Rhode Island Drug Trafficking Lawyer

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Drug Trafficking Attorney in Rhode Island

If you’ve been accused of committing any drug offense, it can be overwhelming to defend against those charges. Drug trafficking charges are especially difficult as they have the potential to lead to serious long-term consequences. Don’t muddle through this challenging time alone. Contact a Rhode Island drug trafficking lawyer to review your case and help you mount an appropriate defense strategy.

Hire a Drug Trafficking Lawyer

Drug trafficking cases often hinge on the minute details of the arrest. It can be difficult to refute these details if you choose not to hire a drug trafficking lawyer. At Ellison Law LLC, we approach every case with a client-centered focus. We examine your charges and look for legal, factual, and human elements. These three strategies allow us to build a solid case and present the facts without reducing you to just another case number.

Drug Trafficking in the United States

The United States Sentencing Commission tracks drug cases nationwide. During fiscal year 2024, a total of 61,678 drug cases were reported to the Commission. Of those cases, 18,029 were drug trafficking cases. The drugs most often trafficked include:

  • Methamphetamine
  • Fentanyl
  • Cocaine

In Rhode Island, drug trafficking cases are heard in superior court. The superior courts that handle drug trafficking cases include the Licht Judicial Complex in Providence, the Noel Judicial Complex in Warwick, the McGrath Judicial Complex in Wakefield, and the Murray Judicial Complex in Newport.

Drug Trafficking Laws

The Rhode Island Trafficking in Illegal Drugs Act outlines drug trafficking laws that affect Rhode Island residents. The substances included in the act are:

  • Marijuana
  • Cocaine and cocaine base
  • Heroin
  • Amphetamine or methamphetamine
  • Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)
  • Phencyclidine (PCP)

This act defines drug trafficking as committing any one of three specific acts. Specifically:

  • Knowingly distributing, manufacturing, transporting, or possessing the previously named controlled substances in sufficient quantities
  • Possessing a controlled substance with the intent to manufacture a controlled substance in sufficient quantities
  • Using or seeking to use a person under the age of 18 to distribute or manufacture a controlled substance in sufficient quantities

Trafficking charges differ from possession charges in the quantity of the controlled substance. Possessing sufficient quantities differs by drug:

  • Marijuana. 25 pounds or more
  • Cocaine. 28 grams or more
  • Cocaine base. 5 grams or more
  • Heroin. 10 grams or more
  • Amphetamine or methamphetamine. 20 grams or more
  • LSD. 50 doses or more
  • PCP. 1 ounce or more

Common Defenses

Defense strategies have to be tailored to the specific facts of each case, but there are some common themes in the types of defenses most often used. Common defenses include:

  • Prove lack of intent
  • Challenging traffic stops, searches, and seizures
  • Warrant issues
  • Warrantless searches
  • Improper execution of a warrant
  • Argue a lack of control over the drugs
  • Alternative explanations for large sums of cash
  • Expose chain or custody gaps
  • Challenge inaccurate representations of text exchanges or messages

Contact Ellison Law LLC

A drug trafficking conviction can have long-term repercussions for your future. You could face incarceration, large fines, and the social stigma of having a permanent criminal record. Don’t risk your freedom and your future when facing serious charges. Contact our criminal defense lawyer at Ellison Law LLC today to schedule your initial consultation.

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