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What Are the Degrees of NY Penal Law 220 Criminal Possession of Controlled Substance

Understanding Criminal Possession of Controlled Substances in New York

Introduction

When it comes to the letter of the law in the state of New York’s penal code, we’ll be the first to admit that things can be a little complicated, if not downright confusing. But while it can be tricky to navigate what exactly the law means, it doesn’t always have to be this way. In fact, in our ongoing series of posts, we’ve taken apart the law and broken it down into digestible chunks so that even the layman can not only understand the law but also figure out how to use it in their favor in a legal action. We’ve covered subjects like burglary, assault, even things like identity theft and cybercrimes. Today, however, we’re going to take a look at a couple of charges under the law of criminal possession of a controlled substance. In our previous post we covered the definitions involved, so we’re going to jump right into it with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree. Let’s begin.

Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree

To be guilty of this crime, you’ll have to have knowingly and also unlawfully possessed some kind of controlled substance. It’s important to note, though, that it isn’t a violation when you possess a residual amount of the substance in like a syringe or something similar, and possess it because of a syringe exchange, or something like that. It’s also not a violation of this section if the possession is as a result of seeking immediate health care because you’re going through an overdose or something like that. Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree is a class A misdemeanor.

Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree

To be guilty of this particular crime, you have to both knowingly and unlawfully possess either a controlled substance with the intention of selling it, or multiple preparations, mixtures, compounds, or other kinds of substances that contain a narcotic preparation and those preparations or any other type of thing weigh a total of a half ounce or more, or phencyclidine that weighs fifty milligrams or more, or multiple preparations, mixtures, compounds, or other kinds of substances that contain concentrated cannabis and those preparations or any other type of thing weigh a total of a fourth of an ounce or more, or cocaine that weighs a total of five hundred milligrams or more, or ketamine that weighs more than a thousand milligrams, or ketamine when you’ve previously been convicted of possession of ketamine in any amount, or multiple preparations, mixtures, compounds, or other kinds of substances that contain GHB, and those preparations or any other type of thing weigh a total of twenty-eight grams or more. Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree is considered to be a class D felony.

As you can see, everything becomes much easier to understand once you break it down into its composite parts and skip the boring legalese to get at the essence of the law as opposed to just the letter of it. We started this look into criminal possession of a controlled substance by outlining the definitions involved, and then followed it up by showing you what actually goes into a conviction for one of these crimes. Now while we’ve covered two of the crimes under this law, there are still more to come that we’re going to cover in future posts. With that said, we encourage you to stick with us as we outline the various charges that there are for criminal possession of a controlled substance, and if you’re interested in other types of charges, you can then go on to check out some of the articles we did for other charges in the state of New York’s penal law as well. Just because you’re facing legal trouble doesn’t mean you have to suffer from the consequences of the law.

