What State vs. Federal Drug Charges Can Mean in Your Case

Prosecution in State and Federal Courts

Many drug crimes, including possession, can also be charged as federal offenses.  Our state has laws that pertain to drug crimes that will be prosecuted solely as a state crime.  Federal law also has crimes that relate to drugs and if you are charged with a federal drug crime, it is prosecuted in a different manner than in state court.  If your crime was committed on federal property or involved transportation of a controlled substance across a state line, these would be considered federal offenses.

Although the two sets of laws have similarities they are not identical.  Possession, sale, distribution, cultivation and trafficking all come under federal laws.  Each case is unique, however, and at the Law Offices of Gregory H. Comings we can help you to understand the charges you face and what the procedure will be for your prosecution.  If you are under investigation for a federal drug offense you will need a knowledgeable and seasoned Riverside drug crime attorney who has experience in successfully defending cases in both state and federal courts.   

Riverside Drug Crime Lawyer

Conviction on federal drug crimes will result in harsher penalties against you.  In our state, possession of marijuana can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor with relatively minor penalties.  Under federal statutes, however, for a first conviction you can be fined up to $1,000 and be sentenced to up to a year in jail.  Elements of your case such as the type and amount of drug involved, any prior criminal history, whether minors were present, and the use or possession of a weapon, will greatly affect the punishments and how you are charged.  Many federal drug crimes have mandatory sentences and federal law gives little chance for probation if you are convicted and parole is not an option.

At our firm, we take each case individually and always strive to clear a person of the charges they face.  Thorough investigation into the circumstances of what occurred, what actions were taken by law enforcement and our experience in resolving drug crimes charges all go into formulating and carrying out an effective defense strategy.   

To understand the difference between state and federal drug charges and what can be done to effectively combat them, contact a Riverside drug crime lawyer for help.