What Are The Penalties for Cocaine Possession and Cocaine Trafficking in North Carolina?
Some drugs are considered to be more dangerous than others. That’s why in North Carolina, as in any other US state, penalties for possessing or trafficking cocaine are more severe than those for other drugs. However, there are some differences in the penalties for the two as well.
Cocaine possession and cocaine trafficking are two completely different charges in North Carolina. The penalties for both of them are contained in the North Carolina General Statute 90-95 and differ significantly to each other due to the difference in the severity of the crimes. To understand them better, it is important to make a clear distinction between cocaine possession and trafficking.
What Are the Penalties for Cocaine Possession in North Carolina?
You are in possession of cocaine in North Carolina if you are in actual possession of the cocaine and you are aware of it, or it is stored somewhere else, but you have control over it. North Carolina laws treat cocaine possession as a Class I felony. It is not as serious a crime as other drug crimes; nevertheless, it leads to prison time and substantial fines. A cocaine convict in North Carolina can be punished with three months to two years in prison and fines. First-time offenders can expect to be fined and serve a prison sentence of up to one year.
What Are the Penalties for Cocaine Trafficking in North Carolina?
Cocaine trafficking in North Carolina is a very serious crime that leads to very serious penalties. Unlike with other charges, a cocaine trafficker has to serve an active prison term and pay a mandatory fine. This rule applies even to first-time offenders.
You’ll be charged with cocaine trafficking if you manufacture, possess, distribute, transport, or sell at least 28 grams of cocaine. Getting cocaine trafficking charges doesn’t depend on the actual criminal act, but rather on the amount of drug in question.
This crime is a felony under North Carolina laws. The amount of cocaine determines the class of the felony. Depending on the class of the felony, the penalties for cocaine trafficking in North Carolina are as follows:
28-199 grams: Class G felony penalized by 35 to 51 months in jail and at least $50,000 in mandatory fines.
200-399 grams: Class F felony penalized by 70 to 93 months in jail and a minimum of $100,000 in mandatory fines.
400 grams or more: Class D felony penalized by 175 to 200 months in jail and $250,000 or more in mandatory fines.
The penalty can be reduced below the applicable minimum if the convict has provided significant assistance to authorities in identification, arrest, or conviction of any accomplices in the crime.
The state of North Carolina treats cocaine trafficking very seriously. If you face cocaine trafficking charges, call the Charlotte cocaine trafficking lawyers at Ken Harris and Associates, P.A. for a free consultation today. We are available at 704-343-2620.