What If I’m Facing Fentanyl Charges or Other Drug Charges in Minnesota?

So, what do you do if you are facing fentanyl charges, drug crimes or controlled substance crimes in Minnesota? Well, let’s start with some of the basics.

So What Is Fentanyl Anyway?

Fentanyl is a prescription pain medication. It was first approved for medical purposes back in 1968 and within the next 50 years became the most widely used synthetic opioid used in medicine across the United States. While fentanyl has been very effective at helping many patients in need of pain relief, it is also one of those “meds” that has driven the opioid epidemic and hooked a large number of people. It can be incredibly addictive partially because it is also extraordinarily powerful. It is typically 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine and there are some forms of synthetic fentanyl that have been manufactured to be 10,000 times more powerful.  

For more information on drug charges in Minnesota, click here.

Because of the addictive properties of fentanyl and other opioids, once people were unable to continue to fill prescriptions, they felt compelled to seek to “fill their prescriptions” elsewhere, i.e. on the street.  If this sounds all too familiar and you are facing fentanyl charges, controlled substance charges or drug possession charges, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney.  Jack Rice Defense has been handling prescription drug and other controlled substance crimes for decades. Contact us for a free confidential consultation. 

What are some of the Street Names for Fentanyl?

• He-Man;

• Great Bear;

• China Town;

• China Girl;

• China White;

• Poison;

• Tango;

• Apache.

Are There Additional Criminal Risks Involving Fentanyl?

Because of the strength of fentanyl, it is frequently the go-to drug that illicit manufacturers use to lace other drugs.  This has included heroine and cocaine but it has also been used to lace marijuana or even Delta 8 or Delta 10.  As a result, the additional criminal risks in Minnesota criminal courts are three-fold:

• Strength: You may not know what you are getting and there is a very real potential for overdose.;

• Murder 3: In the event of overdose and death, there is also the potential for Murder 3 charges, even if the seller had no knowledge that what was sold contained fentanyl.;

• The potential for possessing marijuana, Delta 8 or Delta 10 that has been laced with fentanyl could result in felony charges even if you had no knowledge that it contained fentanyl.

So What are the Penalties for Possession of Fentanyl in Minnesota?

The State of Minnesota determines the level of offense based upon the circumstances of the crime including whether guns were involved, the weight of the substance found, prior criminal record and more. According to Minnesota Statute, fentanyl falls into the highest penalty group with the harshest penalties. Because of the seriousness, fentanyl is considered a schedule 1 substance and even trace amounts could result in:

• Up to 5 years in prison;

• Up to a $10,000 fine; and

• A Felony conviction.

It’s important to understand that the numbers go up from there. For instance, if you are facing 1st degree drug charges involving fentanyl, you could look at up to 40 years in prison and up to a $1,000,000 fine. This ignores the Murder 3 exposure, overdose risks and even the unknowing possession of fentanyl as well as the extraordinary health risks and even overdose possibilities. Add guns to this mix and there are potentially mandatory minimum sentences, even for trace amounts.

If I’m Charged with Possession of Fentanyl in Minnesota, What Do I Do?

If you are charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl or simply possession of fentanyl, here is some free advice:  First, don’t talk to the police. They are not here to help. They are building a case against you. Second, contact an experienced controlled substance criminal defense lawyer immediately 

Jack Rice has been handling controlled substance cases for decades including fentanyl cases. Jack is also a Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist, a former prosecutor, a former U.S. Federal Agent and the Founder of Jack Rice Defense.  Contact us for a free confidential consultation or call 651-447-7650 or 612-227-1339.  Jack’s got your back.