Felony charges for drug distribution or possession are the most typical felonies in criminal law.
If you have been arrested for possession or distribution of illegal drugs, Houston Lawyer Charles Johnson can help you in your effort to clear your record. The federal court structure is well known for the extremely tough penalties for illegal drug cases. Most of these cases are prosecuted as conspiracies and, given that penalties are calculated with the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, low-level dealers may have their sentences increased significantly according to the quantity of illegal drugs having been dealt by their supposed associates. The federal structure is very different in comparison to the state court structure within these criminal matters. These cases will need a legal professional who’s skilled and experienced with the various trial rules and sentencing guidelines. This expertise provides him a significant edge over those attorneys who don’t work on a frequent basis within federal court. Houston Lawyer Charles Johnson has effectively represented numerous customers facing cocaine distribution charges in both the State and Federal courts, and he is able to do the same for you.
Cocaine Distribution in the Houston Area
Houston, Texas is among the most significant illegal drug distribution center within the U. S. It’s a distribution center utilized by many drug traffickers to provide unlawful drugs to main market locations all through the United States as well as to supply dealers located within the Houston HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) area. Cocaine, Crack, marijuana and, to a lesser extent, heroin, methamphetamine, and MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, also recognized as Ecstacy) are shipped from Houston to main market locations including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Kansas City, St. Louis, and Philadelphia. As soon as illegal drug shipments are delivered to Houston, they’re frequently stored at nearby stash locations awaiting additional distribution to illegal drug markets. Illegal drug trafficking operations are very susceptible at these stash locations; seizures of unlawful drugs from places where substantial amounts are stashed usually lead to a significantly larger loss for DTOs (Drug Trafficking Organizations).
Houston’s well-developed freeway system, organized financial structure, racial and ethnic diversity, and significant level of worldwide trade contribute towards the area’s role as a main shipment point for unlawful drugs meant for American drug markets and illegal drug profits headed for Mexico. The substantial quantity of drug-related investigations linked with the city demonstrates Houston’s role as an integral national drug distribution and cash laundering center.
Drug Trafficking Organizations, Criminal Groups, and Gangs Defined
Drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) are intricate organizations with exceptionally defined command-and-control structures that transport, distribute, and/or produce substantial volumes of one or more unlawful drugs.
Criminal groups operating within the U. S. are plentiful and consist of limited to moderately sized, loosely knit organizations that disperse one or more illegal drugs at the retail level and midlevel.
Gangs are defined by the National Alliance of Gang Investigators’ Associations as groups or associations of three or more persons with a common identifying sign, symbol, or name, whose members on their own or jointly practice criminal activity that produces an atmosphere of fearfulness and intimidation.
Mexican DTOs are probably the most pervasive organizational menace towards the Houston region. The proximity of their operations to the U.S.- Mexico border along with their access to main drug market locations all through the U.S. have allowed Mexican DTOs to emerge as the most important traffickers within the region, in most locations along the U.S.- Mexico border, and in numerous locations of the United States.
Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMGs), Street gangs, and Prison gangs disperse unlawful drugs at both the retail and wholesale levels within the Houston region. Virtually all gangs within the region use illegal drug trafficking as their primary revenue stream. Even though most gangs distribute drugs on the retail level, a few have developed partnerships with Mexican DTOs that permit them to acquire wholesale quantities of illegal drugs straight from Mexico. These gangs are most prevalent in urban locations, which include Houston, Corpus Christi, and Beaumont, where violence related to their drug and gang related behaviors is often a significant menace to community and law enforcement protection.
As a direct result Hurricane Katrina, interactions among New Orleans and Houston illegal drug traffickers are reportedly growing. Roughly 150,000 Katrina evacuees relocated in the Houston region due to the hurricane. Several of these evacuees had been illegal drug traffickers from high-crime locations of New Orleans and, upon relocating to Houston, developed associations with illegal drug dealers and gang members. Several of these traffickers then returned home to New Orleans, and the connections which they established with these Houston-based drug dealers and gang members have provided them the potential to acquire substantial quantities of illegal drugs straight from associations in Houston.
The distribution and use of unlawful drugs within the Houston region places considerable societal and economic burdens on communities and local, state, and federal agencies. Cocaine in the form of Crack stands out as the principal illegal drug of abuse for numerous drug abusers in metropolitan locations of Houston; this drug has experienced a significant influence on the degree of violent and property criminal activity taking place in a number of communities. Nevertheless, the quantity of marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamine seized within the region has lessened in recent years. This reduction may be credited, to some extent, to a rise in seizures made prior to the drugs being smuggled across the Southwest Border, increased seizures in South Texas counties that border Mexico, and traffickers’ utilization of alternate routes to smuggle illegal drugs across the Southwest Border.
Cocaine Distribution Defense: Hire Houston Criminal Lawyer Charles Johnson
In Texas, charges for Cocaine distribution are 1st degree crimes, and bring the toughest penalties. Possession of the illegal drug or possession with the intent to distribute the drug, is usually a 2nd degree crime, and can result in substantial penalties, probation and/or imprisonment. Drug distribution is an extremely serious offense. Having said that, as with any drug crime, drug distribution should be placed into the correct context to be able to make certain that charges aren’t excessive. What might seem to be drug distribution might in fact not be, and a competent attorney will see to it that you are furnished a powerful defense all through your criminal arrest.
The quantity of drugs within your possession, just how the drugs are prepared, which drugs are discovered to be on your person, and how many different kinds of drugs you have are typical elements which will be considered throughout a drug distribution case. For example, if many different packaged drugs are discovered within your possession, then it might be assumed that you, similar to a shop, possess a large number of new items prepared to sell. Also, your previous criminal background will play a factor, along with the place that you had been arrested. Getting busted in an area recognized to be visited by drug dealers, for instance, won’t assist your case.
If a person is discovered to be in possession of unlawful drugs, doesn’t seem to be using the illegal drugs himself, and is also acting in a manner that’s suggestive of drug distribution, then police might place that person under arrest on suspicion of drug distribution. Even though other drug charges including possession for sale require that some kind of monetary transaction take place, drug distribution only demands that unlawful drugs are transferred from a single individual to another person. Consequently, protection against these charges may be complex, particularly within the state of Texas. Due to the complexities of Texas law, the most effective plan of action taken by a person charged with drug distribution is retaining the expertise of an seasoned Houston Criminal Defense Lawyer .
Attorney Johnson will analyze the circumstances surrounding your case, and will develop the most powerful defense possible considering the situation. If you need skilled legal assistance now, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the Charles Johnson Law Firm Twenty-four Hours A Day, 365 Days /year to talk about the specifics of your case.
