The state of Iowa seriously penalizes individuals who are alleged to have sold heroin within the state. The sale of heroin is a felony and depending upon how much of the substance the individual is alleged to have sold and to whom the drug was sold the person charged can face significant fines and periods of incarceration. This post will generally discuss the penalties for convictions based on the sale of heroin; specific questions regarding this and other drug crimes should be discussed with personal criminal defense lawyers.
A person convicted of selling less than 100 grams of heroin may be hit with a fine of up to $50,000. A conviction based on heroin sale of 100 grams of the drug to 1 kilogram of the drug may result in a fine of up to $100,000. Sales of heroin in excess of 1 kilogram are considered Class B felonies and may result in fines of up to $1,000,000 and up to 50 years of incarceration.
If an individual is convicted on their second heroin sales charge then their penalties can be significantly increased, up to three times the penalties discussed above. Sales to minors or in zones such as parks and schools may increase an individual's potential legal sanctions.
While the penalties associated with selling heroin are severe, readers should be aware that not every person charged with selling the drug will be subjected to the significant sanctions mentioned herein. In some cases a person may be referred to drug court so that they may address their drug problem with help rather than time in prison. A criminal defense attorney may be able to advise their client on how to pursue this path and potentially avoid the significant legal fines and periods of imprisonment that come with convictions based on heroin sales.