In the state of Louisiana, as in the rest of the US, if you are found with drugs on your person or in your control, such as in your car or home, and it can be proved that you are aware of their presence there, you can be charged with possession of a narcotic. However, this may have happened to you or someone you are close to, and they were charged with possession with intent to distribute. You may be wondering why, and what tips law enforcement off to the intentions of a stranger.
Charging, and subsequently, proving an intent to distribute was there, is something a law enforcement officer would be able to infer when taken in context with the rest of the circumstances going on. For instance, if there was a large amount of drugs, deemed too much to be possessed with the intent to use for only one person, there is an indication of intent to distribute.
There may be other indicators of a sale or pending sales, usually standard drug business goods, like large amounts of cash, small baggies, weighing tools, orders, and records of dealings and communications between the possessor and potential customers.
Penalties for these charges are serious and far-reaching. They can be more severe depending upon the type of drug you were found in possession of and whether or not you have a preexisting criminal history. Don’t wait to contact your criminal defense attorney, and it is probably best if you don’t volunteer any information until you have done so. The right attorney will know where weak points in the prosecution’s case are and where charges may be successfully disputed, reduced or in some cases, dropped. Your future may be hinged upon your careful behavior now.