George FernandezGeorge Fernandez
14:16 30 Apr 24
Excellent 10 out of 10, Helped resolve my case. Jeremy explained everything and made everything easy to understand.
RajRaj
21:33 24 Apr 24
If you are looking for a lawyer that listens, is aggressive where needed, and holds his word above all else, Todd is the best pick. I had hired multiple attorneys prior to hiring the Spodek Group for a white collar case. The first thing that stood out to me was the cost, as anyone going through the process and dealing with the system, money was tight at that time - especially after hiring and firing multiple lawyers. The cost was not as high as others which was definitely a plus. Todd's intake process was also unlike other attorneys. He took the time to actually listen. He cared. He was trying to put himself in my shoes while I was explaining the situation to him and he really took the time to understand the whole situation. Other lawyers will give you 15 mins and send you a retainer agreement. Not Todd, I think he spent almost two hours with me as I was explaining everything.Not only was he great during the onboarding process, he was supportive and very informative through the entire plea process and eventually sentencing. After hiring him, I asked if I should hire a prison consultant, he told me to save my money as he would do everything they would. He was right and held up to his word. Later on I would hear from others that went with the prison consultants that they were a waste of money - I am glad I listened to Todd!When it came time for sentencing, two days prior to sentencing, the prosecutor tried increasing my proposed prison time by almost double - apparently a normal move. Todd and his team worked with me non-stop through the weekend prior to sentencing to ensure that I was not given additional prison time. Again, he took the time to listen and came up with a strategy to explain the case with great detail.Unfortunately, I did plead guilty as that was my best option. Todd and his whole team wrote up nearly 300 pages of a summary of what happened and why I should not be given prison time. If I breakdown the amount I spent with Todd versus the amount of work that I saw being done, I am shocked I was not charged four times as much. The other benefit was, a lot of criminal defense lawyers were just a single attorney with a paralegal or two. Todd had a team of people that I dealt with (5-7 people that I interacted with), but he was ALWAYS accessible. It would never take him more than an hour to reply unless he was in court.I was sentenced to prison and I was emotionally distraught. Todd and his team did whatever they could even after sentencing to make sure I was alright. He personally stayed in touch with my family to ensure I was doing alright and offered support to them. Most lawyers would consider the job complete at sentencing, not Todd.After prison, Todd still spent time with me to make sure I was on the right track and avoiding any potential risks in the future. He has also been giving advice on how to navigate probation etc and has not been looking at the clock for billing.Although I wish I had never been arrested in the first place, I am glad I had Todd and his team in my corner. Without them I likely would have had to spend a lot more time in prison than I did.Thank you, Todd, and the entire Spodek Law team, for helping turn what was a nightmare into a manageable situation!
Yelva Saint-PreuxYelva Saint-Preux
19:26 19 Apr 24
I am immensely grateful to the entire team at Spodek Law Group for their unwavering dedication and exceptional expertise throughout my case. From our initial consultation to the final resolution, their professionalism and tireless advocacy made all the difference. Their strategic approach and attention to detail instilled confidence in me every step of the way.Thanks to their hard work and commitment, we achieved a truly favorable outcome that exceeded my expectations. Not only did they navigate the complexities of my case with precision, but they also provided invaluable support and guidance during what was undoubtedly a challenging time. I cannot recommend Spodek Law Group highly enough, especially attorneys Todd Spodek and Claire Banks; they are beacons of excellence in the legal profession.YSP.
Katherine SunKatherine Sun
18:08 18 Apr 24
my lawyer is Alex Zhik. Efficient, patient and professional
Nun yaNun ya
17:48 18 Apr 24
Todd, Ralph and Alex are amazing. Helped my husband get from a double digit number with multiple charges to a single digit, by the time I blink he will be out. They very professional and help with all your needs. They dealt with my anxiety and worry very well and they understand that your family member needs to get home as soon as possible.
Keisha ParrisKeisha Parris
20:45 15 Mar 24
Believe every single review here about Alex Z!! From our initial consultation, it was evident that Alex possessed a profound understanding of criminal law and a fierce dedication to his clients rights. Throughout the entirety of my case, Alex exhibited unparalleled professionalism and unwavering commitment. What sets Alex apart is not only his legal expertise but also his genuine compassion for his clients. He took the time to thoroughly explain my case, alleviating any concerns I had along the way. His exact words were “I’m not worried about it”. His unwavering support and guidance were invaluable throughout the entire process. I am immensely grateful for Alex's exceptional legal representation and wholeheartedly recommend his services to anyone in need of a skilled criminal defense attorney. Alex Z is not just a lawyer; he is a beacon of hope for those navigating the complexities of the legal system. If you find yourself in need of a dedicated and competent legal advocate, look no further than Alex Z.
Taïko BeautyTaïko Beauty
16:26 15 Mar 24
I don’t know where to start, I can write a novel about this firm, but one thing I will say is that having my best interest was their main priority since the beginning of my case which was back in Winter 2019. Miss Claire Banks, one of the best Attorneys in the firm represented me very well and was very professional, respectful, and truthful. Not once did she leave me in the dark, in fact she presented all options and routes that could possibly be considered for my case and she reinsured me that no matter what I decided to do, her and the team will have my back and that’s exactly what happened. Not only will I be liberated from this case, also, I will enjoy my freedom and continue to be a mother to my first born son and will have no restrictions with accomplishing my goals in life. Now that’s what I call victory!! I thank the Lord, My mother, Claire, and the Spodek team for standing by me and fighting with me. Words can’t describe how grateful I am to have the opportunity to work with this team. I’m very satisfied, very pleased with their performance, their hard work, and their diligence.Thank you team!
K MarK Mar
01:37 25 Jan 24
I recently had Spodek Law Group represent me for a legal matter in NYC and I am thoroughly impressed with their services.Alex Zhik secured the best possible outcome for my case.It was a seamless journey from the initial consultation to the resolution of my legal matter. From the moment I spoke to Todd about my case, his enthusiasm to help was evident, setting a positive tone for the entire experience. The efficiency and professionalism displayed by the team is commendable.A particularly noteworthy aspect of their service is their user-friendly portal to upload your documents/evidence. This not only simplified the process, but showcases their commitment to streamline the client experience.Lastly, in an industry where legal fees can often be a concern, I found their pricing to be very reasonable, making needing legal assistance feel accessible and stress-free.I am grateful for their support and wouldn't hesitate to turn to them again in the future.
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Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree

