The penalties for a federal drug conspiracy vary depending on the type and quantity of substance you handle. Common penalties include thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines and imprisonment for many years. In cases involving large quantities of drugs, you could face: Ten years to life in prison and a fine of up to $10 million. If the substances killed or injured anyone, 20 years to life in prison and a maximum fine of $10 million. In cases involving smaller quantities of drugs, you might be penalized with: Five to 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $5 million. If the substances killed or injured anyone, twenty years to life in prison and a maximum fine of $5 million. If the court convicts a person of drug conspiracy for a second time after having already undergone punishment for drug-related crimes, the sentence could be even higher. In this case, they might receive penalties of 10 years to life in prison and fines up to $8 million or $20 million. While some people might think that conspirators receive lesser penalties than those who commit the crimes, this is not always the case. Courts dole out punishment that is directly proportional to the severity of the alleged crime. For this reason, it is essential to have a knowledgeable drug conspiracy defense lawyer on your side who knows the ins and outs of possible sentences.