Columbus Drug Trafficking Attorney

When you are charged with drug trafficking in Ohio, you face some of the most severe consequences in the criminal code. Drug trafficking is a felony regardless of the quantity alleged, and it can land anywhere on the felony spectrum from F5 to F1. A conviction can mean months or years in state prison, fines up to $20,000, the loss of your driver’s license, and a permanent criminal record. For larger quantities, Ohio’s Major Drug Offender (MDO) designation can strip the sentencing judge of any discretion and require the maximum 11-year prison term, and a federal indictment under 21 U.S.C. 841 can multiply that exposure further.

If you have been charged with drug trafficking, the next move is critical. An experienced Columbus drug trafficking attorney from Luftman, Heck & Associates can identify the procedural defects that drive most reductions and dismissals in trafficking cases: defective search warrants, controlled-buy chain-of-custody issues, confidential-informant reliability problems, and quantity disputes (wet vs. dry weight, pure vs. mixture). Call (614) 500-3836 or email advice@columbuscriminalattorney.com for a free, confidential consultation.

What Is Drug Trafficking in Ohio?

Ohio Revised Code 2925.03 makes it a crime to knowingly “sell or offer to sell a controlled substance or controlled substance analog” unless you are a licensed pharmacist or other health professional legally authorized to do so. Controlled substances are those listed in Ohio’s schedules and include cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, ecstasy, marijuana, LSD, PCP, and prescription drugs such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, Xanax, and Adderall.

The statutory definition of “sell” is broader than a typical cash transaction. Under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3719, selling can also encompass giving, transferring, or bartering a controlled substance. Money does not need to change hands to support a trafficking charge. Equally important, the trafficking statute reaches conduct beyond the final sale: preparing drugs for shipment, shipping or transporting them, delivering them to a buyer, and packaging or distributing drugs you knew were intended for sale. If you packaged cocaine and handed it off for someone else to sell, that conduct is trafficking under Ohio law.

This breadth is also why drug possession charges sometimes get re-filed as trafficking after a search uncovers scales, baggies, large amounts of cash, or quantities at or above the bulk-amount threshold. Once the prosecutor sees evidence consistent with distribution, the analysis shifts and the case sentence can multiply by an order of magnitude.

Penalties for Drug Trafficking in Ohio

The penalties for a drug trafficking conviction depend on the type of drug, the quantity, the location (a sentence enhancement applies if the offense occurred in the vicinity of a school or juvenile), and prior record. Ohio Revised Code 2925.03 addresses several distinct categories: aggravated drug trafficking, drug trafficking (Schedules III to V), marijuana trafficking, cocaine trafficking, LSD trafficking, heroin trafficking, hashish trafficking, and trafficking in controlled substance analogs. Each category has its own quantity bands and felony tiers, summarized below.

Aggravated Drug Trafficking in Columbus

Aggravated drug trafficking applies when the drug is a Schedule I or Schedule II controlled substance other than marijuana, cocaine, LSD, heroin, hashish, or a controlled substance analog. The baseline is a fourth-degree felony punishable by 6 to 18 months in prison and a fine up to $5,000.

The statute then escalates based on quantity and location:

• When the offense is committed near a school or juvenile, it is a third-degree felony with 9 to 36 months in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
• When the amount equals the bulk amount as defined in Ohio Revised Code 2925.01 or up to 5 times the bulk amount, the offense is a third-degree felony punishable by 9 to 36 months and a fine up to $10,000. With two or more prior felony drug abuse convictions, prison time is mandatory. Near a school or juvenile, it is a second-degree felony punishable by 2 to 8 years and a fine up to $15,000.
• When the amount is 5 to 50 times the bulk amount, the offense is a second-degree felony with 2 to 8 years and a fine up to $15,000. Some prison time is mandatory. Near a school or juvenile, it is a first-degree felony with a mandatory 3 to 11 years and a fine up to $20,000.
• When the amount is 50 to 100 times the bulk amount, the offense is a first-degree felony regardless of location, with a mandatory 3 to 11 years and a fine up to $20,000.
• When the amount is 100 times the bulk amount or more, the offense is a first-degree felony and the court is required to impose the maximum prison sentence of 11 years, plus a fine up to $20,000 and Major Drug Offender designation.

