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Drug Trafficking Lawyer in Raleigh

If you think that you could be under investigation or you were already arrested for any kind of alleged drug trafficking crime in the Research Triangle, it will be in your best interest to retain legal counsel as soon as possible. The Coolidge Law Firm aggressively defends individuals arrested for alleged drug crimes in Apex, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Holly Springs, Knightdale, and many surrounding areas of Wake County, including students at such local colleges as Duke University, Meredith College, North Carolina State University (NCSU), and Shaw University.

David Coolidge is a criminal defense lawyer in Raleigh who can investigate to determine if police officers violated your constitutional rights or committed any other errors in the handling of your arrest. Call (919) 239-8448 today to have our attorney review your case and answer all of your legal questions during a free initial consultation.

Attorney for Drug Trafficking Arrests in Raleigh

While the crime of drug trafficking is often thought to involve some kind of sale or transportation of a controlled substance, state law in North Carolina classifies criminal offenses as constituting trafficking of a certain drug when the alleged offender sells, manufactures, delivers, transports, or possesses more than a certain amount of a controlled substance. North Carolina has some of the strictest drug trafficking laws in the nation.

Prosecutors do not need to prove that alleged offenders necessarily sold or even had an intent to sell a controlled substance in order to charge such people with drug trafficking. When a person is accused of trafficking a controlled substance, the possible prison sentences are dramatically increased from the consequences of mere simple possession. The alleged offender also faces the possibility of federal involvement which could ultimately result in a very lengthy prison sentence due to severe federal sentencing guidelines.

Overview of Drug Trafficking in North Carolina

What amounts constitute drug trafficking crimes in North Carolina?
How long will alleged offenders be sentenced to prison?
Where can I find more information about drug trafficking in Raleigh?

Drug Trafficking Charges in Raleigh

North Carolina General Statute § 90-95(h) establishes several different instances in which alleged offenders can be charged with trafficking in certain controlled substances. People may be arrested for drug trafficking if they sell, manufacture, deliver, transport, or possess any of the following amounts of the following controlled substances:

Controlled Substance	Amount	Classification	Minimum Fine
Marijuana (Cannabis)	More than 10 pounds (avoirdupois), but less than 50 pounds	Class H felony	$5,000
	50 pounds or more, but less than 2,000 pounds	Class G felony	$25,000
	2,000 pounds or more, but less than 10,000 pounds	Class F felony	$50,000
	10,000 pounds or more	Class D felony	$200,000
Synthetic cannabinoids (with a dosage unit consisting of 3 grams of synthetic cannabinoid or any mixture containing such substance)	More than 50 dosage units, but less than 250 dosage units	Class H felony	$5,000
	250 dosage units or more, but less than 1,250 dosage units	Class G felony	$25,000
	1,250 dosage units or more, but less than 3,750 dosage units	Class F felony	$50,000
	3,750 dosage units or more	Class D felony	$200,000
Methaqualone (tablets, capsules or other dosage units)	1,000 or more dosage units, or equivalent quantity, but less than 5,000 dosage units, or equivalent quantity	Class G felony	$50,000
	5,000 or more dosage units, or equivalent quantity, but less than 10,000 dosage units, or equivalent quantity	Class F felony	$100,000
	10,000 or more dosage units, or equivalent quantity	Class D felony	$250,000
Cocaine (or any salt, isomer, salts of isomers, compound, derivative, or preparation thereof, or any coca leaves and any salt, isomer, salts of isomers, compound, derivative, or preparation of coca leaves, and any salt, isomer, salts of isomers, compound, derivative or preparation thereof which is chemically equivalent or identical with any of these substances)	28 grams or more, but less than 200 grams	Class G felony	$50,000
	200 grams or more, but less than 400 grams	Class F felony	$100,000
	400 grams or more	Class D felony	$250,000
Methamphetamine	28 grams or more, but less than 200 grams	Class F felony	$50,000
	200 grams or more, but less than 400 grams	Class E felony	$100,000
	400 grams or more	Class C felony	$250,000
Amphetamine	28 grams or more, but less than 200 grams	Class H felony	$5,000
	200 grams or more, but less than 400 grams	Class G felony	$25,000
	400 grams or more	Class E felony	$100,000
3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV)	28 grams or more, but less than 200 grams	Class F felony	$50,000
	200 grams or more, but less than 400 grams	Class E felony	$100,000
	400 grams or more	Class C felony	$250,000
Mephedrone	28 grams or more, but less than 200 grams	Class F felony	$50,000
	200 grams or more, but less than 400 grams	Class E felony	$100,000
	400 grams or more	Class C felony	$250,000
Heroin, opium, opiate, or any salt, compound, derivative, or preparation of opium or opiate (except apomorphine, nalbuphine, analoxone and naltrexone and their respective salts), or any mixture containing such substance	4 grams or more, but less than 14 grams	Class F felony	$50,000
	14 grams or more, but less than 28 grams	Class E felony	$100,000
	28 grams or more	Class C felony	$500,000
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)	100 or more dosage units, or equivalent quantity, but less than 500 dosage units, or equivalent quantity	Class G felony	$25,000
	500 or more dosage units, or equivalent quantity, but less than 1,000 dosage units, or equivalent quantity	Class F felony	$50,000
	1,000 or more dosage units, or equivalent quantity	Class D felony	$200,000
3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, Ecstasty, or Molly), or respective salts, isomers, and salts of isomers, or any mixture containing such substances,	100 or more tablets, capsules, or other dosage units, but less than 500 tablets, capsules, or other dosage units —OR— 28 grams or more, but less than 200 grams	Class G felony	$25,000
	500 or more tablets, capsules, or other dosage units, but less than 1,000 tablets, capsules, or other dosage units —OR— 200 grams or more, but less than 400 grams	Class F felony	$50,000
	1,000 or more tablets, capsules, or other dosage units —OR— 400 grams or more	Class D felony	$250,000

