Couple from Chester, SC Arrested on Drug Charges for Marijuana Trafficking and Cultivation
A former Chester County area high school teacher and his wife were arrested on Thursday, July 25th, after they turned themselves in when they learned about search warrants related to their marijuana manufacturing and trafficking operation.
James Melvin Banks, 50, and his wife Alison Banks, 35, allegedly knew about the marijuana trafficking charges by the time Banks quit his job at Chester High School. Banks was a junior ROTC teacher there.
The Chester County Sheriff’s Office issued a search warrant for the couple’s home last week while they were on vacation. Officers found 193 marijuana plants in the house, as well as over 100 pounds of processed marijuana in three separate rooms.
Deputies issued arrest warrants for the couple. On Tuesday, July 23rd, James Banks turned himself in, and his wife Alison turned herself in the next day.
Brooke Clinton, Chester schools spokeswoman, says that there is no indication that the marijuana trafficking operation leaked the drug into the high school. “At this point, it 100 percent has nothing to do with our schools,” she said. “It’s not a school-related issue.
The couple is currently out on a $25,000 bond.
Marijuana Trafficking in South Carolina
Trafficking charges are based upon the weight of the drug you are in possession of:
- Ten grams of cocaine
- Four grams of heroin
- Ten pounds of marijuana
In South Carolina, possession of drugs at this weight or greater is considered trafficking.
Misdemeanor possession of marijuana could put you in jail for 6 months and you could be fined $1,000. However, marijuana trafficking charges are felony-level and are very serious: possession/trafficking of 10 to 100 pounds of marijuana could land you in jail for as little as one year, and as much as ten years, with a $10,000 fine, for only the first offense. Owning between 100 and 1,000 plants is a mandatory 25 year sentence in federal prison, with a $25,000 fine.
Marijuana Distribution penalties can also be impacted based on where the sale took place and to whom the drugs were sold to. Distribution charges can be tacked onto marijuana trafficking charges if it becomes clear that the defendant sold the drugs he or she manufactured. In large quantities, distribution becomes a federal offense.
Federal Drug Crimes including:
• Importing controlled substances
• Manufacturing methamphetamine “Meth”, marijuana, or cocaine
• Conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute
• Possession with Intent to Distribute large quantities of drugs
Federal drug charges are serious and can lead to severe consequences. Many federal drug charges carry severe mandatory sentences with limited opportunities for probation or parole.
The Strom Law Firm Can Help with Marijuana Trafficking Charges
The marijuana trafficking and possession lawyers at the Strom Law Firm, LLC are dedicated to protecting the rights of our clients, providing aggressive representation grounded in our years of experience building and interpreting the laws of South Carolina. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss the facts of your case. 803.252.4800