Drug Trafficking (Schedule III, IV, or V) in Columbus

When the drug is a Schedule III, IV, or V controlled substance, the baseline is “drug trafficking” rather than aggravated drug trafficking. The baseline is a fifth-degree felony punishable by 6 to 12 months in prison and a fine up to $2,500. The same escalation logic applies for school-zone and quantity enhancements:

• Near a school or juvenile, it is a fourth-degree felony with 6 to 18 months and a fine up to $5,000.
• At the bulk amount through 5 times the bulk amount, fourth-degree felony with 6 to 18 months and a fine up to $5,000. Near a school or juvenile, third-degree felony with 9 to 36 months and a fine up to $10,000.
• At 5 to 50 times the bulk amount, third-degree felony with 9 to 36 months and a fine up to $10,000. Near a school or juvenile, second-degree felony with 2 to 8 years and a fine up to $15,000. Presumption of prison.
• At 50 times the bulk amount or greater, second-degree felony with mandatory 2 to 8 years and a fine up to $15,000. Near a school or juvenile, first-degree felony with mandatory 3 to 11 years and a possible fine up to $20,000.

Can Drug Users Be Charged With Trafficking in Ohio?

Yes, and it happens more often than most people realize. Ohio’s trafficking statute is broad enough to reach people struggling with addiction who never intended to sell drugs. Trafficking charges can result from:

• Sharing or gifting drugs to another person.
• Transporting or delivering drugs for someone else.
• Packaging or preparing drugs for distribution, even without receiving money.

Even users with no distribution history can face felony-level charges, which disqualifies them from many diversion programs that would otherwise apply in possession cases. Prosecutors sometimes use trafficking charges to pressure defendants for information or cooperation in broader investigations, especially in federal conspiracy cases. If you are a drug user caught up in a trafficking allegation, the defense must reframe the conduct in its true context and fight to reduce or dismiss the charge wherever the facts allow.

Trafficking in Counterfeit Drugs in Columbus

Not every trafficking charge involves a real controlled substance. Under Ohio Revised Code 2925.37, you can be charged with trafficking in counterfeit drugs if you knowingly make, sell, or represent a substance as a controlled drug, even if the substance itself is not illegal. Common examples:

• Selling aspirin or baking soda while claiming it is oxycodone or crack cocaine.
• Using fake labels or imprints to mimic real pharmaceuticals.
• Telling a buyer that a harmless substance will produce drug-like effects.

Counterfeit-drug trafficking charges are felonies and can result in prison time, steep fines, and a driver’s license suspension. The offense can be elevated to aggravated trafficking when committed near a school or a minor. Defense usually focuses on challenging the misrepresentation element, questioning police procedures, and moving to suppress unlawfully obtained evidence.

Marijuana Trafficking

Marijuana trafficking is generally a fifth-degree felony with 6 to 12 months and a fine up to $2,500. It escalates based on quantity and location:

• Near a school or juvenile, fourth-degree felony with 6 to 18 months and a fine up to $5,000.
• At 200 to 1,000 grams, fourth-degree felony with 6 to 18 months and a fine up to $5,000. Near a school or juvenile, third-degree felony with 9 to 36 months and a fine up to $10,000.
• At 1,000 to 5,000 grams, third-degree felony with 9 to 36 months and a fine up to $10,000. Near a school or juvenile, second-degree felony with 2 to 8 years and a fine up to $15,000. Presumption of prison.
• At 5,000 to 20,000 grams, third-degree felony with 9 to 36 months and a presumption of prison; fine up to $10,000. Near a school or juvenile, second-degree felony with 2 to 8 years, presumption of prison, fine up to $15,000.
• At 20,000 to 40,000 grams, second-degree felony with mandatory 5 to 8 years and a fine up to $15,000. Near a school or juvenile, first-degree felony with mandatory 11 years and a fine up to $20,000.
• Over 40,000 grams, second-degree felony with mandatory 8 years and a fine up to $15,000. Near a school or juvenile, first-degree felony with mandatory 11 years and a fine up to $20,000.

The only circumstance in which marijuana trafficking is not a felony is a gift of 20 grams or less. A first offense at that level is a minor misdemeanor; a second is a third-degree misdemeanor; in the vicinity of a school or juvenile, a first offense is a third-degree misdemeanor. Note that Ohio’s adult-use legalization under Issue 2 (effective December 2023) decriminalized possession of up to 2.5 ounces of flower for adults 21 and older, but trafficking and amounts above the legal possession limit remain criminal.

