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Houston Internet Drug Crimes Attorneys

Defending Against Internet Drug Crime Charges in Texas

If you have been accused of an internet drug crime in Texas, you are probably very anxious about what this could mean for your life, your finances, and even your freedom. If you don't handle your defense properly, you could face prison time and substantial fines. Your property—your home, bank accounts, vehicles, and other property—could be seized to satisfy court fines. You could face prison time and substantial fines that you'll be paying off for the rest of your life, even after your sentence has been served.

You must talk to an experienced federal drug crime defense lawyer who can help you defend against these charges successfully.

Buying, selling, or shipping prescription or illegal drugs off the internet can be a crime that can result in criminal charges and a conviction. Even if you are a first-time offender, drug crime charges are very serious, and a conviction can lead to:

  • Substantial fines
  • Prison time
  • A criminal record
  • Having money and/or property seized by the government
  • Losing other important privileges, such as a driver's license

Some Types of Narcotics You Can Be Arrested for Having in Texas

Internet Drug Trafficking

The internet has created a new and easier way for people to buy and sell drugs. This has created both new ways for people to commit crimes, and new crimes for law enforcement officers and prosecutors to pursue for convictions.

As a result of the relative new-ness of the ability to buy and sell drugs over the internet means that internet drug trafficking and the laws that restrict it are evolving and often not well understood. If you are facing internet drug trafficking charges, you must hire an attorney who understands the rapidly changing nature of this area of criminal law.

Internet drug trafficking charges can include:

  • Shipping counterfeit or fake drugs ordered over the internet.
  • Illegal prescription sales and shipment of Schedule II-V pharmaceutical controlled substances directly to buyers without a medical exam by a physician. These drugs can include narcotics, amphetamines, GHB, and anabolic steroids.
  • Illegal marketing of prescription drugs, such as selling drugs that were meant for animals for human use.
  • Shipping or mailing drugs or receiving and reshipping drugs from rogue pharmacies in the U.S., Mexico, or other countries.
  • Selling drug-related paraphernalia, including a wide range of items, such as water pipes to conversion kits for making steroids.

Prescription Fraud

The laws regarding prescription drugs are very strict and vigorously enforced. The demand for these drugs, especially lower-cost, popular drugs like Viagra; highly addictive drugs like opioid painkillers; and commonly used drugs like steroids and human growth hormone, have made them big business. Prescription drug laws cover everything from the manufacturing, marketing, distribution, sale, and purchase of prescription drugs.

There are generally two types of crimes related to prescription drugs:

  • Local prescription fraud for drugs such as Xanax, Vicodin, OxyContin, Hydrocodone, and Oxycodone.
  • Internet prescription crimes involving interstate or international trafficking through the mail.

Drug Distribution

If you are charged with drug distribution, you may be facing charges in either state or federal court. There are numerous laws at both the state and the federal level that govern the illegal trafficking and distribution of narcotics such as heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. There are also laws regarding the illegal distribution of prescription drugs online, and charges can include the distribution of both illegal narcotics and legal prescription drugs.

Though being charged in either Texas state court or federal court is very serious and can lead to major consequences and outcomes, in some cases, facing drug charges in federal court can be even more ominous. This is because investigators may have spent additional time building their case before any charges were filed. In addition, federal sentencing guidelines carry harsh minimum sentences, though state charges can also result in significant prison terms and fines.

There are numerous effective defense strategies for drug distribution cases, depending on the circumstances. One strategy is to examine law enforcement's search and seizure. By proving that law enforcement officers did not correctly follow policy when they gathered evidence against the defendant, it may be possible to have the evidence excluded, making it easier to help the defendant. Another strategy is to challenge the reliability or credibility of the government's witness. If the witness is seen as not being effective, the witness's testimony may not carry much weight with the jury.

Drug Cultivation and Manufacturing

When prosecutors talk about cultivation and manufacturing of illegal substances, they're talking about planting, harvesting, drying, and processing illegal drugs. Sometimes, prosecutors will also add charges of transportation and delivery. It's very important that you hire an attorney who knows how to defend you on cultivation and manufacturing charges because some state and federal drug offenses regarding drug cultivation and manufacturing carry mandatory minimum sentences.

Drug Possession

Compared to charges for distribution and cultivation and manufacturing, a drug possession charge may seem like a minor offense. However, anyone facing any type of drug charges should take those charges seriously and immediately hire an experienced attorney because of the varying Texas and federal laws and punishments regarding drug possession.

Even being charged with possessing a small amount of marijuana can alter the rest of your life. Even if you had the marijuana solely for personal use, if the amount you were caught with is greater than a certain weight, you could be charged with possession with intent to sell, distribute, or even traffic. These charges carry steep punishments and consequences. There are also enhanced penalties if you were caught with drugs in a legally defined "drug-free zone," which includes schools and daycare centers.

You must hire an experienced, capable attorney as soon as possible. A good attorney may be able to keep evidence, including the actual drugs, from being used against you, and they will make sure your constitutional rights were observed during the arrest.

Conspiracy

"Conspiracy" simply means that two or more people worked together to commit a crime. Federal prosecutors often use conspiracy charges as a way to bring criminal charges against a person when they have very little, or even no, evidence that the person was directly involved in a crime. Once one person is charged and found guilty of a crime, the other people who worked with him—to any extent or degree—can be charged with the crime, too.

Conspiracy is often tacked on to a longer list of white-collar or drug crime charges. This allows prosecutors to seek an even longer sentence if the defendant is found guilty. It is common for drug conspiracy charges to be combined with charges of drug trafficking, drug distribution, money laundering, fraud, racketeering, or public corruption.

Often, when prosecutors hope to convict participants in a drug ring, they will charge all the alleged participants with conspiracy to commit a drug crime.

You should know that if you are accused of participating in a drug conspiracy, the prosecution must prove you had knowledge and consent, and they have to show that you and at least one other person worked together to break the law.

Although conspiracy might seem minor, conspiracy charges can be very serious, and they can lead to prison time and steep fines. You must take conspiracy charges seriously and secure the help of a competent, experienced lawyer to defend you.

Contact Our Harris County Internet Drug Crimes Lawyer

If you have been charged with an internet drug crime in or around Houston, Texas, including possession, distribution, manufacturing, cultivation, conspiracy, or fraud, you must secure competent, experienced legal representation immediately. You need to contact the Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C. as soon as possible for your free consultation. Attorney Doug Murphy has successfully defended clients throughout the Houston area and around the state. He is Board Certified in criminal defense law and is one of only two attorneys in the State of Texas to be Board Certified in both criminal defense law and DWI defense law.

Doug Murphy is not an attorney who will try to push you into a quick and easy plea deal. He approaches every case as if it will go to trial, because he cares about securing your freedom, your finances, and your future. He will do everything within his power to get you the most favorable outcome possible in your Texas internet drug crime case.

Board Certified criminal defense attorney Murphy will thoroughly review your case and conduct his own investigation as necessary, using a competent, experienced team that knows how to help people who have been charged with internet drug crimes. If you have been charged with an internet drug crime in Texas, contact the Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C. today at 713-229-8333 and start working toward the next chapter in your life.

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