Mountaineer Criminal Law Group defends clients at both the state and federal levels. Federal criminal charges are notoriously more serious than state charges, such as those that violate federal drug crimes laws. That is because they are investigated by such aggressive law enforcement agencies as the DEA, backed up by the full financial resources of the federal government.
Along with any federal drug charge, you may also face the additional charge of “conspiracy” if you and at least one other person worked together in agreement to commit the drug offense. This added drug conspiracy charge puts you at risk for additional federal criminal penalties. This makes it even more important to put an experienced federal criminal defense lawyer in your corner as soon as possible. Our firm puts a nationally-recognized veteran trial lawyer on your side with over a decade of experience to work for you.
Request a free initial consultation with our Morgantown federal drug conspiracy attorney by contacting Mountaineer Criminal Law Group via email or at (304) 381-3656 today.
As stated above, federal drug conspiracy charges are based on an agreement between two or more people intending to commit a drug-related crime. The crime can involve distributing or selling controlled substances, manufacturing them, importing them, or possessing them with the intent to distribute them. Federal drug crimes usually involve large-scale operations that cross state lines as opposed to minor drug offenses.
You can be charged with this conspiracy crime even if you were a minor participant in the actual offense. You can also be charged if the crime was never actually carried out but only intended. Examples of this could include attempting to sell drugs to an undercover law enforcement officer. Even though the incident never resulted in an actual sale, you can be charged with attempted drug dealing as well as drug conspiracy if you were working with another individual. All members of the alleged conspiracy, from sellers to suppliers and more, may face conspiracy charges.
To prove federal conspiracy drug charges, the prosecutor must show that you took observable steps to further the conspiracy. These steps can be as small as providing other conspiracy members with information, help, or equipment designed to facilitate the operation or as large as acting as a major player in the crime, such as being the dealer or point of contact for the potential buyer.
Federal conspiracy falls under 21 U.S. Code § 846. Penalties for this additional charge will depend on the nature of the offense and the type and quantity of drugs involved. Prison sentences can range from five years up to life in prison.