Mississippi Criminal Law BlogAccording to WLBT-TV, a Texas man has been charged with aggravated trafficking in Mississippi in mid-January. The man was allegedly arrested for trafficking over 10,000 pills, which consisted of fentanyl. As most are aware, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is extremely addictive and small doses of it can be deadly.
The incident occurred back in April when a Rankin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy stopped a Chevrolet Tahoe driven by the man as a result of a traffic violation. Reports indicate that a woman and child were also inside the vehicle at that time. Upon approaching the vehicle, the deputy reportedly observed that the back panel of the passenger seat was lying on the floor. The deputy also saw two large packages that were wrapped in electrical tape bulging from the altered passenger seat as well as a few blue M30 – commonly known as counterfeit oxycodone – pills on the floor.
After further investigation, the packages found in the vehicle were revealed to contain over 10,000 counterfeit blue M30 pills, containing both oxycodone and fentanyl. The man has since pled guilty to trafficking fentanyl and will serve 10 years at the Mississippi Department of Corrections without parole.
How Does Mississippi Define Aggravated Drug Trafficking?
Under Mississippi law, it is unlawful for any person to knowingly or intentionally to:
- Sell, barter, transfer, manufacture, distribute, dispense or possess with intent to sell, barter, transfer, manufacture, distribute or dispense, a controlled substance; or
- Create, sell, barter, transfer, distribute, dispense or possess with intent to create, sell, barter, transfer or dispense, a counterfeit substance
The above-mentioned actions become trafficking when an individual possesses thirty or more grams or forty or more dosage units of a Schedule I or II controlled substance – in this case, fentanyl and oxycodone. However, the trafficking becomes aggravated when in possession of two hundred grams or more of Schedule I or II controlled substances.
What Happens if Someone is Convicted of Aggravated Drug Trafficking in Mississippi?
The penalties for drug trafficking are serious and in most cases, severe. If convicted of drug trafficking in Mississippi, the offender could face anywhere between 10 to 40 years behind bars, as well as a fine from anywhere between $5,000 to $1,000,000.
If convicted of aggravated drug trafficking, the offender could spend 25 years to life in prison and potentially be responsible for paying $5,000 to 1,000,000 in fines. Offenders convicted of aggravated drug trafficking must serve a mandatory sentence of at least 25 years, which may not be reduced or suspended. Additionally, those convicted of aggravated drug trafficking will not be eligible for probation or parole.
Finding an Attorney
If you have been searching the Mississippi area for a qualified, experienced criminal defense attorney, look no further than Vic Carmody Jr., P.A. Over the years, we have helped numerous offenders pursue favorable outcomes. Although being accused of a crime is not a pleasant experience, there are many potential defense strategies that can be used to defend and reduce the charges against an offender. Call/contact us today for your free consultation to learn more.
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