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Fort Wayne Attorney Manages Defense to Methamphetamine Charges

Effective representation after arrest for crystal meth possession or sale

The celebrated cable TV series Breaking Bad turned methamphetamine production into ground-breaking entertainment. But there’s nothing entertaining about the ordeal you face if arrested for meth possession, sale or manufacture. That’s when you should turn to the Law Offices of Ryan E. Lackey for skilled and determined criminal defense representation. We have vast experience defending drug charges, including meth cases. We are committed to achieving the best possible outcome under the facts of your case.

The notorious history of a kamikaze drug

Although amphetamines were first synthesized in Germany in 1887, methamphetamine, an even more powerful stimulant, was developed in Japan starting in 1919. During World War II, the Allies experimented with amphetamines and methamphetamine to keep bomber pilots alert on long flights, but the practice was discontinued because the drug made it impossible for pilots to control their aggression and impaired their judgment. However, the Japanese used methamphetamine to fuel the rage in kamikaze pilots so they would accept suicide missions. When Japan surrendered, stores of methamphetamine disappeared and reemerged on the black market, fueling the first meth epidemic. The drug spread to Guam and then to the West Coast of the United States.

During the 1960s, doctors in San Francisco used meth injections to help patients suffering from heroin addiction to ease their withdrawal. Dubbed “speed,” the drug worked its way into California’s biker culture, and soon outlaw motorcycle gangs were controlling production and distribution. In 1970, the federal Controlled Substances Act outlawed meth, but that did not check its growth as a drug of abuse. In the 1980s, Mexican drug cartels started exporting meth from south of the border. In the 1990s, new methods of cooking the drug led to increased potency, and the drug worked its way across the Southwest into the rural Midwest where it became popular as a cheap substitute for cocaine. In 1996, Congress passed the Comprehensive Methamphetamine Control Act, restricting the purchase of common ingredients that can be used to manufacture meth. Since 2000, meth has been the favored hard drug of choice, especially in rural, isolated areas.

Penalties for dealing in methamphetamine in Indiana

Methamphetamine is a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance. Dealing in meth starts as a Level 5 felony, if there is evidence that, in addition to the weight of the drug, the person intended to deal. Additional factors can elevate the crime:

  • Level 4 felony — At least one gram but less than five, or less than one gram with an enhancing circumstance. The minimum sentence is two years, and the maximum is twelve years.
  • Level 3 felony — At least five but less than 10 grams, or at least one gram but less than five with an enhancing circumstance. The mandatory minimum sentence is three years, and the maximum is 16 years.
  • Level 2 felony — At least 10 grams; or at least five grams but less than 10 with an enhancing circumstance; or the person is manufacturing the drug and the manufacture results in an explosion causing serious bodily injury to a person other than the manufacturer. The mandatory minimum sentence is 10, and the maximum is 30 years.

Your drug crime lawyer must have the knowledge and experience to challenge the prosecution on all elements of the case.

Get effective criminal defense counsel for methamphetamine arrests in Fort Wayne

Crystal meth is one of the most widely distributed hard drugs in the country, and law enforcement is anxious to crack down. If you’ve been arrested for meth, you need aggressive defense to match the zealous prosecution you’re going to face. To speak to a reliable trial lawyer, call the Law Offices of Ryan E. Lackey today at 260-209-1666 or contact our Fort Wayne office online.