Being charged with a serious crime is incredibly difficult, but facing 19 indictments is likely overwhelming, especially for a young person. What is even more difficult is trying to keep a cool head and rationally doing everything one can to clear one’s name. This is why it is so important to work with a strong criminal defense attorney who will help explain what options are available. Failing to do so could lead to a wrong move.
It is unclear how much a 26-year-old considered his options before he recently pled guilty to organizing a drug ring. The East Grand Forks man said that he was responsible for drug distribution in Minnesota and outside of the state, moving ecstasy, cocaine, marijuana and heroin. While there are many reasons to plead guilty to a crime, even when an individual is innocent, this young man has pled guilty to a crime that could have left him in prison for the rest of his life.
The man has accepted a plea bargain, however, that limits his penalty to 20 years in prison. He ultimately pled guilty to money laundering and continuing a criminal enterprise. It is unknown what would have happened had he gone to trial, which may be why he eventually chose to plead guilty.
Drug crimes often come with extremely harsh penalties and since many of the people who are being charged with these crimes are quite young, it is essential that they get the help they need to clear their names or mitigate their sentences. Without the help of a criminal defense attorney, they could be spending the rest of their lives wondering where they’d be if they had called an attorney.
Source: Williston Herald, “Drug ring included Williston: Man pleads guilty to trafficking across ND, Minnesota,” Jackson Bolstad, July 12, 2012