How Is Drug Trafficking Regulated in Texas?

Drug trafficking involves the distributing and/or delivering of illegal drugs across states, counties or other borderlines. Drug trafficking is a violation of the Texas Controlled Substances Act, and it can result in a felony charge with many unfortunate ramifications, such as fines and jail time. Because the sentencing for a drug trafficking conviction can be extreme and detrimental to your personal life, it’s crucial that, as a Texas citizen, you know the laws and regulations related to this crime.

What Are the Texas Drug Trafficking and Distribution Laws?

If you have been charged with a drug trafficking crime, there are a few laws you should know about before you decide to determine your path for defense. Your criminal defense attorney can help you understand these regulations further.

The Texas Controlled Substances Act: This law lists five penalty groups that detail the specific illegal drug that you are being charged with trafficking or distributing. The drugs included in this act are: cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, opiates, LSD, other hallucinogens, pentobarbital and barbituric acid, and narcotics.

There are other factors involved in your drug trafficking sentence, besides the fact that you violated the law. These factors include the amount of the drug being delivered or trafficked and the type of drug that was distributed. Your punishment could range from a state jail felony offense (a state jail sentence between 180 days and two years and a thousand-dollar fine) to a first-degree felony (lifetime imprisonment and a $250,000 fine). Some possible defenses that you and your criminal defense attorney could use in court are: lack of knowledge, duress, or that the drug was not intended for human consumption.

Drug trafficking penalties can result in terrible consequences, so it’s important that you know your defense and that you have an experienced attorney by your side. Contact a lawyer from the Goolsby Law Firm today for a free consultation.

Mike Goolsby

A veteran in both civil court cases and criminal defense, Mike Goolsby is a respected lawyer with more than 16 years of experience practicing law. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of North Texas in 1990, followed by his J.D. from the prestigious Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1994. After earning his law degree, Mr. Goolsby worked as an Assistant District Attorney for the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. As a trial lawyer, he was able to gain exceptional access to the criminal court system in this major metropolitan area, giving him immeasurable, distinct experience that helped him build a solid foundation for his own private legal practice. Mr. Goolsby went on to practice civil law for Maverick Acceptance Group, a venture capital company. Here, he gained invaluable knowledge of the civil side of the law, adding to his already diverse portfolio of legal expertise. In 1999, he opened the doors of The Goolsby Law Firm and has been successfully serving the residents of North Texas ever since. As an attorney, Mr. Goolsby combines his experience in both the civil and criminal fields to offer unmatched legal representation to his clients. With a long list of satisfied clients, Mr. Goolsby continues to build his practice through fair and aggressive legal defense.