Drug Trafficking in Rhode Island

Narcotics Trafficking in Rhode Island

Drug trafficking is generally defined as the sale and distribution of illegal substances such as heroin, LSD, MDMA (ecstasy), marijuana, steroids, cocaine, PCP, and methamphetamine.

In many states, drug trafficking falls under the category of "Organized Crime", which has the potential to increase the severity of any penalties issued after a conviction.

Although penalties for federal drug trafficking convictions vary based on the state in which the crime takes place, it is both a state and a federal crime. Punishments often depend on the substance, as well as the quantity of drugs involved. Because drug trafficking is closely associated with organized crime, the state of Rhode Island litigates drug trafficking crimes with the intent to prosecute offenders to the fullest extent of the law.

In addition to the possibility of serious prison time, a drug trafficking conviction also has the potential to remain on your record for the rest of your life, making it difficult to attain employment, while simultaneously leading to the loss of personal property, denial of federal benefits, and the loss of real estate.

Federal Drug Trafficking Penalties

• First Offense Marijuana Distribution (1,000 kg or more), Not less than 10 years.
  
• First Offense Cocaine Distribution (5 kgs or more mixture) Not less than 10 years.
  
• First Offense Heroin Distribution (1 kg or more mixture) Not less than 20 years.
  
• First Offense LSD Distribution (10 gms or more mixture) Not less than 10 years.
  
• First Offense Methamphetamine Distribution (50 gms or more) Not less than 20 years.
  
• First Offense PCP (10 - 99 gms pure or 100 - 999 gms mixture) Not less than 20 years.
  

If you have been charged

A drug trafficking charge has the potential to destroy your life; which is why you should contact an experienced attorney before speaking to anyone involved with law enforcement agencies such as the FBI, DEA, or police department.

If you have been officially charged with drug trafficking or are currently under investigation in the state of Rhode Island, Criminal Defense Attorney John E. MacDonald will provide a comprehensive and tenacious defense in both state and federal courts.

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If you have questions about this posting or are interested in Criminal Defense, Divorce, or Immigration Law in RI contact Rhode Island Criminal Defense Lawyer John E. MacDonald at 401-421-1440.

To learn more about The Law Office of John MacDonald, please visit his website at AggressiveLegalServices.com.

Motion to Suppress in Cocaine Possession Case Results

Drug Possesion Results fron John MacDonald

January, 2012:

Attorney MacDonald’s Motion to Suppress all evidence seized by Providence Police during a car stop was granted by a Superior Court Judge. 

Client’s charges of possession of cocaine are now subject to dismissal.

The basis of the motion was the lack of probable cause to stop the vehicle and search the passengers.

The Superior Court judge agreed and all evidence seized is no longer admissible at trial.

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If you have questions about this posting or are interested in Criminal Defense, Divorce, or Immigration Law in RI contact Rhode Island Criminal Defense Lawyer John E. MacDonald at 401-421-1440.

To learn more about The Law Office of John MacDonald, please visit his website at AggressiveLegalServices.com.

Man Charged in Boston Drug Trafficking

Boston Drug Trafficking Targeted At Logan Airport And East Boston District Court

September 22, 2011
Carlos J. Lanns, a 24-year-old New Jersey gentleman (and hereinafter, the “Defendant”), flew to Boston Monday…and into the arms of the law. He now stands charged with a number of Massachusetts drug crimes.

According to the Commonwealth, the Defendant arrived at Logan International Airport with 2.17 kilograms of cocaine, wrapped in plastic, in his shoes. Law enforcement values the drugs at an estimated street value of more than $200,000.

Prosecutors allege that the cocaine was hidden inside four pairs of shoes in his checked luggage. State Police arrested the Defendant shortly after he got off JetBlue Flight 862 from Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. Apparently, they had been alerted by US Customs and Border Protection.

While, the method used to find the drugs was not revealed “so as not to compromise ongoing interdiction efforts,” Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley’s office said, drug-sniffing dogs have been used in the past to check luggage from certain international flights.

At his arraignment, the Defendant is said to have seemed confused as his interpreter explained the proceedings to him. At his East Boston bail hearing, bail was set at $300,000 cash, although the Defendant had no prior record. The Commonwealth also requested that he be made to surrender his passport should bail be made as he allegedly has ties to the Dominican Republic.
It was so ordered.

The Defendant has pleaded not guilty to charges of trafficking in more than 200 grams of a Class B substance. He faces a possible 15-year mandatory minimum state prison sentence if convicted…
…so far.

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If you have questions about this posting or are interested in Criminal Defense, Divorce, or Immigration Law in RI contact Rhode Island Criminal Defense Lawyer John E. MacDonald at 401-421-1440.

