According to reports out of Marietta, the lead suspect of a yearlong investigation involving both Marietta police and the Bartow County Drug Task Force.
Both agencies had been investigating the suspect since January of last year. He was arrested this past Wednesday. He is facing seven different felonies.
Authorities executed a search warrant on the man's home this past week which led to the discovery of 2.5 pounds of marijuana, over 100 oxycodone pills, 4 ounces of crack cocaine, 1 ounce of heroin, and multiple handguns.
He is facing various drug trafficking charges. But as a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will outline the offense of trafficking cocaine in the state of Georgia.
Trafficking Cocaine in Georgia
Trafficking Cocaine in Georgia is defined by Georgia Law in O.C.G.A. §16-13-31 as:
When a person sells, manufactures, grows, delivers, or brings into this state, or who is in possession of 28 grams or more of cocaine or of any mixture with a purity of 10 percent or more of cocaine.
Trafficking cocaine is the most serious of cocaine crimes (possession of cocaine in Georgia, etc.). As you can see from the law, the cocaine offense is based off of the amount of cocaine. The same goes for different levels of punishment with a trafficking cocaine conviction.
The penalty for a trafficking cocaine conviction directly coincides with the amount of cocaine seized at the time of the charge. If there is 28 grams or more involved, but less than 200 grams, the penalty will be a mandatory prison term of at least ten years and a fine of $200,000.00. An amount of cocaine between 200 grams and 400 grams will receive the consequence of a mandatory prison sentence of at least fifteen years and a fine of $350,000.00. For any amount of cocaine above 400 grams, the penalty is a mandatory prison term of at least twenty-five years with a fine of $1 million. No matter how much cocaine was seized, the crime for trafficking cocaine will be a felony conviction.
Practice Note
Drug Offenses in Georgia are heavily penalized. However, just because a person has been arrested for a drug offense does not mean that he or she is guilty.
If arrested, call our offices now. We can help you today.
Comments
There are no comments for this post. Be the first and Add your Comment below.
Leave a Comment