Are You Facing Cocaine Trafficking Charges in Cobb County?

Under Georgia law, those who are found in possession of a certain amount of a controlled substance can be charged with drug trafficking. While all drug charges should be taken seriously, allegations of trafficking should be given additional weight, as penalties for a conviction are extremely severe. Moreover, judges are required in trafficking cases to adhere to specific minimum sentencing guidelines, which often end up leaving a person facing a decades-long prison sentence.

Who Can be Charged with Cocaine Trafficking? 

Georgia has some of the most stringent drug laws in the country. This is reflected by the fact that in this state, a person can be charged with trafficking in cocaine if he or she is accused of any of the following activities:

• Knowingly possessing cocaine;
• Selling cocaine;
• Manufacturing cocaine;
• Delivering cocaine; or
• Bringing cocaine into the state of Georgia.

In Georgia, how much of an illegal substance is found in a person’s possession will also dictate the types of charges that he or she is facing. For instance, anyone found in possession of 28 grams or more of cocaine in the state can be charged with drug trafficking, which comes with a mandatory minimum sentence.

What is the Sentence for a Cocaine Trafficking Conviction? 

The amount of the illegal substance in question will affect a defendant’s sentence, with possession of between 28 and 199 grams of cocaine (with a purity of ten percent or more) punishable by at least ten years imprisonment and a $200,000 fine. If, however, the quantity of the mixture is between 200 and 400 grams, a defendant will face a minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and be required to pay a $300,000 fine. Finally, anyone found in possession of 400 grams or more of cocaine will be sentenced to at least 25 years in prison and be fined $1 million.

It’s important to note that the minimum sentencing guidelines for trafficking in cocaine will change if the mixture has a purity of less than ten percent cocaine. In these instances, a person can still be charged with felony trafficking if the total weight of the mixture, when multiplied by the percentage of cocaine actually found in the mixture exceeds the 28 gram, 199 gram, or 499 gram limit. Again, the penalties for conviction will depend on the quantity of cocaine that the accused is charged with selling, manufacturing, delivering, knowingly possessing, or bringing into the state.

Contact Andrew L. Schwartz, P.C. Today 

When it comes to being accused of drug trafficking in Georgia, the stakes couldn’t be higher. If convicted of this offense, you or a loved one could be facing a decades-long prison sentence and devastatingly high fines. This is why it’s so important for those who are accused of drug trafficking to mount a strong defense. Call experienced Cobb County drug trafficking lawyer Andrew L. Schwartz, P.C. at 678-853-2500 today for an evaluation of your case. You can also set up a meeting with us by sending an online message.

Sources: 

law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2010/title-16/chapter-13/article-2/16-13-31

clery.emory.edu/policies/penalties.html