Cocaine Trafficking

Cocaine trafficking begins as a fifth-degree felony for small amounts (6 to 12 months, fine up to $2,500), with the standard school-zone and quantity escalations:

• Near a school or juvenile (baseline amount), fourth-degree felony with 6 to 18 months and a fine up to $5,000.
• At 5 to 10 grams, fourth-degree felony with 6 to 18 months and a fine up to $5,000. Near a school or juvenile, third-degree felony with 9 to 36 months and a fine up to $10,000. Presumption of prison.
• At 10 to 20 grams, third-degree felony with 9 to 36 months and a fine up to $10,000, presumption of prison. With two or more prior felony drug abuse convictions, prison is mandatory. Near a school or juvenile, second-degree felony with mandatory 2 to 8 years and a fine up to $15,000.
• At 20 to 27 grams, second-degree felony with mandatory 2 to 8 years and a fine up to $15,000. Near a school or juvenile, first-degree felony with mandatory 3 to 11 years and a fine up to $20,000.
• At 27 to 100 grams, first-degree felony regardless of location, mandatory 3 to 11 years and a fine up to $20,000.
• At 100 grams or more, first-degree felony with a mandatory 11-year prison sentence, a fine up to $20,000, and Major Drug Offender designation.

LSD Trafficking

LSD trafficking in amounts under 10 solid doses or 1 gram of liquid is a fifth-degree felony (6 to 12 months, fine up to $2,500). Near a school or juvenile, fourth-degree felony with 6 to 18 months and a fine up to $5,000.

• At 10 to 50 doses or 1 to 5 grams of liquid, fourth-degree felony (or third-degree near a school or juvenile, 9 to 36 months and a fine up to $10,000, presumption of prison).
• At 50 to 250 doses or 5 to 25 grams of liquid, third-degree felony with 9 to 36 months and a fine up to $10,000. Mandatory prison with two or more prior felony drug convictions. Near a school or juvenile, second-degree felony with mandatory 2 to 8 years and a fine up to $15,000.
• At 250 to 1,000 doses or 25 to 100 grams of liquid, second-degree felony with mandatory 2 to 8 years and a fine up to $15,000. Near a school or juvenile, first-degree felony with mandatory 3 to 11 years and a fine up to $20,000.
• At 1,000 to 5,000 doses or 100 to 500 grams of liquid, first-degree felony regardless of location, mandatory 3 to 11 years and a fine up to $20,000.
• Over 5,000 doses or over 500 grams of liquid, first-degree felony with a mandatory 11-year sentence, a fine up to $20,000, and Major Drug Offender designation.

Heroin Trafficking

Heroin trafficking in under 10 doses or under 1 gram is a fifth-degree felony with 6 to 12 months and a fine up to $2,500. Near a school or juvenile, fourth-degree felony with 6 to 18 months and a fine up to $5,000. The escalation:

• At 10 to 50 doses or 1 to 5 grams, fourth-degree felony with 6 to 18 months and a fine up to $5,000. Near a school or juvenile, third-degree felony with presumption of 9 to 36 months and a fine up to $10,000.
• At 50 to 100 doses or 5 to 10 grams, third-degree felony with presumption of 9 to 36 months and a fine up to $10,000. Near a school or juvenile, second-degree felony with presumption of 2 to 8 years and a fine up to $15,000.
• At 100 to 500 doses or 10 to 50 grams, second-degree felony with mandatory 2 to 8 years and a fine up to $15,000. Near a school or juvenile, first-degree felony with mandatory 3 to 11 years and a fine up to $20,000.
• At 500 to 2,500 doses or 50 to 250 grams, first-degree felony regardless of location, mandatory 3 to 11 years and a fine up to $20,000.
• Over 2,500 doses or over 250 grams, first-degree felony with a mandatory 11-year prison term and a fine up to $20,000.

Fentanyl trafficking follows similar weight-based escalation under separate fentanyl-related controlled-substance sections, and fentanyl is treated as a Schedule I substance for trafficking purposes. Because fentanyl is so potent by weight, the bulk-amount thresholds are much lower, and even a small quantity can trigger a Major Drug Offender designation.

Hashish Trafficking

Hashish trafficking in under 10 solid grams or 2 liquid grams is a fifth-degree felony with 6 to 12 months and a fine up to $2,500. Near a school or juvenile, fourth-degree felony with 6 to 18 months and a fine up to $5,000.

