Dallas Lawyer Blog

Felony charges for drug possession or distribution are the most typical felonies in criminal law.

If you’ve been charged with possession or distribution of cocaine, the Leading Dallas Lawyer can help you to clear your name of the charges. The federal court system is notorious for the incredibly harsh penalties for illegal drug cases. Most of these cases are prosecuted as conspiracies and, with the way sentences are calculated with the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, lower-level dealers can have their sentences increased drastically based on the quantity of illegal drugs having been dealt by their claimed partners. The federal system is very different than the state court structure in these criminal matters. These cases will need legal counsel who’s experienced and acquainted with the various trial rules and sentencing guidelines. This experience provides him a tremendous edge over those attorneys who don’t practice on a regular basis in federal court. The Leading Dallas Criminal Attorney has effectively represented many clients facing drug charges in both State and Federal court, and he can achieve the same for you.

Cocaine Distribution in Dallas

Dallas is one of the most significant cocaine distribution centers within the United States. It’s a distribution center utilized by numerous drug traffickers to provide illegal drugs to major market areas throughout the United States as well as to supply dealers located within the Dallas HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) region. Cocaine, Crack, marijuana and, to a lesser extent, heroin, methamphetamine, and MDMA (three,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, also recognized as Ecstacy) are transshipped from Dallas to main market locations including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, and St. Louis. Once illegal drug shipments are delivered to Dallas, they’re frequently stored at local stash sites awaiting additional distribution to illegal drug markets. Drug trafficking operations are very susceptible at these stash sites; seizures of unlawful drugs from places where significant quantities are stored usually result in a significantly larger loss for DTOs (Drug Trafficking Organizations).

Dallas’s well-developed highway system, organized financial structure, racial and ethnic diversity, and substantial volume of international trade contribute towards the area’s role as a main shipment point for illegal drugs meant for U.S. drug markets and illegal drug profits headed for Mexico. The substantial quantity of drug-related investigations linked to the city exemplifies Dallas’s role as an important national drug distribution and cash laundering center.

Definition: Drug Trafficking Organizations, Criminal Groups, and Gangs

Drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) are sophisticated organizations with highly defined command-and-control structures that transport, distribute, and/or produce sizeable amounts of one or more unlawful drugs.

Criminal groups operating in the United States are numerous and consist of limited to moderately sized, loosely knit organizations that disperse one or more illegal drugs at the retail level and midlevel.

Gangs are defined by the National Alliance of Gang Investigators’ Associations as groups or associations of three or more persons with a common identifying sign, symbol, or name, whose members on their own or collectively practice criminal activity that produces an atmosphere of intimidation and fear.

Mexican DTOs are the most pervasive organizational threat towards the Dallas area. The proximity of their operations to the U.S.- Mexico border along with their access to major drug market locations all through the U.S. have empowered Mexican DTOs to emerge as the main traffickers in the region, in most areas along the U.S.-Mexico border, and in numerous areas of the United States.

Prison gangs, street gangs, and outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMGs) disperse illegal drugs at both the retail and wholesale levels in the Dallas area. Nearly all gangs in the region use illegal drug trafficking as their main source of income. Although most gangs distribute drugs at the retail level, some have developed partnerships with Mexican DTOs that permit them to acquire wholesale quantities of drugs directly from Mexico. These gangs are most prevalent in urban locations, including Dallas, Corpus Christi, and Beaumont, where violence associated with their drug- and gang- related activities is often a considerable menace to community and law enforcement protection.

As a direct result Hurricane Katrina, associations among New Orleans and Dallas drug traffickers are reportedly increasing. Approximately 150,000 Katrina evacuees relocated to the Dallas area as a result of the hurricane. Several of these evacuees had been illegal drug traffickers from high-crime areas of New Orleans and, upon relocating to Dallas, developed associations with drug dealers and gang members. Many of these traffickers have returned home to New Orleans, and the connections that they built with these Dallas-based drug dealers have provided them the ability to obtain significant quantities of illicit drugs directly from connections in Dallas.

The distribution and exploitation of illicit drugs in the Dallas region places considerable societal and economic burdens on communities and local, state, and federal agencies. Crack cocaine is the major illegal drug of abuse for numerous illegal drug abusers in urban areas of Dallas; the drug has experienced a significant effect on the level of violent and property crime occurring in a number of communities. However, the quantity of cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine seized in the region has lessened in recent years. This reduction can be attributed, in part, to a rise in seizures made prior to the drugs being smuggled across the Southwest Border, increased seizures in South Texas counties that border Mexico, and traffickers’ use of alternate routes to smuggle illegal drugs across the Southwest Border.

Cocaine Distribution Defense: Hire the Best Dallas Lawyer

In Texas, charges for Cocaine distribution are 1st degree crimes, and carry the harshest penalties. Possession of the Cocaine or possession with the intent to distribute , is a 2nd degree crime, and can lead to steep penalties, probation and/or imprisonment. Drug distribution is a serious offense. Having said that, like all drug crimes, drug distribution must be placed into the correct context to be able to make certain that charges are not excessive. What might seem to be drug distribution may in fact not be, and a expert legal professional will see to it that you are provided a powerful defense all through your criminal arrest.

The amount of drugs within your possession, how those drugs are prepared, which drugs are found to be on your person, and how many different types of drugs you have are all elements that will be taken into consideration during a drug distribution case. For example, if a variety of packaged drugs are found within your possession, then it might be assumed that you, like a shop, possess a large number of new products ready to sell. Likewise, your past criminal history will play a factor, as will the place that you had been arrested. Being busted in an area known to be frequented by drug dealers, for example, won’t assist your case.

If a person is found to be in possession of illegal drugs, does not appear to be using the drugs him or herself, and is behaving in a manner that is an indication of drug distribution, then law enforcement officials may place that individual under arrest on suspicion of drug distribution. Although other drug charges like possession for sale require that some type of monetary transaction take place, drug distribution only requires that illicit drugs are transferred from one individual to another. Therefore, defense against these charges can be complicated, particularly within the state of Texas. Due to the complexities of Texas law, the best strategy taken by a person charged with drug distribution is retaining the services of a knowledgeable Dallas Criminal Defense Attorney .

The Top Dallas Criminal Defense Attorney will investigate the circumstances surrounding your case, and will develop the most effective defense possible considering the circumstances. If you stand accused, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Finest Dallas Lawyer Twenty-four Hours A Day, 365 Days /year to discuss the specifics of your case.