Drug Charges

DRUG CRIMES

DRUG LAWYERS IN CHATTANOOGA

If you face a drug charge in the Chattanooga area, you need to take it very seriously – because the authorities do.

The justice system in Tennessee takes a dim view of drug crime and you will face potentially life-altering penalties if charged and convicted of a federal drug charge.

Don’t expect any help from state or federal prosecutors. They will aggressively pursue a conviction, which could mean possible jail time and a lifelong criminal record.

At Houston & Alexander, PLLC, our team of drug charge lawyers will build the strongest possible defense to provide the best chance of escaping serious consequences.

Drug Crime Lawyers In Chattanooga, TN

At Houston & Alexander, PLLC, we can provide serious representation if you are accused of drug charges in state or federal courts in eastern Tennessee and northern Georgia.


Founding attorney, Johnny Houston, is an experienced criminal defense lawyer as well as the elected Judge in Red Bank, Tennessee. He hears municipal and state offenses, the very type of offenses that our clients face. He is aggressive, insightful, and determined to get the best outcome possible.


Attorney Bret Alexander’s criminal law experience includes several years as a federal prosecutor and an assistant district attorney for Hamilton County.


With such a wealth of experience from both sides of the justice system – prosecution and defense – you are in good hands with your drug case.

Types Of Drug Crimes We Handle

Together, Johnny Houston and Bret Alexander have represented hundreds of people facing criminal charges.


This includes both state and federal drug charge cases where people have been accused of:

 

  • Drug possession
  • Possession of cocaine for resale
  • Possession with intent to distribute
  • Manufacture of methamphetamine
  • Cultivation of marijuana (cannabis)
  • Illegal possession of prescription drugs
  • Other drug charges

 

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Shaking Hands — Chattanooga, TN — Houston & Alexander, PLLC

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Looking For A Drug Defense Lawyer In Chattanooga, TN?

If you’ve been charged with a drug offense, it is in your best interest to consult with an experienced attorney immediately.


Call (423) 267-6715 or request a free case evaluation today.

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What Are Federal Drug Charges?

While simple possession of a small number of illicit drugs is generally a state crime, some of the most serious drug-related offenses are federal crimes. These include but are not limited to:

 

  • Drug trafficking
  • Drug distribution (in possession of a firearm)
  • Manufacturing and delivery
  • Possessing certain drug paraphernalia
  • Possession of certain drugs
  • Transporting drugs over state lines
  • Drug offenses involving conspiracies

 

Investigations into offenses like these frequently involve federal agents and undercover officers, often using elaborate means to detect illegal activity.


If you are convicted of a federal drug charge, you can expect severe penalties that go beyond the penalties for state drug crimes.


The nature of these penalties varies greatly depending on the type of drug seized (drugs are divided into five Schedules in Tennessee) as well as the amount involved, the location of the seizure, and your criminal record.

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Typically, penalties for a federal drug conviction include:

 

  • Imprisonment of more than ten years
  • Fines
  • Probation
  • Loss of benefits

 

A federal charge may also result in other penalties as a convicted felon, including the loss of the right to vote and to own a firearm.


If you face federal criminal charges, it is in your best interest to consult with an experienced attorney immediately.

Get in touch with us at Houston & Alexander, PLLC at any time. Call (423) 267-6715 to get your drug charge questions answered or request a free case evaluation.

Penalties For Drug Offenses

Drug crimes comprise a broad range of offenses which, in turn, incur a wide variety of sentences.

In the case of marijuana charges, for instance, a first-time offense for a small amount for personal use is a Class A misdemeanor.

A Class A misdemeanor can result in one year in jail and fines up to $2,500. However, it may not result in a criminal record if your lawyer can present a strong case to the court.

Distribution of over half an ounce of marijuana, on the other hand, can result in a felony conviction and harsher penalties.

If you have previous drug offenses on your record, you are likely to face more serious penalties too. A marijuana possession repeat offense or possession of heroin, cocaine, or any other serious drug for a second time will mean you face Class E felony charges.

If convicted, you could face between one and six years in prison and fines up to $5,000.

Defending Your Rights And Freedom

The first steps in building your defense are critical.

We will seek to discover all the facts of your case. The details are important – what the police actions were before, during, and after arresting you, how evidence was obtained, how you were interviewed, and so on.

Often in drug cases, law enforcement fails to follow the correct procedure and this can result in critical evidence being inadmissible in court or your rights being breached and the case being dismissed.

Your lawyer will listen and review all of the issues in your case, looking for opportunities to pick holes in the prosecution’s case or to suppress evidence and seek a dismissal of the charge.

Looking For A Drug Crime Attorney In Chattanooga?

Drug charges are often complex and hinge on details like the actions of law enforcement officers.


During your free initial consultation, an attorney from Houston & Alexander, PLLC can review your case and start to consider possible legal strategies for your defense.


Call us at our Chattanooga office today at (423) 267-6715 or contact us online.

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Drug Trafficking Defense Lawyers In Chattanooga

Selling, transporting or importing illegal drugs or controlled substances all come under the broad term of “drug trafficking” in Tennessee.



Unlike a drug possession charge, a charge of drug trafficking may be investigated as a federal crime under laws passed by the U.S. Congress. If you are convicted, you face serious, life-changing consequences including substantial prison time.

To give yourself the best chance of avoiding an unwanted criminal record that follows you around for the rest of your life and impacts your future, consider representation by a criminal defense lawyer experienced in drug trafficking cases.


Law enforcement must follow procedures carefully for drug trafficking charges to be proven and evidence can often be questioned. The seasoned defense lawyers at Houston & Alexander in Chattanooga are adept at investigating every avenue in building your defense.

