Being charged and convicted of drug crimes might permanently change the course of your life. Do not accept a plea deal without discussing your case with our attorneys. After determining whether you were coerced or threatened into participating or lacked knowledge altogether, we can help you beat the charges against you.
Even for simple possession convictions, defendants can get up to one year in jail. Subsequent convictions mean three years in jail, and your driver’s license might also be suspended. Being arrested for possession with intent to deliver is far more serious, and getting years-long prison sentences on the first conviction is common. Even more serious are federal drug trafficking charges, which our attorneys also help defend against in Delaware County.
Call our drug crimes lawyers for possession, distribution, and more at Kenny, Burns & McGill at (215) 423-5500.
What Does it Mean if I Am Arrested for Possession with Intent to Deliver?
Individuals may be arrested for possession with intent to deliver for having large amounts of illicit substances in Delaware County.
Manufacturing, delivering, possessing, or controlling substances with the intent to manufacture or deliver them to another is considered drug trafficking or “possession with intent to deliver” (PWID). The amount of controlled substances you must have in your possession to be arrested for PWID depends on the specific drug in question.
The amount of controlled substances and the type also dictate the possible penalties you experience. For example, being convicted of possessing between two and 10 pounds of marijuana with the intent to deliver, the mandatory minimum prison sentence is two years. Defendants convicted of possessing between one and five grams of heroin with the intent to deliver also face the same mandatory minimum prison sentence.
Being arrested for possession with intent to deliver is more serious than an arrest for simple possession, and you should prioritize contacting us about your case.
Is Drug Trafficking a State or Federal Crime?
Whether drug trafficking is charged at the state or federal level depends on the specifics of an offense. We help defendants facing both state and federal drug trafficking charges, so do not hesitate to reach out for assistance with your defense today.
When drug trafficking occurs solely within the confines of a state, it is charged at the state level. In Pennsylvania, drug trafficking is synonymous with possession with the intent to deliver. However, if drug trafficking allegedly spans several states or involves participants crossing state lines to deliver controlled substances, it becomes a federal offense.
Defendants charged and convicted at the federal level serve their sentences in federal prisons, which may be located very far away from friends and family in Delaware County.
What Are the Consequences of Drug Manufacturing in Pennsylvania?
In addition to prohibiting the possession or possession with intent to deliver controlled substances, Pennsylvania also prohibits the illegal manufacturing of controlled substances.
The consequences for manufacturing an illegal substance in Pennsylvania vary, depending on the substance in question and the specific offense. For example, suppose the defendant is arrested for manufacturing a controlled substance without proper registration. If the controlled substance was a Schedule I or II narcotic drug, the defendant risks up to 15 years in prison.
If you are arrested for allegedly manufacturing controlled substances, the prosecution may tack on more felony charges for possession with intent to deliver. Do not face such intimidating charges alone, and let our lawyers help with your case.
How Do You Defend Drug Possession and Distribution Charges in Delaware County?
Defending drug possession charges is possible, so do not assume you will go to jail, face fines, or suffer other consequences. Contact us immediately if you are arrested for any drug-related charges in Delaware County, and our drug crimes lawyers will begin working on your defense.
Coercion
If you are arrested for possession with intent to deliver and face a drug trafficking conviction in Pennsylvania, tell our lawyers everything you need to know about the charges. Be honest about whether or not you were coerced into being part of a drug operation, and tell us if you or anyone you love was threatened if you did not comply.
We may prove coercion through texts, social media messages, and other correspondence, so please provide any evidence that corroborates this defense.
Illegal Search
If you are arrested for possession offenses in Delaware County, the best evidence against you may be the controlled substances in question. If law enforcement illegally searched your person, vehicle, or home and found illicit substances, tell us. The Fourth Amendment protects you from unreasonable search and seizure. We can motion to suppress evidence obtained through an illegal search. If that is all the prosecution has against you, they may be forced to drop the charges.
Lack of Knowledge or Intent
Lack of knowledge or intent is another defense to being charged with drug crimes. Tell us if drugs in a shared vehicle, home, or other property are not yours, and if you were fully unaware of their existence. Proving intent is crucial for prosecutors in PWID cases, and our lawyers may prove a lack of intent to undermine the prosecution’s case and create reasonable doubt in jurors’ minds.
Should You Take a Plea for Drug Charges in Delaware County?
Taking a plea may allow defendants to avoid unreasonable prison sentences, especially if this is their first arrest and conviction for any drug-related charges. Accepting a plea means a conviction will be recorded on your criminal record and could impact your future, so make this decision carefully and with our attorneys’ help.
You should not take a plea before we determine the strength of the prosecution’s case. If they do not have enough evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, it may benefit you to take the case to trial. The prosecution may even be forced to drop the charges if we suppress enough evidence, so do not automatically accept a plea deal.
Call Our Lawyers for Help with Drug Charges in Delaware County
For help from the drug crimes lawyers for possession, distribution, and more at Kenny, Burns & McGill, call (215) 423-5500.
