O’Fallon Federal Drug Crime Lawyer

Federal Drug Crime Attorney in O’Fallon, IL

Federal drug crime convictions come with mandatory minimum sentences and few options for parole, making them harder to face than state-level charges. If you’ve been accused of a drug crime on this level, you need an O’Fallon federal drug crime lawyer on your side who can protect your rights and provide you with skilled representation throughout the legal proceedings.

The team at The Law Office of Jessica Koester, LLC, focuses on defending clients against serious charges, including federal drug offenses. Attorney Jessica Koester has been in practice for decades. In that time, she has developed an in-depth understanding of federal drug crime laws and how they can be applied to different cases.

Hire a Federal Drug Crime Lawyer

Federal drug offenses are handled at the US District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. They are generally more serious than state-level charges. In FY 2023, 38.1% of the federal charges levied against Illinois residents were for drug crimes. That’s significantly higher than the 29.9% of all federal charges on a national level that pertain to drugs. Methamphetamine comprised most of the drugs seized during these investigations at 46.6% of all illegal substances.

If you’re facing federal drug charges, it doesn’t matter what type of substance you were caught with or whether the charges are for manufacturing or trafficking. You need to hire a federal drug crime lawyer who can explain the charges against you, evaluate the evidence, and help you come up with an effective defense.

Understanding Federal Drug Laws

The primary federal drug law in O’Fallon used to prosecute people for distribution, manufacturing, and possession with intent to distribute is 21 USC 841(a)(1). It sets volume limits and sentencing requirements, which start with a mandatory minimum of five to ten years, depending on the quantity of drugs involved.

All controlled substances in the United States are included in the federal drug schedule laid out in the Controlled Substances Act. It includes:

• Schedule I drugs. These are the most dangerous substances. They have no currently accepted medical uses.
• Schdule II. These drugs are often abused but have some limited medical uses.
• Schedule III. These drugs have known medical benefits and a lower risk of abuse.
• Schedule IV. These drugs are even less likely to be addictive.
• Schedule V. These drugs have the lowest potential for abuse.

You can face federal drug charges for manufacturing, distributing, or trafficking any kind of controlled substance. However, the penalties for trafficking in Schedule I controlled substances tend to be higher than those associated with lower-scheduled drugs.

O’Fallon Federal Drug Crime Lawyer

If you’ve been accused of a drug crime on the federal level, you could face significant, life-altering consequences. An O’Fallon federal drug crime lawyer can help you fight the charges being brought against you, improving your chances of walking away without a conviction. No matter what kind of federal drug crime charges you’re facing, our law firm can help. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation today.