• At 10 to 50 solid grams or 2 to 10 liquid grams, fourth-degree felony (or third-degree near a school or juvenile, 9 to 36 months and a fine up to $10,000).
• At 50 to 250 solid grams or 10 to 50 liquid grams, third-degree felony with 9 to 36 months and a fine up to $10,000. Near a school or juvenile, second-degree felony with presumption of 2 to 8 years and a fine up to $15,000.
• At 250 to 1,000 solid grams or 50 to 200 liquid grams, third-degree felony with presumption of 9 to 36 months and a fine up to $10,000. Near a school or juvenile, second-degree felony with presumption of 2 to 8 years and a fine up to $15,000.
• At 1,000 to 2,000 solid grams or 200 to 400 liquid grams, second-degree felony with mandatory 5 to 8 years. Near a school or juvenile, first-degree felony with mandatory 11 years and a fine up to $20,000.
• Over 2,000 solid grams or 400 liquid grams, second-degree felony with mandatory 8 years and a fine up to $15,000. Near a school or juvenile, first-degree felony with mandatory 11 years and a fine up to $20,000.

Controlled Substance Analogs Trafficking

Substances substantially similar to those listed in Schedules I or II are controlled substance analogs. Trafficking less than 10 grams is a fifth-degree felony (6 to 12 months, fine up to $2,500). Near a school or juvenile, fourth-degree felony with 6 to 18 months and a fine up to $5,000.

• At 10 to 20 grams, fourth-degree felony with 6 to 18 months and a fine up to $5,000. Near a school or juvenile, third-degree felony with presumption of 9 to 36 months and a fine up to $10,000.
• At 20 to 30 grams, third-degree felony with presumption of 9 to 36 months and a fine up to $10,000. Near a school or juvenile, second-degree felony with presumption of 2 to 8 years and a fine up to $15,000.
• At 30 to 40 grams, second-degree felony with mandatory 2 to 8 years and a fine up to $15,000. Near a school or juvenile, first-degree felony with mandatory 3 to 11 years and a fine up to $20,000.
• At 40 to 50 grams, first-degree felony regardless of location, mandatory 3 to 11 years and a fine up to $20,000.
• 50 grams or more, first-degree felony with a mandatory 11-year sentence and a fine up to $20,000.

Major Drug Offender (MDO) Designation: Ohio’s Most Serious Drug Charge

The Major Drug Offender (MDO) designation under ORC 2929.01(W) is the most consequential layer that can attach to a drug trafficking charge in Ohio. MDO is not a separate charge; it is a sentencing enhancement that strips the court of discretion. When MDO attaches, the court must impose the maximum first-degree felony prison sentence (currently 11 years), and the term must be served as a mandatory prison sentence with no judicial release eligibility for the duration of that mandatory portion.

MDO attaches when the trafficking quantity exceeds specific statutory thresholds:

• Cocaine: 100 grams or more.
• Heroin: 250 grams or more (or 2,500+ doses).
• Marijuana: 20 kilograms (20,000 grams) or more (with the lower mandatory tiers triggering at 20,000+ even where MDO does not technically attach).
• LSD: 5,000 doses or 500 grams of liquid or more.
• Methamphetamine, fentanyl, and other Schedule I/II substances: 100 times the bulk amount or more.
• Controlled substance analogs: 50 grams or more.

What Is “Bulk Amount” Under Ohio Law?

The bulk amount is the statutory threshold quantity defined separately for each controlled substance in ORC 2925.01. For most Schedule I and II drugs, the bulk amount corresponds to either a fixed weight (for example, the bulk amount of fentanyl is significantly smaller than the bulk amount of cocaine because of its potency) or a multiple of the standard recreational dose. Charging decisions and MDO designations are driven by the bulk amount math, which means the defense often turns on the exact quantity measurement.

How Is Drug Weight Measured for Charging?

Ohio measures the total weight of the mixture containing the controlled substance, not just the weight of the pure substance. A 20-gram package of mostly cutting agent containing a small amount of cocaine is typically charged based on the full 20 grams. The mixture rule has substantial implications: the same defendant can face very different charges depending on how the contraband was packaged and weighed. Wet versus dry weight also matters for plant material and certain liquids; defense counsel routinely challenges the laboratory weight reporting in trafficking cases.

