Penalties for Trafficking Oxycodone in Brandenburg
The “War on Drugs” in America is still in full swing, meaning you face significant penalties for many drug related offenses if convicted. Trafficking in oxycodone is one of those offenses. For most people, being arrested and charged with trafficking in oxycodone is a frightening experience. Understanding the possible punishments should help you to feel more empowered as well as convince you to consult with an experienced Brandenburg criminal defense attorney regarding your specific situation.
In Brandenburg and throughout the entire state of Kentucky, trafficking in any amount of oxycodone is a felony. However, not all felonies are treated the same. The potential punishment varies greatly depending upon how much oxycodone is involved. If you are guilty of trafficking 10 or more dosage units of oxycodone you are considered to have committed a Class C felony if this is your first offense. This is punishable by 5 to 10 years in prison. If this is not your first offense, this is considered a Class B felony and is punishable by 10 to 20 years in prison. A dosage unit is typically the amount that would be regarded as one dose. In the case of oxycodone, this is usually one pill.
If you are guilty of trafficking in less than 10 dosage units of oxycodone you are considered to have committed a Class D felony if this is your first offense. The punishment for a Class D felony is 1 to 5 years in prison. You are considered to have committed a Class C felony if this is not your first offense.
If the trafficking took place over state lines, you may be guilty of a federal offense. Federal trafficking penalties differ based upon the schedule of the drug and whether or not it is your first offense. Oxycodone is a schedule II drug. Generally, this means that a first offense will not carry a penalty of greater than 20 years in prison. The exception to that rule is if death or serious bodily injury occurs as a result of the trafficking, in which case the penalty is a minimum of 20 years to life in prison. A fine of $1,000,000 may also be imposed.
If this is not your first federal trafficking offense, the penalty will generally not exceed 30 years in prison. However, if the trafficking results in death or serious bodily injury, the penalty may be life in prison and in both cases, a maximum $2,000,000 fine may be assessed.
If you have been charged with trafficking in oxycodone in Brandenburg it is imperative that you contact an experienced Brandenburg criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Only an experienced attorney can explain your specific charges to you and work with you to develop the best possible defense.