Howard County Volume Dealer Lawyer
Most people are aware that receiving a charge for the possession of illegal drugs in Howard County could result in serious consequences. Sometimes, the distribution or manufacturing of a controlled substance could result in harsher sentences than mere possession.
Fewer people are aware, however, that Howard County has particular laws in place that impose enhanced penalties for convictions involving high volumes of a controlled substance.
Under Howard County volume dealer laws, those convicted are sentenced to a minimum of five years imprisonment. This sentence cannot be suspended and the person convicted is not eligible for parole during the first five years of their sentence. These are very serious consequences that will greatly affect a person’s life.
If you are charged with a crime related to the high volume of a controlled substance, do not wait. Contact a Howard County volume dealer lawyer as soon as possible. An experienced drug attorney could help you build a viable defense for your case.
Triggering the Volume Dealer Law
In Howard County, a controlled substance charge must involve certain minimum amounts in order to trigger the volume dealer law. These amounts are set forth in Maryland Code, Title 5, Subtitle 6, Section 5-612. The amount required to trigger the Section 5-612 volume dealer law varies according to the specific controlled substance. A few examples are:
- 50 pounds or more of marijuana
- 448 grams or more of cocaine
- 50 grams or more of cocaine base, commonly known as crack
- 28 grams or more of morphine
- 1,000 dosage units or more of lysergic acid diethylamide
In the case of any of the above examples, a conviction involving the relevant amount of a respective drug would result in a mandatory minimum sentence of five years imprisonment without a possibility of parole. A Howard County volume dealer attorney could help someone convicted under this statute receives only the minimum sentence and no more, or could argue that the volume dealer law should not apply in a given case.
Aggregation of amounts
It is important to note that Section 5-612 allows the prosecutor to aggregate several acts of manufacturing, distribution, dispensing, or possessing a controlled substance. If several distinct instances in which a person engages in one of the prohibited activities involving a controlled substance occur within 90 days of one another, the amounts involved in each incident may be added together. If the total aggregated amount equals or surpasses the relevant amount set forth in Section 5-612, then that person may be charged under the volume dealer law.
A Howard County volume dealer lawyer could prove that instances involving a controlled substance did not occur within 90 days of one another, thus avoiding the five-year minimum sentence set forth in the volume dealer law. An attorney could do this by offering phone and text records, as well as putting forth other evidence to prove that the incidents in question did not occur within the 90-day time period.
Talk to a Howard County Volume Dealer Attorney Today
The thought of a five-year minimum sentence is frightening. A longer sentence than five years is even more intimidating. A Howard County volume dealer lawyer could argue that the volumes of a controlled substance related to multiple instances should not be aggregated. A volume dealer attorney could also fight to ensure the court does not administer more than the minimum sentence.
If you are charged with a violation of Howard County Maryland’s volume dealer law, contact a skilled defense attorney right away.