Crack Trafficking in South Carolina
Drug trafficking is a very serious crime that can be heavily penalized. When the drug being trafficked is crack, it is prosecuted as one of the most serious offenses. Under South Carolina law, trafficking in crack cocaine is defined as the possession of ten or more grams. Penalties for trafficking in crack can be as high as 25-30 years depending on the defendant's prior criminal history. Even first-time offenders can face minimum sentencing of at least 25 years depending on the amount of crack charged with possessing.
Most crack trafficking arrests develop in one of three ways:
- During the search of an automobile
- During the search of a home or business
- After a controlled buy using a police informant
In all cases, the State must prove the defendant was in actual possession of the drugs. There is no requirement that the prosecution prove distribution or any specific criminal scheme to be proven at fault. If you have been charged with crack trafficking, it is important to get legal defense from a Lexington criminal attorney.
Challenging a Crack Trafficking Charge in Lexington, SC
In challenging a drug trafficking case, there are usually issues regarding the legality of the police in conducting any search or obtaining a search warrant. There also may be issues of entrapment whenever a confidential informant working for the police is involved in setting up a transaction to buy or sell any significant amount of crack cocaine. We consider all aspects of the case, including police and informant conduct when developing a defense for our client.
The lower limit for trafficking crack in South Carolina was set at ten grams. Since the law was established, the street price for crack cocaine has steadily declined while the supply has increased. According to documentation produced by the Justice Department's National Drug Intelligence Center crack prices can be as low as $27 per gram. This means that holding less than $300 worth of the drug can subject a defendant to the vastly increased penalties for trafficking. We represent clients charged with trafficking in crack in Columbia, Lexington, Saluda, and elsewhere in South Carolina.
To begin working to protect your freedom and liberty from any state or federal trafficking or other drug crime, contact a Lexington criminal defense lawyer at the Law Office of James R. Snell, Jr., LLC at your earliest convenience!
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