Kodak Black Arrested For Drug Trafficking

Being famous does not, unfortunately, give a person the right to break the law with impunity. Florida rapper Kodak Black has had legal trouble in the past, being sentenced to more than 3 years in prison in 2019 on weapons charges before being pardoned by the former president. Now, he faces charges of possession of a controlled substance and trafficking in oxycodone, after being pulled over in Fort Lauderdale. Both these charges carry a stiff penalty.

Serious Crimes

Drug trafficking charges in Florida come with stiff sentences, as it is seen by the legislature as a crime against society. Trafficking is defined as when a person “knowingly possesses, sells, purchases, […] or transports” a controlled substance they do not have permission to possess. The difference between unlawful possession and trafficking is in the amount of the drug in question; for oxycodone, possessing less than 7 grams would be charged as possession, while over 7 grams merits a trafficking charge.

Black, whose legal name is Bill Kapri, was stopped after his window tinting was held to be darker than the legal limit allows. The officer allegedly smelled marijuana and searched the SUV, turning up a significant amount of money (approximately $75,000 in cash) and a bag of 31 small white tablets that turned out to be oxycodone. It is uncertain how much oxycodone was present (in terms of weight or dosage), but it was enough for Black to be arrested and charged with a trafficking offense.

Weight Of The Substance Matters

If you have been arrested and charged with drug trafficking, be advised that the total weight of the drugs you were found with is what matters, rather than the total dosage. If each of Black’s 31 pills weighed ½ gram, for example, he would have possessed 15.5 grams of oxycodone, but if the pills only weighed ¼ gram, he would only have possessed around 7.75 grams of oxycodone. This will carry a lighter sentence, in most respects, than the higher amount would.

Drug offenses such as trafficking also carry mandatory minimum sentences, meaning that a judge must sentence someone found guilty to a certain term in jail; the option to grant probation or another form of consequences is not permissible. If Black is convicted of trafficking in oxycodone and was found to have 15 grams in his possession, he would have to serve at least 7 years in prison, without any chance at an early release – short of another presidential pardon or commutation.

Call A West Palm Beach Drug Crimes Attorney

While the fate of Kodak Black remains yet to be seen as of this writing, if you have been charged with drug trafficking, it is crucial to enlist an experienced attorney to help you with your case. The West Palm Beach drug crimes attorneys at Perlet, Shiner, Melchiorre & Walsh, P.A. have experience in these matters, and are ready and willing to work with you. Call our office today at (561) 721-0552 to speak to an attorney.

Source:

nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/rapper-kodak-black-gets-prison-sentence-weapons-case-n1081521