Drug Trafficking HS 11352

Building a strong defense is crucial to counter the prosecution’s efforts to convict you, especially under California’s HS 11352 for drug trafficking. Failure to do so could result in severe penalties, including up to nine years in prison and fines of up to $20,000. Such consequences can have a lasting impact on your life, both financially and personally.

But the risks don’t stop there. You may also face additional penalties and repercussions that could further complicate your case.

But what other penalties could you face? Below are a few types of changes or penalties that may impact your case.

Aggravating Factors/Enhanced Sentences

While the penalties for drug trafficking are already severe, certain aggravating factors can act as potential sentence enhancers, meaning they can add time to your sentence. Aggravating factors do not add new charges, but enhance your current ones.

Here are some examples of aggravating factors that can apply to drug trafficking charges:

• Drug trafficking near homeless shelters or facilities involved in drug treatment, which can add a year to your sentence under certain circumstances
• Knowingly furnishing drugs to someone who was being treated for a drug issue, pregnant, or previously convicted of certain violent felonies, which can lead to the harshest possible sentence
• Having past convictions for drug crimes (excluding drug use), which can add three years per conviction to your sentence

Immigration Consequences

If you’re an immigrant, a drug trafficking conviction could have additional repercussions, including the threat of deportation.

That’s because drug trafficking is a so-called “deportable” offense under federal law. That means that, if you’re convicted on this charge, you could be deported. That’s regardless of your current immigration status.

Deportation can separate you from your family, making them fend for themselves and putting you in a vulnerable position. That’s why securing legal representation is crucial, especially if deportation is on the table.

Sale or Transport of Drugs Involving Minors

In California, under HS 11352, you can be charged separately if you are trafficking drugs in a way that involves minors.

You break this law if you’re 18 years old or older and you:

• Use someone under 18 to help sell or move drugs
• Give drugs to a kid or try to sell drugs to a kid

If you’re convicted on that charge, you could go to state prison for as long as nine years, depending on the circumstances.

And extra time can be added to your sentence if the drugs involved were heroin, cocaine, or crack or the alleged trafficking happened close to a school, church, or place where kids hang out often.

Keep in mind that how much older you are than the child involved can also have an effect on your potential penalties. Specifically, if you’re four or more years older than the child, you may face additional years behind bars.

As you build your defense against drug trafficking charges, remember you might face other charges too. These extra charges can pile up, making your penalties even worse.

Worried about the effects on your record? Speak to your attorney about combating other possible charges that may arise. We have the resources to help you fight back.

HS 11351 Possession for Sale

Drug possession with the intent to sell differs from drug trafficking charges in that it may refer to a smaller amount and does not account for the actual transportation or sale of the drugs. It’s just about having drugs in your possession with the intent to sell them at some point.

It’s less serious than drug trafficking, but this is still a serious legal charge.

HS 11357.5 and 11375.5 Sale of Synthetic (Designer) Drugs

HS 11357.5 defines the sale or sharing of synthetic cannabis or other synthetic drugs as a crime.

Synthetic marijuana is considered a potential health threat in California. Talk to your attorney about the specific penalties you may face for criminal offenses like these.

HS 11360 Sale or Transportation of Marijuana

While marijuana is seeing an ongoing legalization process, including the enactment of California’s Prop 64, there are still exceptions to legalization, and those exceptions can lead to serious charges such as those under HS 11360.

It is still illegal in California to sell or transport any amount of marijuana. While California laws are becoming more lax on marijuana charges, you may still face charges, so talk with an attorney about your options.

HS 11366 Opening or Maintaining a Drug House

A drug house can include any house, apartment, or other building used repeatedly for the purpose of selling, using, or giving away illegal drugs. If you are accused of opening or maintaining one of these places, the legal penalties can be harsh.

Much like many other drug-related offenses, the severity of your charge depends on other factors, such as whether you have prior convictions and the types and amounts of people or drugs at this drug house.

Talk to your attorney about protecting your future if you are accused of running a drug house.

HS 11370.9 Money Laundering the Proceeds of Drug Sales

Money laundering is already a separate, non-drug-related crime. But laundering money used for the buying and selling of drugs can lead to harsher penalties in addition to the penalties for related charges you may already be facing.

Because this can be a felony charge, it is vital that you speak to a respected criminal defense attorney. Your attorney can help you prepare the best possible defense when you are facing devastating charges.

HS 10975 and 11355 Sale of Imitation Drugs

Imitation controlled substances, such as fake medication, can be especially dangerous to people because they are unaware of what substances they are taking.

That lack of knowledge can make this more dangerous for other people, and it may lead to further misdemeanor or felony charges.

This particular charge can apply to selling fake controlled substances in general or after offering to sell or transport a real controlled substance. And it can be a felony or misdemeanor, depending on the circumstances.

HS 11379 Sale or Transportation of Methamphetamines

Methamphetamines are highly addictive stimulants and their sale and transport are strictly controlled, just like other Schedule 1 drugs. This charge is highly similar to drug trafficking under HS 11352, but it involves methamphetamines and other drugs.

If you’re charged with offenses related to these substances, you’re looking at potential felony penalties. Such consequences can affect you for the rest of your life. Consult an attorney to explore your defense options.