The state penalty for the sale, purchase, manufacture, delivery or possession of 10 grams or more is up to 30 years in prison, said Assistant State Attorney Dave Scuderi. It's difficult to compare federal and state guidelines. The federal guidelines are classified by number of pills, while the state's are by total drug weight. Also, state penalties typically have a much broader range, to where a person charged with simple possession is eligible for up to five years in prison but likely wouldn't see any prison time without a prior record, although trafficking of more than 10 grams brings a three-year minimum, Scuderi said. Possession of any controlled substance, with the exception of marijuana, is a felony.
Cocaine is a felony.
Heroin is a felony. Ecstasy is a felony. Also, the federal system is well-known for its toughness on drug offenders. If a drug dealer faces a 10-year sentence, he'll likely get very close to the maximum, Molloy said. The drug, widely popular in urban areas such as Miami, has found its way to Southwest Florida, said Lt.