Federal Drug Trafficking: When Ohio Charges Go Federal

A Columbus drug trafficking case can be charged in Ohio state court, in federal court for the Southern District of Ohio, or in both. The decision to bring the case federally typically rests with the U.S. Attorney’s Office working in coordination with the DEA, FBI, or ATF. Common triggers for federal jurisdiction:

• Federal investigators were involved. If the DEA, FBI, or ATF initiated the investigation or participated as a cooperating agency, the case is more likely to be charged federally.
• The trafficking crossed state lines. Packages shipped from another state, deliveries across the Ohio border, or coordination with out-of-state suppliers establishes a federal nexus.
• The drug quantity triggers federal mandatory minimums. Federal law under 21 U.S.C. 841 has its own quantity-based mandatory-minimum structure that often produces longer sentences than Ohio state law.
• Confidential informants were used in a multi-defendant investigation. Federal investigations make heavy use of CIs, particularly in conspiracy and organization cases.

Federal mandatory minimums under 21 U.S.C. 841 illustrate the exposure difference:

• Cocaine (powder): 500 grams triggers a 5-year mandatory minimum; 5 kilograms triggers a 10-year mandatory minimum.
• Crack cocaine: 28 grams triggers a 5-year mandatory minimum; 280 grams triggers a 10-year mandatory minimum.
• Heroin: 100 grams triggers a 5-year mandatory minimum; 1 kilogram triggers a 10-year mandatory minimum.
• Methamphetamine (pure): 5 grams triggers a 5-year mandatory; 50 grams triggers a 10-year mandatory.
• Methamphetamine (mixture): 50 grams / 500 grams for the 5- and 10-year mandatory minimums respectively.
• Fentanyl: 40 grams triggers a 5-year mandatory; 400 grams triggers a 10-year mandatory.

Federal sentences carry no parole, and federal good-time credit is capped at roughly 15 percent. A federal conviction is dramatically more punitive in served time than the same conduct in state court. Our federal criminal defense team works with clients facing both potential forums from the moment a federal nexus appears.

How Columbus Drug Trafficking Cases Are Investigated

Most Columbus trafficking cases follow recognizable investigative patterns. Understanding how the evidence was built often reveals the defenses available to challenge it.

• Controlled buys. An undercover officer or confidential informant purchases drugs from the target. Each buy is a separate trafficking count. Defenses commonly attack the chain of custody from the buy location to the lab, the recording integrity, and the CI’s reliability.
• Wiretaps and electronic surveillance. Common in multi-defendant organization cases. Title III wiretap authorization is required under federal law, with parallel Ohio procedures. A defective wiretap application can result in suppression of every intercepted communication.
• Confidential informants (CIs). CIs drive a large share of Columbus trafficking cases. CI reliability, prior cooperation history, the financial or charge-reduction motivation behind the CI’s cooperation, and the handling agent’s documentation are all fair game for cross-examination and suppression motions.
• HIDTA and ONIC task forces. The Columbus High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force and the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission (ONIC) are the primary investigative bodies for organized trafficking cases in central Ohio. Their participation often signals a longer, broader investigation.
• Search warrants. Most trafficking arrests begin with a search warrant. The warrant application must establish probable cause and meet the particularity requirement. Challenging the warrant on Fourth Amendment grounds is one of the most successful defense strategies in trafficking cases.

The earlier in a case defense counsel can analyze the investigative method, the more options remain. We routinely litigate motions to suppress that turn entirely on warrant defects, controlled-buy procedural issues, or CI reliability problems.

Consequences of a Drug Trafficking Conviction

A drug trafficking conviction in Columbus carries consequences far beyond the prison term and fine.

• Driver’s license suspension. Ohio law authorizes a license suspension on drug-trafficking convictions even when the offense had nothing to do with driving. This includes a commercial driver’s license suspension that can end a CDL career.
• Employment and housing barriers. A felony drug conviction makes it dramatically harder to find a job or rent, especially in Columbus’s tighter rental market.
• Federal benefits and financial aid. A drug-related conviction can affect federal student aid eligibility, certain public benefits, and federal housing assistance.
• Immigration consequences. A drug trafficking conviction is a controlled-substance offense and an aggravated felony for non-citizens, with severe immigration consequences including mandatory removal in many cases.
• Professional licensing. Most Ohio professional licensing boards require disclosure of felony drug convictions and may suspend or revoke the underlying license.
• Permanent record. Drug trafficking convictions remain on your record; the OVI-style permanent ineligibility under ORC 2953.36 applies to some trafficking offenses, while others may be sealable after the standard waiting period under the 2023 SB 288 / HB 1 reforms.

