Boston Drug Trafficking Attorney

According to Massachusetts law, drug trafficking is defined as the possession of a specific threshold quantity of controlled substances with the intent to distribute or sell them, or the actual distribution of illicit narcotics.

With respect to federal law, the US Sentencing Guidelines define a “drug trafficking offense” as,

“An offense under federal, state, or local law that prohibits the manufacture, import, export, distribution, or dispensing of a controlled substance (or a counterfeit substance) or the possession of a controlled substance (or a counterfeit substance) with intent to manufacture, import, export, distribute, or dispense”

Similarly, under Massachusetts state law, trafficking is defined as,

“Knowingly or intentionally manufacturing, distributing, dispensing, or cultivating or possessing with intent to manufacture, distribute, dispense, or cultivate” a controlled substance, i.e., illegal drug.,

This type of drug crime is the most serious of all in the United States since the amount of drugs necessary for trafficking charges is significant.

For a consultation with an experienced Boston drug trafficking lawyer, contact our office at (617) 500-0252.

What are the Penalties for Drug Trafficking?

Drug trafficking is considered a very serious drug crime under both United States federal laws and under the law of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. If charged with a drug trafficking offense, you face serious jail time. Sentences vary based upon the type of illicit substance, the amount/quantity of the substance, and/or whether there are also any prior convictions.

The penalties for drug trafficking depend on the controlled substances involved in the crime. It is important to understand that all first-time drug trafficking offenses are considered felonies, which come with a mandatory minimum prison sentence as a result of a conviction.

The first-offense penalties for drug trafficking include:

• Cocaine – Trafficking between 18 grams and less than 28 grams can lead to a maximum prison sentence of 15 years—with a mandatory minimum of two years.
• Heroin – Trafficking between 18 grams and less than 36 grams can result in a maximum prison term of 20 years—with a mandatory minimum of three and a half years.
• Fentanyl – Trafficking at least 10 grams of fentanyl or any other derivative form can lead to a maximum prison sentence of 20 years—with a mandatory minimum of three and a half years.
• Cannabis – Trafficking at least 50 pounds of marijuana can result in a maximum prison term of 15 years—with a mandatory minimum of one year.

Depending on the circumstances of your case, if convicted, you could be sentenced to numerous years in prison, up to and including life. In addition, trafficking crimes carry mandatory minimum sentences. In Massachusetts, the shortest drug –related mandatory minimum sentence is 1 year in jail; the longest, for trafficking in “hard” drugs in large quantities, is 12 years. Again, that’s the minimum sentence you can receive in such cases.

Federal court mandatory minimum sentences are even more stringent, beginning at 5 year and 10 year minimums for certain first offenses, and ranging all the way up to life in prison — as a minimum for dealing in large quantities after having 2 or more prior offense convictions.

Understanding the Legal Consequences of Drug Trafficking

Drug trafficking is a serious criminal offense that can result in severe penalties, including lengthy prison sentences, hefty fines, and a permanent criminal record. It is important to understand the legal consequences associated with drug trafficking charges in order to make informed decisions about your defense strategy.

Our experienced Boston drug crimes defense lawyer at Brad Bailey Law has a deep understanding of the complexities of drug trafficking cases and can provide you with the aggressive representation you need to protect your rights and achieve the best possible outcome.

Key points to consider regarding drug trafficking charges:

• Mandatory minimum sentences for certain drug trafficking offenses
• Enhanced penalties for trafficking large quantities of drugs
• Potential forfeiture of assets related to drug trafficking activities
• Collateral consequences such as loss of professional licenses or immigration status

Don't face drug trafficking charges alone. Contact Brad Bailey Law today to schedule a consultation and discuss your legal options with a skilled defense attorney.

Skilled Boston Drug Crimes Defense Lawyer

Drug trafficking crimes are not only extremely serious charges, but can be very complicated, involving multiple classes of substances, weight calculations and conversions, and sentencing charts, tables and guidelines. If you are facing a drug trafficking charge, you need to hire an experienced drug crimes lawyer who is familiar with all aspects and nuances of defending a drug crimes case.

Contact an experienced Boston defense attorney online or call (617) 500-0252  today!

Not only does criminal defense lawyer Brad Bailey have extensive experience defending drug trafficking cases, he’s also a former state and federal prosecutor who served in the U.S. Attorney’s elite Drug Task Force during his time as a federal prosecutor in Boston. While there, he never lost a case and earned the coveted “Outstanding Prosecutor” award. This expertise not only made his transition to criminal defense attorney a natural fit, but also, because he has handled drug cases on all sides of the criminal justice spectrum, it provides Brad with a unique perspective and skill set, which consistently enables him to achieve successful outcomes for his clients.

Below is a small sampling of handled trafficking-related drug crime cases:

• Commonwealth v. Dell’Isola, a cocaine trafficking case
• Commonwealth v. Williams, an Oxycodone trafficking case
• Commonwealth v. Betancourt, an Oxycodone trafficking and money laundering case
• Commonwealth v. Schlehuber, a cocaine trafficking case
• Commonwealth v. Grandoit, trafficking in cocaine
• Commonwealth v Esperance, trafficking in cocaine

Contact Brad Bailey Law Today!

If you are accused of drug trafficking, you need to hire the best drug crimes defense attorney you can find, a lawyer with the experience and determination to aggressively protect your rights, your reputation, your assets, and your freedom. Brad Bailey is that lawyer.

Contact Brad Bailey Law today for a confidential, phone consultation. He will listen to you, assess your situation, evaluate your jeopardy, advise you on your best course of action, and identify an effective defense strategy; all in the strictest of confidence.

For a consultation with an experienced Boston drug trafficking lawyer, contact our office at (617) 500-0252.