Drug Trafficking Penalties in Raleigh

Drug trafficking convictions are not subject to the same penalties as the North Carolina Structured Sentencing Act. Alleged offenders instead face a steeper range of sentences, depending on the felony classifications of their alleged offenses:

Class H Felony — Minimum term of 25 months up to 39 months in state prison;

Class G Felony — Minimum term of 35 months up to 51 months in state prison;

Class F Felony — Minimum term of 70 months up to 93 months in state prison;

Class E Felony — Minimum term of 90 months up to 120 months in state prison;

Class D Felony — Minimum term of 175 months up to 222 months in state prison; or

Class C Felony — Minimum term of 225 months up to 282 months in state prison.

North Carolina General Statute § 90-95(h)(5) does provide that a sentencing judge can reduce a fine, impose a prison term less than the applicable minimum prison, or suspend the prison term imposed and place a person on probation if an alleged offender has, to the best of that person’s knowledge, provided substantial assistance in the identification, arrest, or conviction of any accomplices, accessories, co-conspirators, or principals.

Alleged offenders should not provide any information to law enforcement without first speaking to a criminal defense lawyer who can ensure that a prosecutor will be willing to reduce or dismiss criminal charges in exchange for such information. People who disclose sensitive information can possibly expose themselves to substantial safety risks, and prosecutors may consider certain information that they deem unhelpful to not constitute substantial assistance.

North Carolina Drug Trafficking Resources

North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NCDPS) | State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) —
The SBI assists local law enforcement with criminal investigations but has original jurisdiction in drug investigations in North Carolina. On this website, you can learn more about the SBI, including its district offices, uniform crime reports, and unsolved crimes. You can also find various forms and documents.

North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation
Capital District
1705 Tryon Park Dr.
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 779-8188

Speak to a Drug Trafficking Defense Lawyer in Raleigh Today

Were you arrested or do you believe that you might be under investigation for an alleged drug trafficking offense? You should not say anything to authorities until you have legal representation. Contact the Coolidge Law Firm right now.

Raleigh criminal defense attorney David Coolidge and his associates represent clients all over Wake County, including Cary, Garner, Morrisville, Raleigh, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Wendell, and Zebulon as well as students at such local colleges as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), North Carolina State University (NCSU) Wake Technical Community College (Wake Tech), and William Peace University. You can have our lawyer provide a complete evaluation of your case when you call (919) 239-8448 or submit an online contact form to receive a free, confidential consultation.

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I can not say enough good about David Coolidge and the Law Firm! From the moment of our 1st interaction, I could tell that David TRULY cares and has a passion about the cases he takes on. I was anxious and nervous about my case from the beginning. David immediately showed his support and listened with an empathetic ear. From that moment on, I felt as though I knew I could trust him to put his whole heart into helping me with my case. He is intelligent, kind and completely nonjudgmental. He will listen to you and is so very supportive. I really felt, and still do, that he really cared about helping me. His passion for his work and in helping others shines. We VERY HAPPILY, had a GREAT outcome from the case and I could not be happier. As I told him when we left the court room that morning... “David, you have changed my life forever”. I would recommend David and this Law Firm to EVERYONE who is reading this review.

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