Norwalk Operating a Drug Factory Lawyer

If you were accused of preparing or manufacturing a controlled substance, contact a Norwalk operating a drug factory lawyer today. An experienced criminal defense attorney could provide valuable advice and fight for an optimum outcome to your case.

What is the Operating a Drug Factory in Connecticut?

Likely not what you envisioned. Despite the connotations brought up by the word “factory,” this criminal offense may involve little more than a finding of drug paraphernalia in a bedroom, basement, or other location.

The crime of operating a drug factory comes from Connecticut General Statutes §21a-277(c) which prohibits individuals from possessing drug paraphernalia in a “drug factory situation” in order to unlawfully prepare a controlled substance. Other crimes described in this statute include unlawfully manufacturing, distributing, and selling controlled substances.

What are Penalties for Operating a Drug Factory?

Potentially a large part of your life in prison. In cases where the substances are hallucinogenic (other than marijuana) or narcotic in nature, the penalties for a first-time offense include up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000. If the offense involves other controlled substances, the penalties for first-time offenders are decreased to a maximum of 7 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. These maximum penalties increase dramatically for subsequent offenses.

What Exactly Constitutes a Drug Factory Situation?

Many things might constitute a factory. The definitions applicable to the criminal drug laws in Connecticut are set forth in CGS §21a-240. While “drug factory situation” is not specifically defined, a “factory” is considered to be “any place used for the manufacturing, mixing, compounding, refining, processing, packaging, distributing, storing, keeping, holding, administering, or assembling illegal substances… or any building, rooms or location which contains equipment or paraphernalia used for this purpose.”

This broad definition, combined with an even broader definition of drug paraphernalia, gives law enforcement officials in Norwalk great latitude in deciding whether a room should be treated as a drug factory. This means a room that contains equipment that could be used to grow marijuana (such as a trowel) or package cocaine (such as a plastic bag) could result in unwarranted felony charges.

How a Norwalk Criminal Defense Attorney Can Help

A Norwalk operating a drug factory attorney could help in a variety of ways. A charge of operating a drug factory implies that the individual involved is dealing drugs on a major scale. However, that is simply not the case in most situations.

Therefore, one possibly effective strategy may be to have an operating a drug factory lawyer in Norwalk work to demonstrate through various means that you are not a professional drug dealer, but instead are regularly employed, pay taxes, and contribute positively to society. In addition, completion of a drug treatment program can also mitigate certain drug offenses.

Contact a Norwalk Operating a Drug Factory Attorney

The charge of operating a drug factory puts a different twist on traditional Connecticut drug laws, so if you are facing this charge, it is advisable to work with a Norwalk operating a drug factory lawyer who understands how to best defend against this charge based on your unique circumstances. Contact our office now to learn how our experience handling drug factory allegations could work to your advantage.