Defenses to Drug Trafficking Charges

Drug trafficking cases are not the same as drug trafficking convictions. Successful defenses generally fall into a handful of categories:

• Suppression of evidence from an illegal search. Warrantless searches, defective warrants, and searches that exceed the warrant’s scope all support motions to suppress.
• Chain-of-custody and lab-handling challenges. Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation lab procedures must be followed precisely; deviations support motions to exclude.
• Drug-sniffing dog cases. The reliability of the canine, the handler training records, and the alert circumstances are all challengeable.
• Illegal traffic stop or detention. Many trafficking cases start with a traffic stop; if the stop was unconstitutional, the contraband is suppressible.
• No probable cause for arrest. Officers must articulate facts supporting probable cause; arrests without it expose the entire case.
• Miranda violations. Statements made before Miranda warnings or in response to custodial interrogation without counsel can be suppressed.
• Misidentification of the substance. Field tests are notoriously unreliable; the prosecution must establish the substance’s identity at trial.
• Quantity disputes. Wet vs. dry weight, mixture vs. pure-substance disputes, and lab measurement challenges can move the case down a felony tier.
• Entrapment. When law enforcement induced the defendant to commit an offense the defendant was not otherwise predisposed to commit, entrapment can be a viable defense.

Frequently Asked Questions About Drug Trafficking in Ohio

What is the difference between drug possession and drug trafficking in Ohio?

Possession means having a controlled substance for personal use; trafficking means knowingly selling, offering to sell, distributing, or possessing with intent to sell. Under ORC 2925.03, trafficking can also be charged based on weight thresholds alone (the quantity is enough to support an inference of intent to distribute) regardless of stated intent. Many drug possession cases are re-filed as trafficking after a search reveals scales, baggies, large amounts of cash, or quantities at or above the bulk amount.

What is a Major Drug Offender (MDO) in Ohio?

A Major Drug Offender designation under ORC 2929.01(W) applies when drug quantities exceed statutory thresholds. The designation requires the court to impose the maximum first-degree felony sentence (11 years) as mandatory prison time. The judge has no discretion to impose less. MDO is the most serious sentencing enhancement in Ohio drug law.

When do Ohio drug trafficking charges become federal?

Federal charges become likely when the DEA, FBI, or ATF was involved in the investigation; when trafficking crossed state lines; when confidential informants were used in a multi-defendant case; or when quantities reach federal mandatory-minimum thresholds under 21 U.S.C. 841. Federal sentences typically run longer than state sentences because of the mandatory-minimum structure and the absence of parole.

What are the penalties for cocaine trafficking in Ohio?

Cocaine trafficking penalties depend on quantity and location. The baseline is a fifth-degree felony (6 to 12 months) for small amounts; it escalates through F4, F3, and F2 tiers at the 5g, 10g, and 20g marks. At 27 grams to 100 grams, it becomes a first-degree felony with mandatory 3 to 11 years. At 100 grams or more, it becomes a first-degree felony with mandatory 11 years and Major Drug Offender designation.

Can I become a confidential informant to reduce my drug trafficking charges?

Sometimes, but the decision carries serious risks and must be evaluated case by case. Cooperation can produce a charge reduction or a sentence recommendation, but it also exposes the cooperator to danger and to legal complications if the cooperation is incomplete or ineffective. Never agree to cooperate with law enforcement before speaking with a criminal defense attorney about the specific terms, the protections in place, and the realistic charge or sentence reduction available.

Can a drug trafficking conviction be sealed or expunged in Ohio?

Some drug trafficking convictions can be sealed under Ohio’s expanded 2023 sealing framework (SB 288 / HB 1), particularly lower-level fourth- and fifth-degree felony trafficking convictions for first-time offenders. First- and second-degree felony trafficking convictions, MDO-designated convictions, and convictions with mandatory prison time are generally ineligible. A Columbus criminal defense attorney can review the specific conviction against the current sealing framework to confirm eligibility.

Charged With Drug Trafficking? Contact a Columbus Drug Trafficking Attorney Today

If you or someone you know has been charged with drug trafficking or is under investigation for trafficking, contact our experienced Columbus drug crimes lawyers immediately. We will analyze what evidence state and federal law enforcement actually has, identify the procedural defects available for suppression motions, and build the strongest defense possible. We have more than a decade of Franklin County and federal Southern District of Ohio experience and maintain 500+ five-star client reviews.

Call (614) 500-3836, available 24/7, or email advice@columbuscriminalattorney.com.

Talk to a Columbus Criminal Defense Attorney Today

If you have any questions about the material above or need an experienced Columbus criminal defense attorney for any other charge, call the Columbus criminal defense attorneys at Luftman, Heck & Associates at (614) 500-3836. Free consultation, available 24/7.