Sanders & Nettles, LLC has a strong record of success defending our clients who are accused of serious crimes including drug trafficking. At Sanders & Nettles, we are committed to an aggressive defense for all of our clients accused of drug trafficking. If you are facing a felony drug trafficking charge, it's important that you hire an expert drug crime defense law firm such as Sanders & Nettles as soon as possible. Our Charleston SC drug trafficking defense attorneys have the knowledge, legal skills and experience you need to help you understand your legal options, protect your rights and get the best possible outcome. Contact Sanders & Nettles as soon as possible to discuss how we can help in your case. Our South Carolina drug offense defense lawyers have been providing an aggressive, professional and seasoned defense to drug charges for decades.
Under South Carolina law, drug trafficking is buying, selling, transporting or making a large amount of drugs, including prescription drugs intended for nonprescription uses, as well as street drugs. All drug trafficking charges are felonies in South Carolina with no possibility of parole, but the penalties depend on how much of the drug you are charged with trafficking, and which drug is at issue. Here are some of the categories of drug trafficking possible under South Carolina law and their penalties:
For a first offense involving marijuana:
- Ten pounds to 100 pounds, first offense: One to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
- One hundred pounds to 2,000 pounds: 25 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.
- Two thousand to 10,000 pounds: 25 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
- Ten thousand pounds or more: 25 to 30 years in prison and a $200,000 fine.
For a first offense involving cocaine and compounds containing cocaine:
- Ten to 28 grams: Three to ten years and $25,000.
- Twenty-eight to 100 grams: Seven to 25 years and $50,000.
- One hundred to 200 grams: 25 years and $50,000.
- Two hundred to 400 grams: 25 years and $100,000.
- Four hundred grams or more: 25 to 30 years and $200,000.
For a first offense involving heroin, opium, morphine and other opiates:
- Four to 14 grams: Seven to 25 years and $50,000.
- Fourteen to 28 grams: 25 years and $200,000.
- Twenty-eight grams or more: 25 to 40 years in prison and $200,000.
For a first offense involving methamphetamine or cocaine base:
- Ten to 28 grams: Three to 10 years and $25,000.
- Twenty-eight to 100 grams: Seven to 25 years and $50,000.
- One hundred to 200 grams: 25 years and $50,000.
- Two hundred to 400 grams: 25 years and $100,000.
- Four hundred grams or more: 25 to 30 years and $200,000.
Because drug crimes are heavily stigmatized and harshly punished, law enforcement may cut corners in order to get the evidence it uses to generate drug trafficking charges. When Sanders & Nettles clients are charged with drug trafficking in South Carolina, our attorneys look first for any weakness in their cases. We will aggressively comb through the case against you, looking for constitutional violations, unreliable informants, weak proof or other places where law enforcement may have made a mistake. These individual rights violations and flaws can help us get your case dismissed altogether or your charges reduced.
Drug trafficking is one of the most serious and harshly punished drug-related charges you can face under South Carolina or federal law. The penalties always include time in prison without the possibility of parole, as well as steep fines, the loss of your driver's license and possible confiscation of your home, car or other personal property. Repeat offenders face even higher penalties. These are in addition to the social stigma of a felony drug trafficking conviction, which can make it difficult to find a job, get a professional license, secure student loans and move forward in life.
If you're facing a drug trafficking charge in South Carolina, you're facing serious, life-changing charges. The experienced, knowledgeable drug trafficking defense attorneys at Sanders & Nettles can help. Our Columbia SC criminal attorneys believe everyone, no matter what the charge, deserves a good defense and a fair trial. We are dedicated to protecting your rights and getting you the fairest possible penalties.
Call Sanders & Nettles today for a free consultation on your South Carolina drug trafficking case!