Queens Brothers Face Drug Charges

 A nine-month-long investigation has led to arrests of two brothers. The two men, ages 31 and 35, face drug charges after police found large amounts of prescription medications in their possession.

Armed with a search warrant, authorities arrested the men after a search of their Queens apartment and a storage unit in upstate New York netted 10,000 pills and $154,900 in cash, as well as a dagger, an imitation pistol and packaging materials. One of the man's cars also held 2 grams of cocaine. An investigation found that the men sold small amounts of cocaine as well as 62,000 Xanax pills—some containing fentanyl.

The investigation started earlier this year. Starting in January, authorities began intercepting phone calls and using GPS tracking and surveillance. This all culminated in the arrest of the men.

The 35-year-old man was placed in custody without bail. He faces a prison sentence of up to 20 years. The other man had bail set at $150,000 cash or a $200,000 bond. He could face nine years in prison. The men will be back in court on October 20.

What the Law Says

Under New York State Law Section 220, sale of a controlled substance has five different levels of punishment. Knowingly selling a controlled substance is automatically a fifth-degree crime. This results in a Class D felony. Felonies in New York range from A-E, with A being the most serious. Therefore, a Class D felony is one of the least serious felonies. However, it can still result in as long as seven years in jail. Plus, having such a felony on your record can negatively affect your life in many ways.

If the controlled substance is a narcotic, depressant, concentrated cannabis, phencyclidine, ketamine or methadone, then the charge is a Class C felony. If a controlled substance is sold at a school, a daycare center or on a school bus, a Class C felony also applies. The jail sentence may be as long as 15 years.

If the drug sold is a narcotic, stimulant or hallucinogen, then the charge is elevated to a Class B felony. A person convicted of this crime can face up to 25 years in jail.

A Class A or Class A-II felony applies when narcotics, methadone, hallucinogens, stimulants and methamphetamines are sold in large amounts. These charges can also result in up to 25 years in jail.

Additional penalties or more enhanced penalties may apply if other crimes were committed in addition to the drug charges. In addition, if you have prior criminal offenses, these can enhance your penalties as well. You may face fines and probation as well.

Facing Criminal Charges?

If you have been charged with a drug crime, it's a good idea to seek legal help right away. You'll face felony charges, which can affect you in many ways. A good lawyer can defend you from the charges you face in an effort to reduce your penalties and even get your charges cleared altogether.