald can provide the legal support you need and a powerful drug crime defense strategies that can lead to a successful outcome. Do not wait to secure legal representation during this challenging time.
Contact The Law Office of John E. MacDonald today to schedule a consultation and discuss your options.
When facing the possibility of a drug trafficking conviction, you need to contact a Rhode Island drug trafficking attorney as soon as possible. It can be helpful to gain a better understanding of what these charges mean, the extent of the penalties, and other details regarding a drug trafficking charge in Rhode Island or on the federal level. Below you’ll find important information about drug trafficking laws and penalties. If you’d like to learn more about drug trafficking and other drug-related offenses, contact the law office of John E. MacDonald today to hear how a drug crime attorney can help.
The chances of facing jail time for a federal drug trafficking conviction are highly likely. Keep in mind that the Federal Sentencing Guidelines will range according to many different factors, such as the quantity of the drug, the classification of the drug, whether anyone was seriously injured as a result of the controlled substance, and if you’ve faced prior drug crime convictions or charges. There are also mandatory minimum sentences for federal drug trafficking charges, which can include jail time from 5-years to life in prison. If you’d like to avoid the possibility of jail time or have your sentence minimized, it’s critical to work with an experienced drug trafficking defense attorney. Contact The Law Office of John E. MacDonald today to learn more about sentencing guidelines.
Penalties for an international drug trafficking charge will likely include jail time, which has a minimum mandatory sentence that will range between 5-years and 10-years in jail. The courts will take into consideration a number of different factors when deciphering penalties for international drug trafficking, such as the type and quantity of the controlled substance, if minors were involved, if illegal weapons were found at the time of the arrest, or if there is a prior history of drug crimes. Beyond jail time, you might face other penalties such as expensive fines and community service. When other federal agencies, such as the DEA or the FBI, are involved in the investigation of your drug trafficking charges, you may be facing multiple drug charges or other criminal offenses. Only work with an experienced Rhode Island international drug trafficking attorney in these circumstances. Contact The Law Office of John E. MacDonald today for more information.
Our drug crime defense attorneys have successfully defended clients charged with drug trafficking by utilizing various defense strategies. Remember that only an experienced drug crime lawyer will know how to identify mistakes made by law enforcement and how to create an effective defense strategy for a drug trafficking offense. For instance, a strong defense might revolve around the terms and conditions of a search warrant. A Rhode Island drug trafficking defense lawyer should be able to identify errors where police obtained or implemented an illegal search warrant. If there are issues with the prosecutor’s case or with the police actions, the drug crime attorneys at our law firm will be able to discover these errors and use them to your advantage. If you’d like to know more about defense strategies that are specific to drug trafficking cases, contact The Law Office of John E. MacDonald today to schedule a consultation.
The types of drugs or controlled substances that can lead to federal or state charges for drug trafficking are defined by the Controlled Substance Act. This law classifies controlled substances in different schedules. According to the DEA, the different schedules of controlled substances include:
Schedule I
Schedule I drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Some examples of Schedule I drugs are: heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), marijuana (cannabis), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy), methaqualone, and peyote
Schedule II
Schedule II drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with a high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence. These drugs are also considered dangerous. Some examples of Schedule II drugs are: Combination products with less than 15 milligrams of hydrocodone per dosage unit (Vicodin), cocaine, methamphetamine, methadone, hydromorphone (Dilaudid), meperidine (Demerol), oxycodone (OxyContin), fentanyl, Dexedrine, Adderall, and Ritalin
Schedule III
Schedule III drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. Schedule III drugs abuse potential is less than Schedule I and Schedule II drugs but more than Schedule IV. Some examples of Schedule III drugs are: Products containing less than 90 milligrams of codeine per dosage unit (Tylenol with codeine), ketamine, anabolic steroids, testosterone
Schedule IV
Schedule IV drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with a low potential for abuse and low risk of dependence. Some examples of Schedule IV drugs are: Xanax, Soma, Darvon, Darvocet, Valium, Ativan, Talwin, Ambien, Tramadol
Schedule V
Schedule V drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with lower potential for abuse than Schedule IV and consist of preparations containing limited quantities of certain narcotics. Schedule V drugs are generally used for antidiarrheal, antitussive, and analgesic purposes. Some examples of Schedule V drugs are: cough preparations with less than 200 milligrams of codeine or per 100 milliliters (Robitussin AC), Lomotil, Motofen, Lyrica, Parepectolin
Any of the above-mentioned controlled substances can lead to drug trafficking charges when manufactured, delivered, possessed in an unlawful way. To understand more about the different classifications of controlled substances, contact our law firm today to speak with a drug trafficking defense lawyer.
Rhode Island Section 21-28-4.01 makes it unlawful to manufacture, deliver, or possess with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance. The federal statute uses very similar language in its drug trafficking laws. Under the federal drug trafficking law, it is illegal to knowingly or intentionally, manufacture, distribute, or dispense, or possess with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense a controlled substance.
However, the key difference between the Rhode Island drug trafficking laws and the federal drug trafficking laws involves the penalties. The penalties for drug trafficking offenses on the federal level are much more drastic than the penalties for violating drug trafficking laws in the state of Rhode Island. If you’ve been charged with drug trafficking on either the state or federal level, contact The Law Office of John E. MacDonald today to speak with a drug crime lawyer.
When you hire a veteran drug trafficking attorney, you’re immediately reducing your risk of jail time, expensive fines, and other harsh penalties that are typically applied in drug trafficking cases. In some circumstances, you may even be able to get your case dismissed, but only if you choose to hire a Rhode Island drug trafficking defense lawyer. When facing charges as severe as drug trafficking, don’t put your life on the line. Even if it seems like the cards are stacked against you, a skilled and experienced drug trafficking attorney can present you with options you didn’t know existed. Call The Law Office of John E. MacDonald today to learn more.
The Law Office of John E. MacDonald is available to clients 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. Remember that the sooner you call, the better the results. Call the Rhode Island Drug Crimes Attorney John E. MacDonald, Inc. at 401.421.1440 or EMAIL today to schedule a free consultation.
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