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Cocain Distribution

Being arrested for or charged with cocaine distribution puts an individual in a very serious situation. Whether the law enforcement officers on your case are:

  • Local police

  • County Sheriff's department

  • State Police, including the highway patrol

  • FBI (the Federal Bureau of Investigation)

  • DEA (the federal Drug Enforcement Administration)

  • ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement, also a federal agency)

  • The Coast Guard

─ an individual facing state or federal cocaine distribution charges is in grave need of a highly competent criminal defense lawyer. The war on drugs will roll right over a defendant without legal representation.

Thousands Arrested, Sentenced for Cocaine Distribution

As a Schedule II drug, cocaine is known to be highly addictive and extremely lucrative for drug dealers and traffickers. State and federal prosecutors are very eager to show that they're putting away a lot of people involved in cocaine distribution.

According to the DEA, there were more than 11,400 federal cocaine offenders in the U.S. courts in 2006 alone. More than 97 percent of these offenders were in court facing cocaine distribution charges. The federal system is very tough on individuals and organizations that are alleged to have engaged in cocaine manufacture, import, and distribution/sales/trafficking; the potential prison sentences and fines can be ruinous.

Factors That Affect Your Case

If you have been charged with cocaine distribution, your defense lawyer can tell you about the state drug laws and what you can expect to face as penalties if you're convicted. The states' laws differ somewhat, but the factors that commonly affect the severity of the penalties in both the state and federal systems are:

  • how much cocaine was allegedly involved

  • whether it was powder cocaine or crack cocaine

  • whether you are a minor or an adult

  • whether any minors (persons under 18) were involved in the alleged incident(s)

  • whether the alleged distribution took place near a school or university

  • whether any person was seriously injured or killed

  • whether this is a first cocaine distribution offense for you

  • any prior criminal history you possess

The potential penalties for cocaine distribution include significant prison time (including life sentences), high fines (up to millions of dollars), and forfeiture of your personal property and real estate.