Blog
Federal Drug Courier Charges: Mule Defense Strategies
Contents
Federal Drug Courier Charges: Interstate Transportation Cases
Drug couriers occupy a peculiar position in federal prosecution. You transported drugs—often substantial quantities—which makes you part of trafficking. But you didn’t make decisions, didn’t profit substantially, didn’t control the operation. You were a delivery person caught in a federal system designed for kingpins.
The good news: courier status creates real opportunities for reduced sentences. The bad news: you’re still facing federal drug trafficking charges with mandatory minimums that don’t distinguish between couriers and cartel leaders.
Why Couriers Face Federal Charges
Transporting drugs across state lines creates federal jurisdiction. A courier driving from California to Arizona with 5 kilograms of cocaine faces the same 10-year mandatory minimum as the person who organized the shipment. The federal system attributes quantities to anyone who transported them.
Federal task forces specifically target interstate transportation. Highway interdiction, airport drug dogs, rental car monitoring—these enforcement strategies catch couriers disproportionately.
The Quantity Attribution Problem
You may have transported drugs once. But sentencing is based on quantities “reasonably foreseeable” during your involvement. If prosecutors can prove you knew the operation involved larger quantities over time, you can be sentenced on those quantities—not just what you personally carried.
Challenging quantity attribution is critical for couriers. What did you actually know? How many trips did you make? What was foreseeable versus what prosecutors are trying to attribute?
Minor and Minimal Role Reductions
Couriers are prime candidates for role reductions under USSG §3B1.2:
Minimal role (4-level reduction): You were a minimal participant in the criminal activity. You had no decision-making authority, received minimal compensation, and had no ownership stake.
Minor role (2-level reduction): You were substantially less culpable than average participant but not minimal.
The 2015 guideline amendments specifically recognized that couriers often qualify for reductions. Document your limited role immediately: who recruited you, what you were paid, what you knew about the operation, whether you had any decision-making authority.
The Safety Valve Opportunity
Couriers often qualify for safety valve under the First Step Act because:
• Many have limited criminal history
• They didn’t use violence or weapons
• They weren’t leaders or organizers
• They can provide information about the operation
Safety valve allows sentencing below mandatory minimums. For a courier facing 10-year mandatory but whose guidelines with minor role suggest 63-78 months, safety valve can save years.
Knowledge Defense
Did you know what you were transporting? Some couriers are genuinely deceived—told they’re carrying cash, electronics, or legal goods. While juries are skeptical, genuine lack of knowledge is a complete defense.
Even if you knew generally, you might not have known quantities. Knowledge affects what’s attributable to you for sentencing.
Cooperation Considerations
Couriers often have limited cooperation value—you know who gave you the package and who you delivered to, but not much more. However, that information can still be valuable, especially identifying suppliers.
Cooperation for couriers carries risk/reward calculus: you may not have enough information for substantial cooperation credit, and providing limited information may create danger without sentence benefit.
Get Help Now
Courier cases offer real opportunities for reduced sentences through role adjustments and safety valve. But you need defense counsel who understands how to document your limited role and position you for these reductions. Call today. We’re here 24/7.