A person is guilty of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree when he or she knowingly and unlawfully has in their possession a narcotic drug with the intent to sell it, a stimulant, hallucinogen, hallucinogenic substance, or lysergic acid diethylamide, with the intent to sell it and has also previously been convicted of an offense as defined in article two hundred twenty, or else the attempt or conspiracy to commit any offense like this, a stimulant with the intent to sell it and if that stimulant weighs one gram or more, lysergic acid diethylamide with the intent to sell it and if that lysergic acid diethylamide weighs one milligram or more, a hallucinogen with the intent to sell it and if that hallucinogen weighs twenty-five milligrams or more, a hallucinogenic substance with the intent to sell it and if that hallucinogenic substance weighs one gram or more, one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances containing methamphetamine, whether that be its salts, isomers, or even its salts of isomers with the intent to sell it and if the preparations, compounds, mixtures or even the substances are of an aggregate weight of at least one-eighth ounce or more, a stimulant and if that stimulant weighs five grams or more, lysergic acid diethylamide and if that lysergic acid diethylamide weighs five milligrams or more, a hallucinogen and if that hallucinogen weighs one hundred twenty-five milligrams or more, a hallucinogenic substance and if that hallucinogenic substance weighs five grams or more, one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances containing a narcotic drug and if those preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances are of a total aggregate weight of one-half ounce or more, or lastly phencyclidine and if that phencyclidine weighs one thousand two hundred fifty milligrams or more. Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree is a class B felony.

Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree

A person is guilty of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the second degree when he or she knowingly and unlawfully possesses one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures, or even substances that contain a narcotic drug and if those preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances are of a total aggregate weight of four ounces or more, one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances that contain methamphetamine, its salts, isomers or even salts of isomers and if those preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances are of a total aggregate weight of two ounces or more, a stimulant and if that stimulant weighs ten grams or more, lysergic acid diethylamide and if that lysergic acid diethylamide weighs twenty-five milligrams or more, a hallucinogen and if that hallucinogen weighs six hundred twenty-five milligrams or more, a hallucinogenic substance and if that hallucinogenic substance weighs twenty-five grams or more, or lastly methadone and if that methadone weighs two thousand eight hundred eighty milligrams or more. Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the second degree is a class A-II felony.

Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree

A person is guilty of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first degree when he or she knowingly and unlawfully possesses one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures or even substances containing a narcotic drug and if those preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances are of a total aggregate weight of eight ounces or more, or methadone and if that methadone weighs five thousand seven hundred sixty milligrams or more. Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first degree is a class A-I felony.

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Todd Spodek

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JEREMY FEIGENBAUM

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ELIZABETH GARVEY

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CLAIRE BANKS

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RAJESH BARUA

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CHAD LEWIN

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