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Jefferson County, MO Drug Trafficking Attorneys

Fighting Serious Drug Crime Charges for Clients

If you’re facing drug trafficking charges, you should seek legal representation immediately. The penalties for a DWI conviction can be life-altering, since they often include prison time, fines, and the lifelong consequences that come with having a felony on your criminal record. You deserve the opportunity to defend your reputation and record against serious drug charges, and an experienced criminal defense lawyer can significantly assist with this.

The team at Grafe & Batchelor, P.C., Attorneys at Law, has been defending clients against severe criminal charges for years, so you can rest assured that we’re deeply familiar with the courts that handle drug charges ranging from drug possession and drug paraphernalia to state and federal drug trafficking allegations. If you’re concerned about how a drug trafficking conviction could affect your life, call our law office to learn how a skilled legal defense team can get you the best possible outcome.

What Is Drug Trafficking in Missouri?

Drug trafficking is defined as illegally manufacturing, growing, transporting, or distributing controlled substances in large quantities. You can be charged with this drug crime even if there is no evidence that you planned to sell drugs. Being caught with a large enough quantity of a controlled substance is enough to trigger an automatic drug trafficking charge in this state.

Drug trafficking charges can involve any type of controlled substance that you’re illegally in possession of. This includes illegal recreational drugs or prescription medications not prescribed to you. Some of the most commonly trafficked drugs are:

  • Cocaine
  • Marijuana
  • Methamphetamine
  • Heroin
  • LSD
  • Fentanyl

Your specific drug charges will depend on the type and amount of drug you were caught with. Aggravating factors may also make your case more severe. Contact our law firm to schedule a free consultation with a skilled attorney who can answer your questions about your criminal defense case.

What Are the Types of Missouri Drug Trafficking Charges and Their Penalties?

This state categorizes drug trafficking charges into two degrees based on the quantity and type of drug involved. The degree of drug crime will determine the felony level and the penalties it carries upon conviction.

Drug Trafficking in the Second Degree

You may be charged with drug trafficking in the second degree if the police find a large quantity of drugs in your possession, but are unable to prove that you intended to sell them. Some examples of the types and quantities of controlled substances that can lead to this trafficking charge include:

  • Between 30 and 100 kilograms of marijuana
  • Between 30 and 90 grams of heroin, PCP, or meth
  • Between 150 and 450 grams of cocaine
  • Between 8 and 24 grams of crack cocaine
  • Between 500 milligrams and 1 gram of LSD
  • Between 10 and 20 milligrams of fentanyl

The specific quantity you’re caught with will determine whether you face a Class B or Class C felony. If you’re convicted of a Class B felony, you could end up with a prison sentence of 5 to 15 years. A Class C felony conviction could lead to 3 to 10 years in prison. For the best chance of avoiding these consequences, you should hire a criminal defense lawyer who can fight your trafficking charges using a strong drug trafficking defense in Jefferson County. Call our law firm today to learn more.

Drug Trafficking in the First Degree

First-degree drug trafficking charges are more serious than second-degree charges, since this drug offense requires the police to have proof of intent to sell. This means this charge is not just based on the quantity of controlled substances, but also the intent behind your possession of them. As a result, this drug trafficking charge generally carries harsher penalties.

If you’re accused of drug trafficking in the first degree due to evidence of intent to sell, you face a Class B felony, which could result in 5 to 15 years in prison. If you’re in unlawful possession of a significant quantity of drugs or your alleged drug offense involves firearms, schools, or minors, you could end up with a Class A felony. This could result in a sentence of 10 years to life imprisonment.

No matter which degree of this crime you’ve been charged with, facing drug trafficking charges can be a scary experience that you don’t need to deal with alone. Experienced criminal defense lawyers can defend you in court during this challenging time, so you don’t have to worry about possible prison or jail time, whether you’re charged with a Class A or Class D felony. Call our law firm today for a free initial consultation with a legal team that will work hard to get you a favorable outcome on your drug trafficking case.

How Can Criminal Defense Lawyers Protect You from a Drug Trafficking Conviction?

Drug trafficking charges are serious, but they don’t have to lead to the harshest possible punishment. A strong defense approach can get your case dismissed, charges reduced, or a not-guilty verdict in court, so it’s vital to avoid giving up on your future just because you’re facing charges. As long as you take immediate action by contacting a skilled attorney after your arrest, you have a chance to get the best possible outcome on your trafficking case.

Every criminal case is unique, but in general, some of the most effective criminal defense strategies for drug trafficking charges include:

  • Questioning whether the police had reasonable suspicion to stop you and search for controlled substances, and probable cause to arrest you. If it turns out the police violated your constitutional rights, any evidence they found in the illegal search could be inadmissible in court, and your case could even be dismissed.
  • Challenging the classification or quantity of drugs you had in your possession. If your lawyer can prove that the police observations or chemical tests to classify the drugs were inaccurate, or that they reported the incorrect amount, this could greatly reduce your charges.
  • Disputing the alleged possession and intent. The prosecution’s case must prove you knowingly possessed illegal drugs, and depending on the specific offense, they must also prove that you intended to sell them. If your lawyer can prove that you were not knowingly in possession of the controlled substance or that you intended it for personal use, this serious offense could be reduced to a misdemeanor drug charge.
  • Claiming entrapment by the police, meaning you would not have possessed the controlled substance if law enforcement hadn’t persuaded, coerced, or harassed you into it.
  • Challenging witness statements, which may involve proving the witness is not credible or reliable, and their statements should not be considered in your case.
  • Presenting evidence that you could not have committed the offense as charged. This could include time-stamped videos, pictures, or receipts showing you were not in the location the witness or police claim you were in when the crime was committed.
  • Making it clear that the police violated your constitutional rights by failing to read you the Miranda rights or continuing to question you after you’ve asked for a lawyer.

Our trusted legal team has successfully used these and other legal defense tactics to keep clients from being found guilty of serious drug charges in Missouri. If you’ve been accused of trafficking marijuana, cocaine, synthetic cannabinoids, or other illegal substances, call our law firm to initiate a thorough investigation into the circumstances so we can determine the best defense option for your case.

Are You Ready to Hire Jefferson County, MO Drug Trafficking Attorneys?

Being arrested for drug trafficking is a serious matter. The penalties associated with a conviction can significantly impact a person’s life, as they include prison time, fines, community service, and other consequences. If you’re hoping to avoid these penalties, it’s time to reach out to criminal defense lawyers who can stand up to prosecutors and prove that you’re not guilty of trafficking drugs as charged.

At Grafe & Batchelor, P.C., Attorneys at Law, our criminal defense lawyers realize how critical it is for you to avoid prison time and fines, especially if you have a family or career to protect from these life-changing penalties. That’s why we fight aggressively to prove the prosecution team wrong in the courtroom, allowing our clients to get the most favorable outcomes possible.

We’re proud to say our defense lawyers have the legal knowledge and experience necessary to thoroughly investigate your case. We’ll review everything from the arrest to the chemical testing process to reveal any violations of your rights or inaccuracies in the case. Once we know the defense approach to use and have gathered the evidence to support it, we’ll present the case to the prosecutors, negotiating for reduced charges or penalties when appropriate. If you want to fight your trafficking charges with help from skilled defense lawyers, call our law firm at (636) 220-5934 for a free initial consultation.