Federal Drug Conspiracies

Federal drug conspiracy laws can subject the accused to lengthy prison sentences for simply having made an agreement with another person to commit a crime.  Belleville attorney Lyndon P. Evanko has represented numerous individuals charged with federal drug conspiracies in St. Clair, Madison, and Monroe counties near East St. Louis, Illinois, working to spare them of these harsh punishments wherever possible.

Section 846 of the Controlled Substances Act makes it a crime to either attempt to commit or conspire to commit any offense outlawed in the Act, such as the manufacture or distribution of a controlled substance.  It is interesting to note that this law does not require any overt act toward the actual commission of the crime; in the common law of conspiracy, most often it is required that a person take some substantial step in furtherance of the conspiracy in order to be liable.  This step could be as minor as buying equipment or leasing property with the intent to create a meth lab, but some physical action is normally required beyond the mere making of the agreement.  Under the Controlled Substances Act, however, simply making the agreement itself to commit the crime creates an indictable criminal conspiracy. 

The penalties for conspiracy are the same as those for committing the offense itself, which can start at five years in prison for a first offense and range up to life imprisonment, as noted on the federal drug crimes page.  This means that someone could be sentenced to a very lengthy prison term for doing nothing more than agreeing to commit a crime with another person; no materials need be bought, no money need change hands. 

This harsh result may not be just in every instance, and can often be avoidable with the help of a skilled and experienced lawyer.  Lyndon P. Evanko works tirelessly to provide his clients with the best possible criminal defense.  If you have been charged with a federal drug conspiracy, contact Lyndon P. Evanko, P.C. today or call us at (618) 397-1997 for a free consultation with an experienced criminal law attorney.