New Orleans Drug Crime Lawyer
Drug charges may not seem serious to some people, but even minor charges can affect your life for a long time. Extensive prison sentences and fines are common. But even when you have served your time, you now have the burden of trying to rebuild your life. A drug crime — especially a felony charge — can follow you for the rest of your life.
If you are facing drug charges in Louisiana, you need an experienced attorney to fight for you. The experienced team at Palazzo Law Firm can help you fight all types of drug charges, including possession, manufacturing, trafficking, and distribution. Contact an experienced New Orleans drug crime lawyer today to schedule a consultation.
Drug Possession
The charges and penalties for drug possession in Louisiana are based on the type of drug. There are five schedules of drugs:
- Schedule I: Marijuana
- Schedule II: Hydromorphone, Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, Methadone, Meperidine, Fentanyl, Opium, Morphine, Glutethimide, Pentobarbital, and Amobarbital.
- Schedule III: Codeine and hydrocodone products mixed with aspirin or acetaminophen
- Schedule IV: Xanax, Darvon, Darvocet, Valium, Ativan, Talwin, Soma, Ambien, and Tramadol.
- Schedule V: Drugs generally used for antidiarrheal, analgesic, and antitussive purposes
For marijuana possession, first and second violations can result in six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000. For Schedule II, III, IV, and V drugs, a person can face 1-5 years in prison, as well as fines up to $5,000 for a first offense. For subsequent violations, the fines and prison time may be doubled.
Drug Trafficking
If you are caught trying to produce or distribute illegal substances, you could be charged with drug trafficking. However, prosecutors need to prove two main things:
- Intent and possession. The prosecutor will need to be able to prove that you had an illegal amount of an illegal substance and that you intentionally possessed the drugs. What this means is that if drugs were found in a rental car, for example, and you had no idea they were there, you cannot be charged with intent.
- The case depends on how much of an illegal drug you had in your possession. What is its weight? You have to possess a large amount of the drug before you can be charged with drug trafficking. If there is no proof like paraphernalia that shows that you are trying to distribute drugs, then the charge could be reduced to possession.
You can be charged for marijuana trafficking if you are caught with at least 25 pounds of marijuana or 300 pounds of marijuana plants. You could be charged for cocaine trafficking if you have at least 28 grams of cocaine.
Contact Palazzo Law Firm Today
Being convicted of a drug crime is a serious issue that can affect your life in many ways. Don’t delay legal help. The team at Palazzo Law Firm will represent you in court in the most aggressive way possible and work towards giving you the best outcome possible for your case. Schedule a consultation with our New Orleans drug crimes lawyer today by calling 504-433-1442 or filling out the online form.
