There are a few things you should know if you are currently facing charges for drug trafficking in Massachusetts. Public opinion regarding drug use has changed dramatically over the last few years. Marijuana, once considered one of the most dangerous "gateway" drugs, is now viewed with less disdain. However, regardless of the change in public perception, Massachusetts still has laws on the books that provide harsh penalties for people convicted of trafficking illegal drugs of all types.
For example, individuals convicted of trafficking at least 50 pounds of marijuana, yet less than 100 pounds, can expect to receive a prison sentence of at least 2.5 years and as long as 15 years. The penalties or even harsher for convicted traffickers of harder drugs such as ecstasy, cocaine and heroin. Individuals convicted of trafficking at least 36 grams, yet less than 100 grams, of those drugs can expect to serve a prison sentence of at least 3.5 years and as long as 20 years.
The good news is that you have a constitutionally protected right to retain an attorney to defend you against these charges. As the term implies, trafficking involves physically moving illegal drugs from one location to another. Frequent readers of our online blog may recall an article we previously wrote where federal agents and local police followed a Springfield, Massachusetts man as he allegedly made a delivery of various controlled substances including cocaine and heroin. Such an event can be a disaster for police, particularly those involving search warrants.
Sometimes, the information police use to obtain search warrants is deficient. Other times, the items seized during a drug bust may not be included in the search warrant. Your attorney can challenge the validity of the information used to obtain search warrants. Additionally, your attorney can challenge the legality of the search warrant's execution. In some cases, evidence can be excluded if police fail to observe proper legal procedures in either scenario.
Based in North Attleboro, our law firm represents clients facing drug trafficking charges in Bristol County and throughout Massachusetts. Prospective clients should know that our principal attorney is also a former prosecutor. That gives him the advantage of knowing which defense strategies are likely to result in the most favorable outcomes for our clients based on each of their unique circumstances.