Methamphetamines are highly addictive, stimulant drugs. To prevent harm caused by methamphetamines, the North Carolina legislature has enacted multiple laws criminalizing the possession and distribution of methamphetamines, including laws against methamphetamine trafficking. If you are a resident of North Carolina and are charged with methamphetamine trafficking, it is vital to meet with a skillful drug crime defense attorney to discuss your case and your viable defenses. At the Olsinski Law Firm, PLLC, our Charlotte and Concord meth trafficking lawyers will craft effective arguments on your behalf to help you seek a just result. We have the skills and experience needed to help you protect your liberties.
Methamphetamine Trafficking Under North Carolina LawUnder North Carolina’s methamphetamine trafficking statute, anyone who sells, transports, possesses, or manufactures 28 grams or more of methamphetamines or a mixture containing methamphetamines will be guilty of methamphetamine trafficking. Methamphetamine trafficking is a felony, but the class of felony depends on the amount of methamphetamine that the person is convicted of possessing.
For a conviction of methamphetamine trafficking involving an amount from 28 grams up to 200 grams, it is a Class F felony, which is punished by a fine of $50,000 or more and a prison sentence ranging from 70 months to 93 months. If a person convicted of methamphetamine trafficking possessed 200 grams or more but less than 400 grams of methamphetamine, he or she will be deemed a Class E felon. As these penalties increase, it becomes even more critical to retain a meth trafficking attorney in Charlotte or Concord without delay. The punishment imposed for a Class E felony conviction of methamphetamine trafficking is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for a minimum of 90 months and a maximum of 120 months. Finally, if a person is convicted of methamphetamine trafficking for possessing 400 grams or more, he or she will be a Class C felon and will be sentenced to a prison term ranging from 225 to 282 months, and fined a minimum of $250,000.
Avoiding a Conviction for Meth TraffickingWhen a person is charged with meth trafficking, the substance that the person allegedly possessed, transported, or sold is a critical piece of evidence in the State’s case. Thus, if the defendant can prove that the evidence was not properly obtained or handled, he or she may be able to avoid a conviction. For example, criminal defendants are protected from unreasonable searches and seizures, so an officer must have a warrant based on probable cause or must demonstrate exigent circumstances to search a property. If the warrant was granted due to false information, or a search was conducted without a warrant, a Charlotte or Concord meth trafficking attorney may be able to get any evidence found during the search excluded at trial. Even if the police had a valid warrant, if they exceeded the scope of the warrant, evidence that was found outside its scope may be excluded as well.
Additionally, in cases in which a person is charged with meth trafficking, the State must establish the chain of custody of the methamphetamine from the time when it was discovered until it was ultimately tested in a lab. If the State cannot verify the chain of custody, the defendant can argue that the evidence may be tainted. The State must also establish that the defendant did in fact possess methamphetamine rather than another substance, which must be substantiated through laboratory testing. If the lab results are inaccurate or cannot be verified, it can weaken the State's position. If you are charged with methamphetamine trafficking, a capable drug crime defense attorney can discuss the arguments that you can make to avoid a conviction.
Consult a Skillful Drug Crime Defense Attorney Regarding Your CaseMethamphetamines are dangerous drugs, and the North Carolina courts hand down severe punishments for anyone found guilty of meth trafficking. The knowledgeable drug crime lawyers at Olsinski Law Firm, PLLC are adept at helping people charged with methamphetamine trafficking avoid convictions or get reduced charges, and they can aggressively advocate in your defense. The meth trafficking lawyers at our Concord and Charlotte offices regularly represent people facing drug charges in Cabarrus and Mecklenburg Counties, including in Concord, Charlotte, Huntersville, Matthews, Mint Hill, Cornelius, Davidson, Pineville, Kannapolis, Harrisburg, Midland, and Mount Pleasant. We can be contacted through the form online or at 704-405-2580 to reach our Charlotte office or 704-918-4747 to reach our Concord office to schedule a confidential and free meeting regarding your case.