Most of the time, state law affects your daily life more than federal law does. Texas has its own rules about sales tax, state income tax, minimum wage, and driver’s license requirements, as do other states. When it comes to criminal law, the U.S. Constitution determines the rights of defendants, but each state determines how it defines most crimes; consider how much the laws about possession and sale of cannabis vary from one state to another. As soon as a criminal activity crosses state lines, it becomes a federal crime. This is why the federal courts try cases where a defendant in one state communicated online with a victim in another state and defrauded the victim out of money. It is also a federal crime if a defendant in one state sells drugs to a buyer in another state through an online transaction and sends the drugs through the mail. If you are being accused of sending illegal drugs through the mail, contact a Texasdrug crimes attorney.
Texas Man Gets Four Years in Prison for Distributing Anabolic Steroids by Mail
In August 2022, David Hutchinson of Georgetown, Texas received a sentence of four years in federal prison for distributing anabolic steroids by mail. Using the screen name Robolics, Hutchinson, 47, advertised the steroids, which are a schedule III controlled substance, in online discussion forums. He instructed buyers to send money to a shell corporation or to pay for them in cryptocurrency. He was arrested in November 2019 after a search of his house yielded 6,900 grams of anabolic steroids, $88,000 in cash, nearly that amount in cryptocurrency, and several firearms. He pleaded guilty to distribution of anabolic steroids, and in August 2022, a court sentenced him to four years in prison.
What Determines the Sentence Length for Defendants Convicted of Drug Distribution?
In some cases, courts issue decades-long prison sentences for drug trafficking; it is even possible to get a life sentence for drug crimes that do not involve physical violence. Several factors involve the sentences imposed for drug distribution or possession with intent to deliver. It matters whether the defendant was also convicted of other crimes in the same case and whether the defendant has any prior convictions. Likewise, plea deals make a big difference; defendants who get convicted at trial usually face longer sentences than those who plead guilty. A criminal defense lawyer can help you negotiate a plea deal. In some cases, plea deals require you to plead guilty to certain charges in exchange for the prosecution dropping other charges; in other cases, you must provide information to investigators that may help them build their case against other defendants.
Contact the Law Office of Patrick J. McLain, PLLC About Drug Distribution Charges
A criminal defense lawyer can help you if you are facing criminal charges for distribution of anabolic steroids or another controlled substance. Contact the Law Office of Patrick J. McLain, PLLC to discuss your case.