Drug Manufacture and Distribution

Manufacturing or distributing drugs, often referred to as drug trafficking, is charged as a felony that carries the possibility of up to 20 years in prison.

At Willis Law, our lawyers defend criminal defense clients on drug charges in state and federal courts, such as misdemeanor and felony possession, as well as manufacture or distribution of all types of controlled substances, including street drugs and prescription medications.

Defending Against Drug Trafficking Charges in West Michigan

We defend clients facing drug charges related to manufacturing and distribution, including:

• Operating a meth lab
• Operating a marijuana grow house
• Cultivation of marijuana or marihuana
• Possession or distribution of drug paraphernalia, including scales and bags
• Possession of ingredients to make methamphetamine
• Prescription fraud
• Drug importation with intent to distribute or sell
• Possession and possession with intent to deliver prescription drugs
• Federal drug trafficking

Our Kalamazoo drug crime attorneys analyze every drug-related case to determine if there was an illegal search and seizure of evidence. Did the police have probable cause to stop the car or search your home? Did they have a search warrant and, if so, was it executed properly? If the police did not follow proper procedures, we will file a motion to suppress the evidence against you.

Kristen A.: 20-Year Felony for Possession With Intent to Deliver Cocaine - As our client (a high school student) was a passenger in the car, we negotiated with the prosecutor and the case was dismissed. The FBI then got involved, and we successfully negotiated with it. All federal charges were dropped, the case was dismissed and the client received no criminal record.

Drug Trafficking Penalties in Michigan

At both the federal and, in many cases, state level steps have been taken to reduce mandatory minimum prison sentences for nonviolent drug offenders. Still, for many drug-related crimes, prison sentences and penalties remain considerably lengthy and costly. For those arrested and charged with drug trafficking and/or distribution, a conviction could result in an individual serving years in prison, paying hundreds or thousands of dollars in fines and spending years on probation.

An individual may face drug trafficking charges if he or she is found or believed to be involved in the activities of importing, transporting or selling illegal drugs. Unlike drug possession charges which, depending on the type and quantity of drugs, can be charged as a misdemeanor; drug trafficking is a felony.

Felony charges are reserved for the most serious types of criminal activities and therefore carry stiffer penalties. Additionally, the penalties associated with a felony drug trafficking charge may vary depending on the type and quantity of drugs as well as whether the alleged offenses occurred in multiple states or internationally.

Michigan residents who face drug trafficking charges would be wise to take such charges seriously and secure legal representation. With an individual's freedom and future are on the line, a criminal defense attorney will work aggressively to refute claims and evidence and seek to have criminal charges dismissed or reduced.

Defending Your Rights, Protecting Your Interests

The Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team (KVET) and the West Michigan Enforcement Team (WEMET) are two undercover police units that aggressively pursue convictions of drug offenders. If they or other officers trample on our clients' rights, we will fight for justice. Other drug enforcement teams in West Michigan include:

• Southwest Michigan Enforcement Teams (SWET) team raids and investigations
• Grand Rapids Metropolitan Drug Team raids and investigations
• SWAT team raids and investigations
• Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) raids and investigations
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS) raids and investigations
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raids and investigations
• Kent Area Narcotics Enforcement Team (KANET) raids and investigations
• Central Michigan Enforcement Team (CMET) raids and investigations
• Michigan State Police, Metropolitan Enforcement Drug Team (MSP-MET) raids and investigations

To learn more about how we can help you protect your rights, contact us today for a free initial consultation. We have office locations in Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids and Paw Paw.