When a New York resident is arrested and charged with a drug crime, their life can change in an instant. Drug crimes are very serious and can result in some serious consequences. Not only can a person face fines that can do damage to their bank accounts, they can also risk great damage to their reputations. This can make it difficult to find jobs in the future, or it could harm a person’s current career. This is why it is important to do everything possible to fight such a charge.
However, not every drug charge is the same, and they all carry with them differing levels of consequences. For instance, in general there are two categories of drug possession laws. The first category is called simple possession. Simple possession is when a person is accused of possessing drugs for personal use, with no intent to sell. When there is intent to sell, then it is known as possession with intent to distribute.
Possession with intent to distribute typically carries with it much harsher penalties. The goal of harshly punishing those charged with intent to distribute is to punish drug dealer and deter people from selling illegal chemicals. There is additional evidence that must be provided in order to prove intent to distribute. This includes evidence such as baggies, large quantities of the drug, digital scales, large amounts of cash in the form of small bills, witness testimonies and the like.
One way to fight charges involving drug crimes is to scrutinize the evidence. Prosecutors must present a strong case backed by evidence in order to convict someone of a drug crime. Attorneys are available to help accused persons mount a strong legal defense that attacks the evidence.
Source: FindLaw, “Drug Possession Overview,” Accessed on April 10, 2017
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