Examining Drug Trafficking Laws in Texas

Posted By The Law Offices of Jeffrey C. Grass || 18-Jun-2015

The Texas Controlled Substances Act makes it illegal to engage in drug trafficking, which is defined as distributing or delivering illicit substances. These include marijuana and any other substance listed in the Texas law. Since this crime is a felony, violators face severe penalties. A criminal defense attorney can help defendants by upholding their legal rights and raising a strong defense in court.

Drug Trafficking Penalties
Texas law treats convicted drug traffickers very harshly. There are guidelines for sentencing a convicted drug trafficker; however, the judge will also consider other factors such as prior convictions and the proximity of an educational institute to the site of the offense. For a conviction of possession of a controlled substance, violators could be facing a fine of $10,000 to $250,000. A minimum jail term is no less than two years, while a maximum prison sentence could involve life behind bars. Possession of marijuana can involve a fine of up to $2,000 and a jail term of up to 180 days. The same minimum penalties can apply to delivery of marijuana. However, the maximum penalties for those offenses can involve a fine of up to $250,000 and life in prison.

Drug Trafficking Defenses
Even when a defendant is allegedly found with illegal drugs on his or her person, a criminal defense attorney can still raise an effective defense. Some acceptable defenses to drug trafficking include lack of knowledge, duress, and mistake of fact. For example, a defendant may have had no idea that an object being transported contained an illegal drug. Or, a defendant may have been threatened with harm if he or she did not transport the drug.

As a former prosecutor, Jeffrey C. Grass, criminal defense lawyer, knows how to build a strong, effective defense for those accused of drug trafficking, aggravated assault, DUI, sex crimes, and other criminal offenses. Individuals in the Dallas and Plano can reach our criminal defense law firm at . When you choose our legal team, you can rest assured that we’ll work tirelessly on your behalf to obtain the best possible outcome for you.