Drug Charges​

Drug charges are becoming the most common in all the counties we serve.

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Attorney Karen J. Shelley, Esq.

Drug Charges​

Drug charges are becoming the most common in all the counties we serve. Every illegal drug (besides a small amount of marijuana)  is considered a felony in Georgia, even a tiny amount such as:

  • Traces of drug residue
  • A single pill
  • An empty baggie in a vehicle

A drug conviction can have an impact for many years. You can lose access to housing, employment opportunities, student loans, travel visas, or even and especially custody of your children.

The government doesn’t toy around, and neither do we. 

Contact a drug lawyer immediately to give yourself and loved ones’ peace of mind.  The Shelley Law Firm will be with you every step of the way, whether you are facing misdemeanor, felony or felony trafficking charges in Georgia.

Misdemeanor Drug Charges

The most common misdemeanor drug charge in Georgia is for possession of a joint or “blunt”. Typically, police find marijuana blunts in the drink holder or center console of a vehicle after stopping the driver for something really avoidable like an expired tag or lack of insurance. Come on y’all! Let’s not invite them to pull us over! Also it doesn’t really help when the car smells like weed.

Although possession of less than 1oz of marijuana is legally acceptable in many States, it is still a criminal offense in Georgia and can carry up to 12 months in jail & a $1000.00 fine, along with probation and other penalties.

A misdemeanor marijuana charge can be handled by an experienced drug lawyer. The Shelley Law Firm can negotiate with the prosecutors to make sure that this simple charge doesn’t stay with you forever. From arrest to expungement, we will be with you every step of the way.

Felony Drug Charges

Felonies are charges that carry a sentence of more than a year in prison, significant fines and lengthy years of probation supervision. There are several factors that can determine how you avoid a felony conviction for drugs in Georgia, and we use our experience to protect you the entire way.

A convicted felon in Georgia is considered more than just a criminal. A felon can be denied housing, employment, government assistance, face child custody issues, lose their driving privileges, as well as other freedoms that an experienced drug lawyer will be able to protect.

For example, if you are on probation, a probation officer can come to your house and search it whenever they want to. Additionally, a convicted felon in Georgia cannot own or even be around a firearm, or they risk being charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, another felony which can result in five years of prison time. The government takes no chances. Neither do we.

Because anyone facing felony drug charges in Georgia has so much to lose, it is without question that you should NEVER GO TO COURT ALONE; never agree to represent yourself! Our experienced drug lawyer can review your case today to determine what issues there are with your arrest and the supporting evidence.

In some cases, you may have been arrested with another person and charged with possession of the drugs that were in their vehicle. Two or more people can be in possession of the same drug in Georgia. This can happen if the drug never belonged to you or even if you didn’t know about them. These types of issues require an experienced drug lawyer and they need to be addressed quickly.

In another scenario, even the presence of a small amount of narcotics is considered a felony in Georgia. So, there may be one pill that fell down a crack in the car seat. It could be an empty baggie that has been used. Even the residue inside a pipe is enough. The facts of your case are important and unique and that is the approach we use with every single client. Every case is cared for individually and with compassion. We understand that you have a lot to lose and we’ll make sure you are provided with honesty and empathy while we fight your felony drug charges in Georgia.

Possession With Intent To Distribute

Possession with intent to distribute illegal drugs in Georgia is a serious crime and is usually charged when a person has items found near the drugs that look like drug sales are involved. These items can be scales, baggies, cash, or just a large amount of drugs can be enough for a Possession with Intent to Distribute charge.

An experienced drug lawyer can look at your case and evaluate whether there are any issues with the facts the Government is using to claim that a person intended to distribute the drugs. An attorney can file motions to suppress (exclude) the evidence which can lead to a reduction in your charges to simple possession or a dismissal.

The sentence for Possession with Intent to Distribute illegal drugs in Georgia can range from five to thirty years. In addition, if a minor is involved, the penalty becomes even more severe. The facts of your case are important and unique and that is the approach we use with every single client. Every case is cared for individually and with compassion. We understand that you have a lot to lose and we’ll make sure you are provided with honesty and empathy while we fight your felony drug charges in Georgia.

Drug Trafficking

Trafficking a Controlled Substance is a very serious offense which requires a dedicated, experienced attorney. A trafficking conviction requires the government to prove that there was a significant amount of drugs and that they were grown (if marijuana), sold, or manufactured in Georgia. It is not difficult to prove, and the Government doesn’t take these investigations lightly. If you or a loved one is charged with drug trafficking in Georgia, it is more than likely that the Government has been watching the operation for some time. Trafficking operations are often conducted over several days, weeks, even months during which multiple conversations are recorded.

The Government will invest time and money to ensure the maximum amount of arrests for the maximum amount of prison time for each person they arrest. That’s when we invest our experience, time and resources to stop them from putting people in prison for extreme amounts of time.

Drug Trafficking in Georgia involves mandatory minimum sentences. Some cases, such as trafficking heroin will have a mandatory minimum of twenty-five years and a $500,000 fine. Methamphetamine trafficking can carry a minimum of twenty-five years and a $1,000,000.00 fine. Authorities will seize and forfeit property and cash that have any connection to the arrest and put people in prison for years. The government does not tread lightly. Neither do we.

Fortunately, there are defenses available if you are facing felony drug trafficking charges in Georgia, and we use our experience to protect you through it all.

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