Drug trafficking crimes involve the creation and/or distribution of banned drugs or controlled substances that were obtained illegally. They are considered very serious crimes and often carry severe penalties. The more dangerous the drug, the quantity of the drug, and the more drug crimes you are convicted of – in addition to drug trafficking – the worse the punishment could be. Finding a qualified New Jersey drug crimes lawyer for your case can easily make the difference between many years in prison or a lesser penalty. Contact Attorney Lustberg today for a free initial consultation regarding your drug charges. New Jersey Drug Trafficking Law Definition and DetailsDrug trafficking is defined as the illegal sale, manufacture or creation, transport, movement, and/or distribution of any substance that is either illegal to own or was illegally acquired. Drug trafficking crimes usually involve much more than simply handling an illegal substance from point A to point B. It often involves a large scheme on a national or international scale with millions of dollars of sales generated. Usually, to be convicted of this crime one must have a larger part in the scheme such as organizing, financing, or supervising/managing those creating, moving, or selling the drugs. The following is a list of the most commonly trafficked drugs in the United States:
Because this type of crime is on a much larger scale and results in thousands of affected Americans gaining access to illegal substances, a special federal group called The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is used to investigate these crimes. They were created to crack down on drug presence and distribution in the United States. Possible Drug Trafficking Penalties for Those Convicted in NJIf you are caught by the DEA and convicted, the penalties for this type of crime are severe. This is because it is considered a very serious crime that usually earns an individual a 1st-degree felony charge. If convicted of other drug crimes the penalties can become much more severe. This is especially the case if charged with any of the following:
Penalties for drug trafficking crimes in New Jersey depend on what type of drug was involved and how much of the drug was being created, managed, and in possession. These charges can be broken down into four categories and have specific penalties associated with them:
It is important to note that prison is only part of the punishment when it comes to a drug trafficking conviction, which can also result in heavy fines depending on how much of the drug and what kind of drug was involved. A person can also lose many civil rights and federal benefits temporarily or permanently depending on whether or not this is a first-time scenario. These types of penalties can include:
Those who are accused of leading a narcotics trafficking scheme can also be sentenced to life in prison and charged up to $750,000 in fines alone. Parole would not be available to such an individual until at least 25 years of their sentence has been served. Common Drug Crimes in New JerseyLegislators in New Jersey have created many laws that allow people to be charged with a variety of drug crimes. The most commonly committed drug crimes include:
Even if the charges involve something minor like possessing drug paraphernalia, drug charges can be serious and can have a lasting impact on a person’s life. Our legal team at the Lustberg Law Offices understands the impact that a drug conviction could have on your life. Call us today for a free consultation regarding your drug charges.
1st Time Drug Offense Penalties NJIn New Jersey, first-time drug offenders may face harsh penalties, but several diversionary programs can help them avoid jail time and receive necessary treatment. These programs include conditional discharge, pre-trial intervention, drug court, and the Veterans Diversion Program.
Conditional discharge allows first-time, non-violent offenders with no prior criminal convictions to avoid a conviction by fulfilling specific conditions. After entering a plea, the court withdraws the conviction, placing the offender on probation for up to three years. Upon completion, the charges are dismissed and can be expunged from the offender’s record.
Pre-trial intervention (PTI) is another program that enables first-time, non-violent offenders to avoid a criminal conviction by completing the program and meeting eligibility criteria. PTI is designed for those facing indictable offenses, commonly known as felonies, such as drug possession, burglary, and other third and fourth-degree crimes. Aggravated assault charges are not eligible.
Drug court is a diversion program for non-violent offenders with drug addiction issues. To qualify, participants must have no prior criminal convictions and be willing to undergo drug treatment. They must submit to drug testing and participate in intensive outpatient or inpatient rehabilitation services. Failure of a drug test could result in removal from the program and imposition of the original sentencing. Drug court involves multiple stages, including attendance at 12-step programs, working on self-improvement, and engaging in employment or education.
The Veterans Diversion Program is specifically designed for eligible veterans with no prior criminal convictions who have committed non-violent offenses. Veterans facing offenses such as heroin possession and prescription fraud may qualify. To be eligible, individuals must exhibit signs or symptoms of mental health issues. Contact Experienced NJ Criminal Defense Lawyer Adam M. Lustberg for a Free Initial ConsultationIf you have been arrested for a serious drug crime, you need an experienced NJ lawyer to defend you and to help you get the charges dropped, altered, or decreased. There are many options available, and experienced New Jersey criminal defense attorney Adam M. Lustberg provides just the type of legal counsel you need. Contact Lustberg Law Offices, LLC via our online contact form to determine the best course of action for your case or call us at (201) 880-5311. The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly. via Lustberg Law https://www.lustberglaw.com/blog/drug-trafficking-laws-new-jersey/
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
About UsAdam Lustberg is a New Jersey criminal defense attorney who represents clients accused of DWI, domestic violence, homicide, weapons offenses, drug crimes as well as many other misdemeanors and felonies. Mr. Lustberg represents defendants in New Jersey as well as New York in municipal and superior courts. If you are looking for a defense lawyer call for a free consultation today: (201) 880-5311 FIND US ONLINE Bitly Box Diigo Dropbox Evernote Postach.io Histre Inoreader Instapaper Nimbus OneDrive Onenote Raindrop.io Todoist Toodledo Trello Tumblr Weebly Wordpress Blogger Google Drive Youtube Map Related Links About.me Behance.net Dribbble.com taplink.at Gravatar.com Carrd.co Minds.com Justpaste.it issuu.com Linktr.ee Solo.to Yelp Superlawyers Justia GMB Google Sites Follow.it Newsblur Pearltrees 500px Feedspot Bravesites Shutterfly Feedly Skillshare Alltop Feeder.co Bloglovin Mystrikingly Ted Paper.li Disqus Kickstarter Medium Google Calendar Archives
March 2023
Categories |