Atlanta Drug Crime Attorney

Conaway & Strickler, P.C. is a nationally recognized law firm in Atlanta, Georgia. For more than a decade, our aggressive team has successfully defended clients charged with serious felony and misdemeanor charges, including drug trafficking, drug possession, and possession with intent cases. If you have been charged with a drug offense, you are facing serious charges and should hire a skilled Atlanta criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Our firm offers a free initial consultation to discuss your charges, answer your questions and inform you of your rights and your legal options so you can make the best decisions about your case and your future.

Penalties for Drug Crimes in Georgia

Georgia drug charges are serious, and depending upon your specific situation you may be facing a monetary fine or a severe penalty, including a long term prison sentence. Georgia Criminal Code 16-13-30 states that the penalties for purchasing, possessing, manufacturing, delivering, distributing, selling, or possessing with the intent to distribute any controlled substance may be punishable by "…imprisonment for not less than two years nor more than 15 years. Upon conviction of a second or subsequent offense, he shall be imprisoned for not less than five years nor more than 30 years." There are particular exceptions, however, and these penalties apply to Schedule I and Schedule II substances.

Some factors which may affect the penalties which apply, and whether or not the defendant faces a felony or misdemeanor charge following a drug related arrest include the type of drug, the amount or weight of the drug, and what the defendant's intent was with the substance.

Drug Schedules & Drug Crime Charges

The Controlled Substance Act is part of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 and contains a variety of Federal drug laws which affect people of all ages throughout the United States. In the Controlled Substance Act, drugs are classified in a schedule, which places controlled substances into five categories, which are dependent upon the medicinal value, harmfulness, and probability for addiction of the narcotic. Each schedule has its own set of penalties and punishments, depending upon certain factors. For example, any Georgia drug offense which involves a Schedule I drug, such as LSD, heroin, or methamphetamines will carry with it a much more severe penalty than an offense involving a narcotic named within Schedule II through V.

Violating Title 16, Chapter 13, Article 2 of the Georgia Controlled Substance Act may result in very serious charges and punishments. The G.C.S.A. details various drug related crimes which are illegal in the State of Georgia, which include the selling, distribution, possession, and purchasing or narcotics. The following are specific drug crimes which may carry with them serious penalties if an individual is convicted in Georgia:

Drug possession- Willfully and knowingly possessing a controlled substance is a violation of State and Federal laws. In addition to possessing a drug, in some cases it is illegal to possess substances or products which can be used to manufacture or cultivate drugs. Depending upon the amount of drugs a person has when arrested, he or she may be charged with simple possession (small amount of narcotics) or with more serious charges if it is believed the drugs were to be sold or distributed.
Drug possession with intent to sell- Possessing a large amount of a controlled substance may result in a charge of possession with intent to sell. Even if the person possessing the substance has no intention of selling or distributing, they are many times charged with intent to sell anyway. This is a very serious charge and carries with it harsh punishments if convicted.
Drug trafficking- Every year countless people use automobiles, ships, airplanes, and other modes of transportation to bring narcotics into the United States, which is known as drug trafficking. Drug trafficking is also a statewide and nationwide crime, meaning that it does not have to originate in a foreign country to be considered drug trafficking. Cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, and marijuana are drugs which are heavily trafficked in the U.S.
Drug distributing- Drug distributing is a situation in which a drug manufacturer sells narcotics to a retailer or wholesaler, which then sell the drugs to other groups or individuals. Any accusation of drug distributing or dispensing must be taken seriously, as the penalties associated with a conviction are severe.

Fight your drug crime allegations with the help of an aggressive Atlanta drug crime lawyer at Conaway & Strickler, P.C. With our help, you may be able to avoid serious criminal penalties and other negative consequences of a drug crime conviction.

Facing drug charges in Georgia? Contact an Atlanta drug crime attorney at our firm today for your free consultation.