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Penalties for maintaining a drug trafficking house in Milwaukee can fall under Class I felony provisions, which call for up to a year in jail, up to a $25,000 fine or both, but specific drug housing penalties are determined based on multiple factors.
Drug Trafficking Place Water Street office (Milwaukee's lower east side)
Level of Charges for Maintaining a Drug Trafficking Place or Keeping a Drug House: Felony or Misdemeanor
Keeping a drug place is typically paired with misdemeanor drug charges. The combination of both carries a high risk of jail time and monetary fines.
Penalties for Keeping a Drug Trafficking Place
You could face 1 year in jail and/or a $25,000 fine for a first offense for keeping a drug house. While at first brush, a year in jail doesn’t sound like the end of the world, this charge is commonly combined with other drug-related charges that carry even more penalties.
The penalty and level of felony can vary based upon the type of substance and amount. Check out the penalties based on those factors:
| Amount | Penalty | Max. Incarceration | Max. Fine |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 grams or less / 4 plants or less | Class I Felony | 3.5 years | $10,000 |
| 200-1,000 grams / 4-20 plants | Class H Felony | 6 years | $25,000 |
| 1,000-2,500 grams / 20-50 plants | Class G Felony | 10 years | $25,000 |
| 2,500-10,000 grams / 50-200 plants | Class F Felony | 12.5 years | $25,000 |
| More than 10,000 grams / More than 200 plants | Class E Felony | 15 years | $50,000 |
| Amount | Penalty | Max. Incarceration | Max. Fine |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 gram or less | Class G Felony | 10 years | $25,000 |
| 1-5 grams | Class F Felony | 12.5 years | $25,000 |
| 5-15 grams | Class E Felony | 15 years | $50,000 |
| 15-40 grams | Class D Felony | 25 years | $100,000 |
| More than 40 grams | Class C Felony | 40 years | $100,000 |
| Amount | Penalty | Max. Incarceration | Max. Fine |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 grams or less | Class F Felony | 12.5 years | $25,000 |
| 3-10 grams | Class E Felony | 15 years | $50,000 |
| 10-50 grams | Class D Felony | 25 years | $100,000 |
| More than 50 grams | Class C Felony | 40 years | $100,000 |
| Amount | Penalty | Max. Incarceration | Max. Fine |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-10 grams | Class E Felony | 15 years | $50,000 |
| 10-50 grams | Class D Felony | 25 years | $100,000 |
| More than 50 grams | Class C Felony | 40 years | $100,000 |
If you or someone you know has been charged with a crime, there is only so much “google” will get you. Schedule a free consultation with one of our knowledgeable attorneys today.
Drug Trafficking Place Defense Attorney in Downtown Milwaukee
Downtown and Milwaukee County Criminal Defense Attorneys for Possession with Intent to Sell a Controlled Substance
Maintaining a Drug House for Purposes of Distributing or Using Controlled Substances is a Crime
It is a common conception that people have a false sense of security in their home, believing that the police can’t reach them there. However, if you are using your home to store or make illegal drugs, the police can get to, even in your home.
Defining “Maintaining a Drug Trafficking Place” in Wisconsin
No matter if you are producing or storing illegal substances for sale or personal use, a conviction of maintaining a drug trafficking place can land you in prison.
Wisconsin Statute 961.42 deems keeping a drug house a class I felony. If you are accused of keeping a drug house, retaining an attorney that is experienced in criminal defense is the first step in defending your case.
In Wisconsin, not only are there two misdemeanor charges for keeping a drug house, there is also a felony charge. If the place is solely for using drugs, then a misdemeanor applies. A misdemeanor also applies if the place is for only producing the illegal substances. Place is defined as:
- The charged person kept and/or maintained a building or place
- Individuals used illegal substance in the building or place OR the building or place was used to manufacture, store, or deliver illegal substances
- The charged person knew the building or place was being used this way
Fines, Penalties & Accompanying Charges for Misdemeanors and Felonies
A state prosecutor will overcharge a case in order to pressure a defendant into pleading to a lesser plea bargain. The accompanying charges are commonly revolving around drugs, such as possession or possession of paraphernalia.
Determining whether a charge could be reduced or dismissed is something that an experienced criminal defense attorney can help you navigate. Call downtown Milwaukee area Grieve Law today!
How long will a drug trafficking conviction stay on my record?
Luckily, some of the above charges are expungement eligible. If a Court grants expungement, this will not remove the conviction from one's record, it will only hide it from public view. In order to be eligible, there are very specific sets of circumstances. A convicted individual could also petition the Governor for a pardon. However, these record removal processes are very rarely successful.
How to beat a drug trafficking place charge in Milwaukee
Criminal Defense for Downtown Milwaukee Drug Possession: Misdemeanor and Felony Drug Charges
The most common and most successful defense for trafficking drug charges is challenging the legality of the police search and seizure. Police require a requisite level of probable cause before they are legally allowed to search anything. If the downtown Milwaukee defense attorneys can prove the police did not have probable cause, then the court will throw out any evidence that was illegally seized.
If you have been caught with drugs or a drug house, it is important to act immediately. Call our experienced and award-winning firm today to set up a free consultation to find out your options. Our attorneys will look at your situation and be able to put you in the right direction. You are only guilty if you are convicted.
