Pennsylvania Drug Distribution Lawyers

Whether you were simply in possession of an illegal drug or you had intended to deliver it to someone else, police and prosecutors may say that you obviously planned to distribute the drugs to others. Even if you were growing one marijuana plant in your garage and intended it for your own use, their opinion can mean the difference between a misdemeanor and felony charge.
If you or someone you care about has been arrested for the distribution of a drug, contact Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford P.C. to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced drug crime lawyers. Our team is made up of former prosecutors with many years of experience helping those accused of crimes obtain favorable outcomes in Pennsylvania state and federal courts for drug possession and distribution charges.

What Constitutes Drug Possession With Intent To Distribute?

Drug possession with intent to distribute is sometimes also called drug trafficking and means that someone stands accused of distributing, manufacturing, or selling illegal drugs. Authorities view growing, producing, or manufacturing drugs in the same light as selling drugs in exchange for money. This could apply even if someone simply shared drugs with a friend.

The severity of a PWID charge depends upon both the quantity of drugs involved as well as what type of drugs are at play. The most common determining factor in whether you will face a possession with intent to distribute charge is the quantity of the substance that you’re accused of possessing. Whenever authorities believe that an individual possesses a quantity of drugs too large for their own personal use, they will typically charge them with PWID.

The types of drugs that are most often involved in these cases include cocaine, crack, heroin, marijuana, opioids, and prescription medications like Percocet or Vicodin. Pennsylvania prosecutors will generally assume that anyone possessing more than one gram of heroin, or two grams of cocaine, intends to distribute those drugs to others. A drug trafficking conviction can lead to a defendant serving a significant amount of prison time.

Is Drug Distribution a Misdemeanor or Felony Crime in Pennsylvania?

Like it or not, law enforcement’s opinion counts in Pennsylvania illegal drug distribution cases. When the police and prosecutors believe that a person planned to distribute an illicit substance, their charges and potential penalties will be much more severe than if they think the person possessed the drugs for their own personal use.

Various factors can influence the severity of the charges a person may face for drug crimes in Pennsylvania, such as:

If they were in possession of a large quantity of an illegal drug

• Whether they were in possession of illegal substances within close proximity to a school
• If they were in possession of an illegal drug as well as any type of firearm

A felony drug charge comes with more severe penalties than a misdemeanor drug charge and can include:

• Probable jail time
• A loss of certain freedoms, such as the right to bear arms
• A criminal record that you will be asked to divulge for the rest of your life
• Difficulty flying or traveling abroad
• Payment of significant fines
• Community service
• Probation

Aside from these formal consequences, a drug conviction on your criminal record can make securing future employment or housing a challenge for the rest of your life.

For all of these reasons and more, it is important to fight for the dismissal of a charge or at least attempt to negotiate for lesser charges when appropriate. For example, suppose the police entered your property without probable cause and obtained evidence that should have been deemed inadmissible, which could count as illegal search and seizure in Pennsylvania. In that case, you could have an effective defense strategy on your hands. An experienced criminal defense attorney can help discover any possible defenses that could be used in your unique case.

Our drug crime attorneys examine every angle of the criminal cases we handle. We will assess whether search warrants were adequately executed and reveal any other mistakes that may have been made by law enforcement. If we believe there is cause to argue that evidence in your case should be suppressed, we will act quickly and aggressively to protect your rights. Your case could be dismissed as a result of a motion to suppress evidence.

Types of Drug Crimes Our Attorneys Handle in Pennsylvania

The Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford, P.C. attorneys are educated in defending against charges for the distribution of drugs such as:

• Adderall
• Cocaine
• Fentanyl
• Heroin
• Marijuana
• Methamphetamine
• Molly (MDMA)
• Oxycodone
• Soma
• Xanax

Other types of drug charges our criminal defense attorneys handle in Pennsylvania include:

• Drug possession: Mere possession of a controlled substance can carry tough penalties. In Pennsylvania, a conviction for a first-time offense of possession of fewer than 30 grams of marijuana could result in 30 days in jail and $500 in fines. For other “harder” drugs, a first-time possession conviction can be penalized with up to 1 year in jail and $5,000 in fines.
• Drug distribution or trafficking: Police officers in Pennsylvania typically consider conditions such as the amount of drugs involved, whether the substance was individually packaged, and if large amounts of cash were in the vicinity of the drugs when determining if the offense is a simple possession or a more serious distribution or trafficking offense.
• Drug manufacture or cultivation: To prove a case for drug manufacturing or cultivation, a prosecutor must be able to show beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant manufactured an illegal drug in Pennsylvania without a license to do so. Penalties for drug manufacture or cultivation can be as high as up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.
• Drug Paraphernalia: The use, sale or possession of drug paraphernalia is prohibited in Pennsylvania. Drug paraphernalia can include such things as:

• Zip-lock baggies
• Analog or digital scales
• Drug kits, razor blades
• Rolling papers
• Grinders
• Spoons

If you have been charged with any drug-related crimes in Pennsylvania, you likely have many questions about your case. During your free consultation with a drug crime attorney at Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford, P.C., we can discuss possible defenses, the law, and if you can be charged with a federal crime. Do not wait to contact a lawyer. Contact a Pennsylvania criminal defense lawyer today to learn more about the charges you are facing and the defenses that may be available in your particular case.

Free Consultation with Experienced Drug Distribution Lawyers in Pennsylvania

Prosecutors in Pennsylvania take criminal drug offenses very seriously. Do not take a gamble on being punished to the full extent of the law. Hire an experienced Pennsylvania drug defense lawyer with Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford, P.C. who will fight to ensure that you receive minimal punishment for your case.

Our law firm has had success helping people charged with drug crimes to assert their rights and protect their futures. Call us at (215) 822-7575 or send us a completed contact form to schedule a free initial evaluation of your case. We have offices located in both Newtown, PA and Colmar, PA and are available to drive to you if you are incapable of traveling to us.