Drug Crimes Attorney in Council Bluffs, Iowa

In Iowa, a person could be arrested and charged with a drug-related offense for possessing, delivering, selling, or manufacturing controlled substances or illicit drugs without authorization. If convicted, the defendant could be subject to severe punishments, including massive fines, lengthy incarceration, a criminal record, and other devastating social consequences. With your freedom, career, and future on the line, it is normal to feel terrified when facing drug crime charges. 

If you’re under investigation for a drug-related offense in your area, you need to hire an aggressive Iowa criminal defense attorney immediately to help strategize your defense. Since 2003, I have been providing skilled representation and comprehensive legal guidance to clients in their drug crime cases. As your legal counsel, I can investigate all of the facts of your case, outline a solid defense to fight your charges, and attempt to keep your record as clean as possible. 

My firm—Jay W. Mez, Attorney At Law—proudly represents clients throughout Council Bluffs, Iowa, and the surrounding areas of Pottawattamie County, Page County, Fremont County, Cass County, Montgomery County, Mills County, and Shelby County. 

Federal Drug Crime

Most drug crimes are often prosecuted at the state level. However, a federal drug crime charge may be brought against the defendant if the following applies: 

• An undercover federal officer arrested the defendant. 

• A massive amount of illicit drugs or controlled substances are involved. 

• Drug crime crosses between state lines (such as drug trafficking) 

• The drug crime involved a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy 

• The defendant was arrested while committing the drug offense on federal property. 

• The drug offense involved other crimes, including firearms, money laundering, or gang activity. 

• The drug offense is extremely severe, and the defendant must be punished harshly. 

A highly-skilled Iowa drug crimes defense attorney can investigate all of the facts of your case and enlighten you about the nature and seriousness of your drug allegations.

Drug Charges in Iowa

Furthermore, a person may be arrested and charged with any of the following drug-related crimes in the state of Iowa: 

• Possession of a Controlled Substance. According to Iowa law, a person found in possession of a banned or controlled substance or on a property registered in the person’s name may be charged with drug possession. 

• Manufacturing or Delivery of a Controlled Substance. Under Iowa law, it is unlawful for a person to intentionally manufacture or deliver illicit drugs. Also, participating in drug manufacturing or delivery activities, such as mixing chemicals, growing marijuana, and cooking meth, may subject you to criminal prosecution. 

• Possession With the Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance. Also, a person may be arrested and charged with “possessing with the intent to deliver a controlled substance” charges in Iowa if the amount of substances found in their possession is significantly more than a reasonable amount which is meant for personal consumption. 

Drug Schedules

In Iowa, controlled substances are categorized into five “schedule classifications.” These include: 

Schedule I: These substances have a high potential for abuse and are not permissible for medical purposes. Examples include opiates, mescaline, LSD, heroin, psilocybin, and certain stimulants. 

Schedule II: These are drugs with a high potential for abuse but are severely restricted for medical treatments. Examples include raw opium, morphine, codeine, meth, fentanyl, and cocaine. 

Schedule III: These substances have a moderate potential for abuse but less than Schedule I or Schedule II drugs. Also, they are severely restricted for medical purposes. Examples include some depressants, stimulants, testosterone, ketamine, and anabolic steroids. 

Schedule IV: These are drugs with even lower potential abuse than Schedule III. Examples include depressants and stimulants, such as butorphanol, diazepam, butorphanol, and flurazepam. They are allowed for medical treatment purposes. 

Schedule V: These substances have an even lower potential for abuse compared to Schedule IV and are allowed for medical use. Examples include limited quantities of narcotics, ephedrine, precursors, and cough suppressants. 

Possible Penalties

In the state of Iowa, the punishments for drug offenses are usually far-reaching. If convicted, you may face any of these penalties and ramifications: 

• lengthy prison sentences (ranging from months, years, or decades) 

• huge fines and court fees 

• community services 

• probation 

• mandatory drug treatment classes 

• a criminal record/history 

• loss of voting rights 

• ineligibility for certain financial loans 

• inability to own, carry, or possess firearms 

• increased difficulty in getting educational opportunities or scholarships 

• increased difficulty in getting employment or housing 

• increased difficulty traveling abroad 

• increased difficulty in obtaining public assistance or benefits 

• deterioration of personal and professional relationships 

If you or someone you know has recently been arrested and charged with a drug crime, you need to reach out to a strategic criminal defense lawyer immediately. Your legal counsel can take preemptive actions to prevent a formal charge or help mitigate the devastating penalties of a criminal conviction. 

How Legal Counsel Can Help

Defending your drug crime accusations without aggressive representation can expose you to the risks of suffering the maximum penalties. Unfortunately, a criminal record can jeopardize your personal reputation, career, liberty, and future. Therefore, when facing drug charges, hiring a highly-skilled criminal defense attorney is imperative for detailed guidance and to help build your case. 

At Jay W. Mez, Attorney At Law, I have the expertise and resources to represent and defend clients in their drug crime cases. Using my in-depth legal understanding, I can help you navigate the Iowa criminal justice system. Above all, I will fight intelligently on your side, dispute the charges against you with factual evidence, and improve your chances of a brighter tomorrow.