NYC Crack Cocaine Possession & Trafficking Lawyers.

If you've been arrested in New York City for crack cocaine possession or even trafficking, you need to know the exact charges you'll be facing. Here's how the law works and how it could affect you.

Crack Cocaine Possession in NYC: Know the Law

Article 220 of the New York penal code sets out the law regarding the possession of controlled substances, such as crack cocaine. Here are the possible charges:

• Possession of crack cocaine in the seventh degree: If you are arrested for possessing less than 500mg of crack cocaine, you will face charges of criminal possession in the seventh degree. This is a class A misdemeanor, and you could face up to a year in jail if convicted.
• Possession of crack cocaine in the fifth degree: Being arrested and charged with possessing 500mg or more of crack cocaine is a class D felony. This could carry a sentence of one to two-and-a-half years in prison, or even up to four years if you have previous convictions.
• Possession of crack cocaine in the fouth degree: If you are arrested for possessing 1/8 of an ounce or more of crack cocaine, you could face up to five-and-a-half years in prison, or even up to nine years if you have previous convictions. This is a class C felony.
• Possession of crack cocaine in the third degree: If you are arrested for possessing 1/2 of an ounce or more of crack cocaine, this is a class B felony. You could face up to nine years in prison if this is your first offense. For a second offense, you could face up to 12 years in prison. If this is your third offense, you could face up to 15 years in prison.
• Possession of crack cocaine in the second degree: Possessing four ounces or more of crack cocaine is a class A-II felony. If convicted, you could face up to ten years in prison. If this is your second offense, you could face a prison term of up to 14 years.
• Possession of crack cocaine in the first degree: If you are arrested for possessing eight ounces or more of crack cocaine, you will be charged with a class A-I felony. This can carry a prison sentence of up to 20 years. For a second offense, you could face up to 24 years in prison, and for a third offense, you could face up to 30 years in prison.

With all these charges, you may also face significant fines, which will increase based on the class of felony with which you have been charged.

Charges for Selling or Trafficking Crack Cocaine in New York State