16 October

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What is an unwitting drug mule?

To minimize their risks, drug traffickers often resort to inventive methods to smuggle substances across the border. While drug mules allow them to transport drugs in small quantities, traffickers also manipulate or scam unsuspecting individuals to do the same. Unfortunately, even unwitting drug mules may face serious legal consequences if caught. No one is safe An unwitting drug mule can be anyone who unknowingly transports illicit drugs across borders or nations. Drug traffickers use whatever means necessary to reduce suspicion and minimize their risks as they smuggle illegal drugs across countries. A part of that is using various scams and tricks to...

17 October

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Is it possible to overcome a drug trafficking charge?

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in blog, drug trafficking

Trafficking drugs in North Carolina or anywhere in the United States will result in serious consequences if authorities catch you. The repercussions can impact your life for many years to come. If you have a drug trafficking charge on your record, you might wonder if it is possible to turn your life around. Focusing on what you can control, as well as setting goals might help you get your life back on track. Paying legal dues Despite a desire to change, you will first need to satisfy the legal consequences stemming from your drug charges. Authorities take drug-related crimes seriously. According to the...

06 January

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How drug scheduling affects trafficking charges and penalties

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in drug trafficking

A charge of drug trafficking does not necessarily involve the movement of drugs from one place to another. Rather, it is the possession of controlled substances in sufficient amounts to suggesting an intent to sell them. The United States Drug Enforcement Administration uses scheduling to organize controlled substances. A drug’s schedule influences the amount required for trafficking charges. What are drug schedules? Drug schedules are categories of controlled substances organized according to how dangerous they can be versus how useful they can be at treating diseases. There are five schedules, each identified with a Roman numeral. Schedule V controlled substances have the lowest...

26 July

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What are the mandatory minimums for drug trafficking in NC?

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in drug trafficking

Drug trafficking refers to the crime of illegally transporting, selling or importing illicit substances across state borders. Because most states, including North Carolina, work hard to keep drugs out, the mandatory minimum jail sentences for drug trafficking are lengthy. If you face drug trafficking charges, you may wonder what is at stake. In addition to hefty fines and monetary penalties, you face up to 225 months — or 18 years and nine months — in prison. The length of your prison term depends on the substance in question, the total weight of the drugs and whether you have prior convictions on...

02 April

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Study uncovers drug conviction consequences after prison

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in Drug Charges, drug trafficking

A felony conviction can trigger a wide range of federal, state and local restrictions and sanctions that may or may not have anything to do with the actual offense. Many people believe these collateral consequences are not only unnecessary but also harmful to those who have completed their prison sentence and want to re-enter society. The North Carolina Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission has studied how these indirect penalties have affected those in the state who have criminal convictions on their record. Employment Having a criminal record that anyone can view may be one of the most obstructing of consequences. One study showed...

23 December

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Proving addiction may help reduce drug trafficking penalties

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in drug trafficking

North Carolina’s prosecutors may aggressively charge an individual with multiple drug-related offenses. The allegations may include charges such as unlawful distribution and trafficking. The court, however, may decide that there is not enough evidence to sentence a defendant on every charge. The First Step Act, which went into effect during 2020, permits the Tar Heel State’s judges to deviate from mandatory minimum sentencing requirements. As noted by U.S. News and World Report, an addicted first-time nonviolent offender may request a less severe sentence for a drug-trafficking conviction. Substance abuse treatment programs may help reduce repeat offenses Studies revealed that 85% of incarcerated individuals...

26 October

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What does the ‘First Step Act’ in North Carolina do?

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in drug trafficking

The North Carolina First Step Act was signed in to law this year, and it offers new hope for some people who have a prior felony conviction on their records for drug trafficking or conspiracy to drug traffic. What does the First Step Act do? Essentially, it gives the court some wiggle room when it comes to the mandatory minimum sentences that courts have previously been required to impose. This is particularly important when you realize that people can be charged with drug trafficking or the intent to traffic drugs based only on the amount of drugs found in their possession — and this policy...

14 September

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Federal and state authorities vow to clean up North Carolina

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in drug trafficking

To hear the federal and state authorities tell it, there’s a silent war going on between law enforcement and the criminal element in North Carolina, and the authorities are determined to win it. The Take Back North Carolina Initiative was launched in April 2018 as a cooperative effort between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. The operation was begun in response to concerns over rising drug addiction rates and organized criminal activity, particularly in the eastern part of the state. The message coming from the authorities is pretty clear. “You are next. We will come for you,” was the quote from Robert Higdon,...

23 June

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When drug possession becomes drug trafficking

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in drug trafficking

Drug trafficking charges engender more serious treatment than possession— in North Carolina and across the United States. When a charge graduates from possession to trafficking depends upon the circumstances of arrest and other factors. As FindLaw explains, both federal and state law treat trafficking harshly, often requiring mandatory minimum sentencing. While possession can often amount to a misdemeanor, drug trafficking is a felony. Factors in charging and sentencing Drug possession may turn into a trafficking charge in a few cases. Large amounts of the drug, large amounts of cash discovered during arrest or other evidence suggesting that the substance is for more than personal...

29 January

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Deputies seize guns, drugs and a stolen ATV during search

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in drug trafficking

The execution of a search warrant in North Carolina on the morning of Jan. 8 led to the seizure of drugs, guns, and a stolen utility vehicle according to a press release from the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office. Detectives from the Henderson County Drug Task Force conducted the search and were supported by deputies assigned to the HCSO’s Crime Suppression Unit. A man and a woman were taken into custody at the scene. The search warrant was executed at a residence on Peaceful View Trail in the unincorporated community of Edneyville. Initial reports do not indicate what led law enforcement to believe that...