What You Should Know About Federal Drug Charges

There are several laws in the state of Maine that all residents should be aware of. Among these laws are those related to drug trafficking. In Maine, one must knowingly and intentionally traffic in a scheduled drug that is believed to be and is, in fact, such. There are several trafficking classifications, including:

• Possession with intent to trade or sell
• Manufacturing
• Delivery
• Trading or bartering
• Possessing two or more grams of heroin

Larger Quantities

Trafficking may also occur where the amount of drugs is large. The classification is set out by Maine law, but in general, “large” amounts of drugs include:

• 4 grams or more of crack cocaine
• 100 milligrams or more of hydromorphone
• 800 mg or more of oxycodone
• 14 grams or more of powder cocaine
• 1 pound or more of marijuana
• 30 or more MDMA pills

It is possible, even likely, that your drug charge may start as a state crime, but if it is upgraded to a trafficking charge, the case may be taken over by federal prosecutors. In this case, you need experienced representation capable of defending you aggressively in federal court. The federal courts have a very high conviction rate for trafficking charges. Still, there are several defenses that, with the right representation, can successfully defend against a trafficking charge or help you get a deal for a lesser crime. For example, trafficking in a schedule W drug, 20 pounds or more of marijuana, or growing more than 500 marijuana plants can land you in prison for up to 10 years with fines up to $20,000. 

Aggravated Drug Trafficking

Aggravated drug trafficking penalties in Maine include the following; 

• Trafficking with prior convictions for aggravated drug trafficking or similar crimes in a different jurisdiction. 
• Trafficking while enlisting the aid of a child who is younger than the age of 18;
• Trafficking 300 or more pills of narcotics other than heroin or more than 1000 milligrams of hydromorphone or 8000 milligrams of oxycodone. 
• Trafficking 300 or more pills, caplets, or any other MDMA
• Trafficking 6 grams or more in heroin or more than 270 individual containments. This includes bags, plastics, or paper separations. 
• Trafficking more than 112 grams of cocaine. 
• Trafficking with anyone under 18 years of age. 
• Trafficking on a school bus or within 1000 feet of an elementary school or a safe zone. 
• Trafficking with the possession of a firearm while carrying out the crime. 
• Trafficking with the crime resulting in any cause of death or serious bodily injury to any person. 

Hire an Experienced Federal Drug Trafficking Attorney

Steve Smith Trial Lawyers has extensive experience defending clients on drug trafficking charges in the federal court system. The team of attorneys at Steve Smith Trial Lawyers are hard-hitting, aggressive advocates for their clients. If you or someone you know has been charged with trafficking in Maine either in state or federal court, contact Steve Smith Trial Lawyers today. Our experienced team of attorneys will conduct a thorough case evaluation and decide on a comprehensive plan to get you the best possible outcome for your case.