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What Is Drug Trafficking In Tennessee?

In Tennessee, drug trafficking is defined as the sale, transportation or importation of illegal drugs (also known as “drug distribution”).


Typically, the drugs involved in such cases are marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, as well as pharmaceutical opiates used as pain medications and sleeping tablets. However, they can also involve many other illicit substances.


Drug trafficking may be investigated as a federal crime by federal agencies and prosecuted as a felony (unlike possession, which is normally a misdemeanor). Therefore, it can result in prison time and substantial fines.

What Are The Drug Trafficking Laws In Tennessee?

Drug possession charges are usually filed if you are found with illegal substances on your person or otherwise in your possession.

For trafficking charges to be filed, law enforcement would need evidence that you intended to sell, import, or transport them. So, if a large amount of money is found on you in addition to drugs when stopped by police, trafficking charges may well follow.

Note that the trafficking laws also cover “precursors”, which are substances used to make certain artificial drugs, most notably methamphetamines.

State And Federal Drug Trafficking Laws In Tennessee

If you are caught trafficking a controlled substance across state lines, the federal law comes into play and you may be investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).


If the sale or transportation of the drug is entirely within Tennessee, local state laws will apply but that does not greatly diminish the potentially severe consequences.

What Are The Main Types Of Controlled Substances In Tennessee?

Under the federal Controlled Substances Act, drugs are classified in descending order of perceived harm that they do to individuals and society as a whole.

These classifications run from Schedule I (most perceived harm/least value to society) to Schedule V (least perceived harm/most value to society).
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  • Schedule I: These drugs are considered highly addictive, with no accepted medical use, and are unsafe even under medical supervision. Common examples include heroin and LSD.
  • Schedule II: These drugs are highly addictive and may lead to severe drug dependence, but may have a medical use. Common examples include cocaine, methamphetamine, and oxycodone (OxyContin).
  • Schedule III: These drugs have a low potential for abuse with accepted medical uses and a moderate risk of dependence. Common examples include anabolic steroids, ketamine, etc.
  • Schedule IV and V: These types of drugs have a low potential for drug abuse with accepted medical uses and limited potential for dependence. Common examples include Xanax, Tramadol, etc.

Some people are surprised that marijuana is included as a Schedule I drug under federal laws.

With attitudes across the U.S. changing towards marijuana, there may be changes to this in the future. Marijuana may be removed as a Schedule I drug but we should bear in mind that repeated petitions for this to happen have been made unsuccessfully since the 1970s.

In Tennessee, marijuana possession remains illegal and if you are charged with trafficking marijuana, you could face a prison sentence of 15-60 years for the most serious types of felonies. More information about Tennessee’s penalties for marijuana trafficking is included below.
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Get A Free Consultation

Put your case in our experienced hands. Get started now.

Looking For A Drug Trafficking Defense Lawyer In Chattanooga, TN?

If you’ve been charged with a drug trafficking, it is in your best interest to consult with an experienced attorney immediately.


Call (423) 267-6715 or request a free case evaluation today.

BOOK A FREE CONSULTATION

What Are The Penalties For Drug Trafficking In Tennessee?

If you are charged with drug trafficking, the potential consequences you face will depend on the following factors:
  • The type of drugs involved (Schedules I-V)
  • The quantity of drugs
  • The geographical area in which the alleged offense took place
  • Whether children were involved or targeted

Penalties For State Drug Trafficking Offenses

It is difficult to speak generally about the penalties but, at a minimum, if you are convicted you can expect 3-5 years in prison unless your defense lawyer can reduce it. For very large quantities, up to life imprisonment can result.


Tennessee state law penalties specify several levels of drug trafficking based on volumes of illicit drugs trafficked.


As a guideline for marijuana, these penalties are as follows:

 

  • Trafficking of 0.5 oz. to 10 lbs.: 1-6 years in prison and a maximum fine of $5,000.
  • Trafficking of 10 to 70 lbs.: 2-12-year prison sentence and a maximum fine of $5,000.
  • Trafficking of 70 to 300 lbs.: 8- 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $200,000.
  • Trafficking over 300 lbs.: a prison term of 15-60 years and a maximum fine of $500,000

 

Penalties are even more severe if you are convicted for a second or subsequent offense.

Penalties For Federal Drug Trafficking Offenses

For federally charged crimes, the quantity of controlled substance trafficked is again the key to sentencing for a conviction.

The federal statutes contain guidelines and the following are a few typical examples of the type of sentence you can expect:
  • 1 kg of heroin, 5 kg of cocaine, or 1000 kg of marijuana: 10 years to life in prison.
  • 100g of heroin or 500g of cocaine: 5 to 40 years in prison.
  • 50 kg of marijuana: up to 5 years in prison.
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In addition to penalty enhancements for trafficking of larger quantities of controlled substances, enhancements exist for crimes that result in the death or serious bodily injury of another person, as well as for prior convictions.

Prison term enhancements may also be applied if the person convicted is considered the leader of an organized trafficking unit or if a firearm is involved. For the use of a firearm, the term served would be on top of the term served for drug trafficking. The jail time would not be served concurrently.

Regardless of whether you are charged at the federal or state level for a drug trafficking crime, the penalties are potentially very severe. If you are arrested and charged, it is no time to take a gamble with your future.

You need representation from a seasoned criminal defense lawyer who is familiar with the local justice system and with defending drug trafficking charges.

Protect Your Rights: Call Houston & Alexander, PLLC

A charge of drug trafficking can lead to a federal investigation and even a state-investigated crime can have serious repercussions.


Book a free consultation with an experienced drug trafficking attorney at Houston & Alexander, PLLC. We will protect your rights and freedoms and reduce the impact on your future.

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