Minnesota police took more than 32 pounds of methamphetamine during a traffic stop in Pipestone County on Jan. 6. The drugs were estimated to be worth over $200,000. Police initiated the traffic stop after witnessing a vehicle traveling 76 miles per hour in a 60 mile per hour zone. Authorities discovered that the vehicle was not registered to the driver and that the insurance was in yet another person’s name.

The driver was a 20-year-old male, and there was a 22-year-old passenger in the vehicle at the time of the traffic stop. Authorities say both gave inconsistent accounts of why they were in the state. Because the drugs found in the vehicle were worth over $200,000, the men were both charged with felony drug sale in the first-degree. If convicted of the crime, they could both spend up to 30 years in prison and face a fine of up to $1 million.

Being charged with any type of a crime could result in negative consequences for an individual. This is true whether the charge is a misdemeanor or a felony. However, those who are facing felony drug charges run the risk of spending many decades in prison. They could also be subject to a large fine or other penalties allowed by state law. Therefore, it may be a good idea to hire an attorney to help with the case.

Counsel may review a case to determine how to obtain a favorable outcome for a defendant. For instance, it may be possible to contend that a person didn’t know that controlled substances were in a vehicle that he or she was traveling in.