In the War on Drugs, the biggest targets are the “kingpins.” The people who move controlled substances in and out of the country. Prosecutors relish the opportunity to bring them down, and the law reserves some of the harshest penalties for those labeled drug traffickers. In Central Texas, near the I-35 corridor, district attorneys love to bring down those with large quantities of narcotics.
Georgetown Drug Trafficking Defense Lawyer
With such strict punishments, you want an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side if you face drug trafficking charges. Georgetown drug trafficking lawyers Michael J. Price has over two decades of experience defending the rights of those accused of drug crimes, and he can put his experience to work for you. Price & Twine, PLLC will look for evidence to challenge and holes in the prosecution’s case, and seek to get your charges reduced or dismissed.
Call Price & Twine, PLLC today at (512) 354-1880. Michael J. Price is based in Georgetown and can defend clients facing drug trafficking charges throughout Williamson and Bell Counties, including in Cedar Park, Leander, Round Rock, Hutto, Taylor, Killeen, Temple, Belton and Harker Heights.
Trafficking Laws in Texas
Trafficking, generally, is the commerce of the drug trade. It is transporting large amounts of narcotics to and from places in and out of the country into the cities and localities where they are sold to customers. It is a major, billion-dollar business, and the War on Drugs keeps it a black market, rife with violence.
The Texas Controlled Substances Act does not define “trafficking.” However, it does have increased penalties for delivery or attempted delivery of large amounts of drugs. Delivery, under Texas law, means to transfer the drug from one person to another. This could mean the actual act of selling the drug, or transporting it to another to sell. The severity of charges depends on the amount of the drug.
If you are a truck driver on a route to Dallas, for instance, and state police pull you over on I-35 in Round Rock and find 10 kilos of cocaine in your cargo, you could face first-degree felony charges of delivery. If police in Killeen allege that you had 100 hits of LSD you were selling out of your house, you could face second-degree felony charges.
Penalties for Trafficking in Williamson County
The Texas Controlled Substances Act divides drugs into penalty groups. Penalties for drug trafficking, or delivery, depend on the penalty group of the drug you are accused of possessing and the amount you allegedly possessed. That’s why it’s important for your Williamson County drug attorney to contest the amount you are accused of possessing.
Penalty Group 1: Heroin, opium, cocaine and its derivatives, including crack, meth, morphine, codeine, GHB.
| Amount (Grams) | Jail Time (Years) | Maximum Fine |
| Less than 1 | 180 days – 2 years | $10,000 |
| 1 – 4 | 2 – 20 | $10,000 |
| 4 – 200 | 5 – 99, or Life | $10,000 |
| 200 – 400 | 10 – Life | $100,000 |
| More than 400 | 15 – Life | $250,000 |
Penalty Group 1A: LSD.
| Amount (Units) | Jail Time (Years) | Maximum Fine |
| Less than 20 | 180 days – 2 years | $10,000 |
| 20 – 80 | 2 – 20 | $10,000 |
| 80 – 4,000 | 5 – 99, or Life | $10,000 |
| More than 4,000 | 15 – Life | $250,000 |
Penalty Group 2: PCP, ecstasy (MDMA), mescaline, hallucinogens.
| Amount (Grams) | Jail Time (Years) | Maximum Fine |
| Less than 1 | 180 days – 2 years | $10,000 |
| 1 – 4 | 2 – 20 | $10,000 |
| 4 – 400 | 5 – 99, Life | $10,000 |
| More than 400 | 10 – Life | $100,000 |
Penalty Group 3: Xanax, Valium, other prescription drugs.
| Amount (Grams) | Jail Time (Years) | Maximum Fine |
| Less than 28 | 180 days – 2 years | $10,000 |
| 28 – 200 | 2 – 20 | $10,000 |
| 200 – 400 | 5 – 99, Life | $10,000 |
| More than 400 | 10 – Life | $100,000 |
Penalty Group 4: Prescription drugs that contain at least one non-narcotic active medical ingredient.
| Amount (Grams) | Jail Time (Years) | Maximum Fine |
| Less than 28 | 180 days – 2 years | $10,000 |
| 28 – 200 | 2 – 20 | $10,000 |
| 200 – 400 | 5 – 99, Life | $10,000 |
| More than 400 | 10 – Life | $100,000 |
Marijuana/ Marihuana/ Cannabis
| Amount | Jail Time (Years) | Maximum Fine |
| 2 oz or less | Up to 180 days | $2,000 |
| 2 – 4 oz | Up to 1 | $4,000 |
| 4 oz – 5 lbs | 180 days – 2 | $10,000 |
| 5 – 50 lbs | 1 – 10 | $10,000 |
| 50 – 2,000 lbs | 2 – 20 | $10,000 |
| More than 2,000 lbs | 5 – 99, or Life | $50,000 |
Price & Twine, PLLC | Round Rock Trafficking Attorney
If you are accused of drug trafficking, Georgetown criminal defense lawyers Michael J. Price will zealously defend you. Contact Price & Twine, PLLC today at (512) 354-1880.