The federal government is brutal when it comes to penalizing people for drug crimes. Drug distribution is where the penalties really become stiff. Below is a chart showing the penalties that apply for some of the more popular drugs under federal law.
Drug and Amount | Type of Crime | Minimum Sentence |
| 1 kilo or more of heroin; 5 kilos or more of cocaine 280 grams or more crack cocaine 100 grams or more of PCP 1 kilogram or more of a PCP mixture 10 grams or more of LSD 1000 kilos or more of marijuana 1,000 or more marijuana plants 50 grams or more of meth 500 grams or more of meth | Manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense (1st time) | 10 years to life plus a fine up to $10 million |
| Creating, distributing, or dispensing, or possessing with intent to distribute or dispense (1st time). | 10 years to life plus a fine up to $10 million | |
| 2nd conviction | 20 years to life plus a fine up to $20 million | |
| 3rd conviction and subsequent convictions | Life in prison | |
| 100 grams or more of heroin; 500 grams or more of cocain 28 grams or more of crack cocaine 10 grams or more PCP 100 grams or more of a PCP mixture 1 gram or more of LSD 100 kilos or more of marijuana 100 or more marijuana plants 5 grams or more of meth 50 grams or more of a meth mixture | Manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense (1st time) | 5-40 years a fine up to $5 million |
| Creating, distributing, or dispensing, or possessing with intent to distribute or dispense (1st time). | 5-40 years a fine up to $5 million | |
| 2nd conviction and subsequent convictions | 10 years to life plus a fine up to $8 million | |
| 50 kilos or less of marijuana 10 kilos of hashish 1 kilo of hashish oil | Manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense (1st time) | Up to 5 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 |
| Creating, distributing, or dispensing, or possessing with intent to distribute or dispense (1st time). | Up to 5 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 | |
| 2nd conviction and subsequent convictions | Up to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $500,000 |
Additionally there are minimum mandatory sentencing penalties for other drugs including synthetic drugs such as spice, pharmaceutical drugs, and date rape drugs, and other manufactured drugs. If you are facing federal criminal charges for drug distribution, call us at 801.832.1200 for a free consultation with a Utah federal criminal defense lawyer.