To learn more about The Law Office of John MacDonald, please visit his website at AggressiveLegalServices.com.

Do mandatory minimum sentences in drug cases work?

Mandatory Minimum Sentences

Mandatory minimum sentences are imposed in drug crimes to attempt to convey the seriousness of the crimes to those involved, and to bring together the gaps in the sentences issued from state to state by Judges who were allowed to determine the sentence on a per case basis, up to the maximum penalty allowed. The question then, is are these mandatory guidelines actually working to deter criminal drug activity?

Supporters of mandatory sentencing laws state that they are definitely doing their job, yet those who work for defendant's rights state that these results are skewed and do not take pre-trial decisions into account. The argument being that when an accused is facing a heavier sentence than they deserve, prosecutors and defense attorneys work together to achieve a fairer outcome in the pre-trial stage, thus negating the mandatory minimum sentence entirely.

All sides agree however, that mandatory minimum sentencing laws have brought everyone to the same place in terms of state to state sentences for drug crimes. There are no longer lenient states and harsh states when it comes to drug crimes. Whether you commit the crime in Alaska or Florida, you're going to have the same sentence imposed.

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If you have questions about this posting or are interested in Criminal Defense, Divorce, or Immigration Law in RI contact Rhode Island Criminal Defense Lawyer John E. MacDonald at 401-421-1440.

To learn more about The Law Office of John MacDonald, please visit his website at AggressiveLegalServices.com.

Medical Marijuana Laws in Rhode Island

The medical marijuana laws in RI have been in effect since 2006, however, are receiving a lot of publicity of late due to individuals who are not aware of the policies that govern the growing of medical marijuana.

The people who grow and distribute medical marijuana for the state run what is called, Compassion Centers. The guidelines for obtaining licensing for these centers is very strict and many are turned away for either lack of adequate criteria, or failure to fill out the forms correctly.

There has been some ambiguity with regard to what is required, and officials for the state have promised to better explain the necessary format and guidelines to applicants.

Recently, over 15 people were denied status as a Compassion Center for everything ranging from failure to meet scoring requirements, to going over the page limit for the application. The Department of Health (HEALTH) in RI has undergone an extensive review of the application and has clarified the original issues.

According to the language of the law passed in 2006, the State of RI was obligated, within 90 days of the effective date of the act, to begin accepting applications for the operation of a single compassion center. Further, the act called for the first compassion center in the state to be approved by December 2009.

To date there are none.

Under the Medical Marijuana growing laws for the state, an owner can be charged with a drug related offense and sent to jail for just one plant over the limit.


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If you have questions about this posting or are interested in Criminal Defense, Divorce, or Immigration Law in RI contact Rhode Island Criminal Defense Lawyer John E. MacDonald at 401-421-1440.

To learn more about The Law Office of John MacDonald, please visit his website at AggressiveLegalServices.com.

Providence City Worker Charged with Dealing Drugs

A recent article concerning a Providence City worker and a drug dealing charge sparked interest from RI Criminal Drug Defense Lawyer John MacDonald.

The full article is posted below.

City worker accused of dealing Rx drugs

Prov. worker suspended earlier this month

Aug 11, 2010

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - An inspector with the Providence Department of Inspection and Standards was arraigned this afternoon on charges that he was dealing the prescription painkiller oxycodone.

Ara Giragosian, 35, of Providence pleaded not guilty to four counts including conspiracy, possession with the intent to distribute and distribution.

Giragosian was suspended without pay by the city Aug. 2, according to Inspection and Standards Director Shelia McGauvran. She said the suspension will remain in effect pending the outcome of the charges.

Public records show Giragosian started with the city in 1996, getting the $41,000-a-year inspector's job in 2008.

Giragosian's attorney, Edward Roy, told Target 12 he is unsure if the allegations against his client include dealing oxycodone while on the clock with the city. But he said Giragosian, who was joined in court by his girlfriend, is a good father to his children and disputes the charges.

Court records show federal Drug Enforcement Administration investigators arrested Giragosian in April while in possession of the drug. Records show the DEA monitored him for several months and accuse him of dealing oxycodone on at least two occasions.

Even though Giragosian was arrested in April, it wasn't until he was indicted by a federal grand jury in August that city officials learned of the charges, leading to his suspension.

Giragosian faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each count if found guilty.

Federal Magistrate Judge Lincoln Almond released Giragosian on $25,000 unsecured bond until his trial in November.


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If you have questions about this posting or are interested in Criminal Defense, Divorce, or Immigration Law in RI contact Rhode Island Criminal Defense Lawyer John E. MacDonald at 401-421-1440.

To learn more about The Law Office of John MacDonald, please visit his website at AggressiveLegalServices.com.