3 ms·
In the US, conspiracy to distribute narcotics can carry up to life in prison. The sentence is based on the amount and type of drugs involved in the conspiracy
by downandout 12y ago
In the US, conspiracy to distribute narcotics can carry up to life in prison. The sentence is based on the amount and type of drugs involved in the conspiracy - there is actually a table [1] that determines the offense level (which is then used with another table to determine the sentence [2]). In this case, because of the sheer volume of drugs sold via SR, if found guilty on the drug charges alone (he also faces several others) he would be guaranteed a multi-decade sentence.
Specifically, he's looking at a base offense level of 38, plus 2 points for distribution "through mass-marketing by means of an interactive computer service," for an offense level of 40. If he has no criminal history at all, that puts him in the 292-365 months (~25-30 years) in prison range on the drug charges alone. If he also gets the 2 point enhancement for making "a credible threat to use violence, or directed the use of violence" as has been alleged, then he would automatically be looking at 30 years to life since his offense level would be 42.
[1] http://www.ussc.gov/guidelines-manual/2013/2013-2d11 http://www.ussc.gov/guidelines-manual/2013/2013-2d11 (see "drug quantity table")
[2] http://www.ussc.gov/guidelines-manual/2013/2013-5asentab http://www.ussc.gov/guidelines-manual/2013/2013-5asentab
- f3llowtraveler 12y agoWow, sounds like the legislation itself in the U.S. is immoral and unethical.
- Vespasian 12y agoWow. It's crazy to see the difference between jurisdictions in this case. I took the time to look up the laws[1] for my country and found (disclaimer I'm no lawyer so I might be wrong) a maximum sentence of 5 years for anything related to drugs (including possession and Trafficking) Were the US sentences always that high or are they a result of the "War on Drugs"? [1]http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/btmg_1981/BJNR106810981.html#BJNR106810981BJNG000601308 http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/btmg_1981/BJNR106810981.ht...
- singlow 12y agoEven in the 70s when Nixon declared "War on Drugs" he was repealing previous mandatory sentences introduced in the 50s. It was in the 80s that the huge mandatory sentences for "Crack" cocaine and lesser ones for other "hard drugs" were re-introduced. Some states also had mandatory sentences throughout this time.
- ObviousScience 12y agoI'm late to the party, but you can (theoretically) receive the death penalty in the US from the federal government for operating as a drug kingpin. There's some unsettled aspects that may allow you to appeal that sentence, but it's technically on the books.