What Makes A Drug Charge Federal? Andrew Russek, an attorney with leading criminal defense firm Combs Waterkotte, discusses the criteria a drug charge needs to meet to become a federal case.
Interview Transcript
Scott Michael Dunn: Let’s get into the, the drug aspects of federal crime and federal drug charges. What makes a drug charge Federal?
Andrew Russek: So normally it’s A. When you have these conspiracy cases we’re talking about– we have one right now in the Western district, where the drugs were coming out of Arizona through the US Postal Office into Missouri. So, Arizona to Missouri, that’s federal jurisdiction. As well as the post office.
Also, it’s the amount of drugs. A lot of federal investigators I’ve heard, they’ve told me they’re not gonna get outta bed for personal amounts of fentanyl or personal amounts of methamphetamine. So when you’re talking hundreds of grams, pounds of certain substances, that’s when the federal government will get involved.
Or if you have connections, especially outta country into Mexico, things of that nature. Or when we have a conspiracy. Which is a multi-drug ring that you’re accused of being a part of. State prosecutors don’t have the resources to fight those kind of cases, so they’ll send ’em over to the federal government.
If you’re facing federal charges and need an expert criminal defense lawyer, contact Combs Waterkotte today at (314) 900-HELP or reach out online for a free, confidential case review. We will fight for your rights and freedom.
