Drug Distribution Attorney in Myrtle Beach

30 Years of Criminal Defense. State & Federal Court. No Default to Plea.

A drug distribution charge is a felony from the first offense. Under South Carolina law, a conviction can mean years in prison, steep fines, and consequences that follow a person long after any sentence is served. The defense strategy for these cases is fundamentally different from a simple possession case, and the outcome depends heavily on how quickly a qualified attorney gets involved. T. Kirk Truslow, P.A. has represented clients facing drug distribution charges in Myrtle Beach, throughout South Carolina, and in federal court for 30 years.

Mr. Truslow doesn’t treat distribution cases as matters to be resolved quickly through a plea. He reviews every aspect of how the charge arose, how law enforcement built its case, and what defenses may be available before any recommendation is made.

Contact T. Kirk Truslow, P.A. at (843) 212-1116 to discuss the charges with a drug distribution attorney in Myrtle Beach. The firm is available 24/7 and offers free initial consultations.

What Constitutes Drug Distribution Under South Carolina Law

South Carolina drug distribution charges are governed primarily by S.C. Code Ann. Section 44-53-370. A charge doesn’t require police to witness an actual hand-to-hand sale. Prosecutors build distribution cases on drug quantity, packaging materials such as scales or individual baggies, statements made at or after arrest, and evidence gathered through surveillance or confidential informants.

Possession with intent to distribute (PWID) arises when the quantity of a controlled substance exceeds the threshold weight for that substance, and it carries the same potential punishment as a charge for an actual sale. When quantities climb further into trafficking-level weights, the charge escalates to drug trafficking, a separate offense with its own mandatory minimum framework. Distribution, in any form, is always a felony in South Carolina.

Drug Distribution Penalties in South Carolina

Sentencing ranges depend on the drug involved, the quantity, and the defendant’s prior record. Under Section 44-53-370 and related provisions, distribution of Schedule I(B) and Schedule I(C) narcotic drugs, LSD, Schedule II narcotic drugs, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine carries the following:

First offense: Up to 15 years in prison or a fine up to $25,000
Second offense: 5 to 30 years or a fine up to $50,000
Third or subsequent offense: 10 to 30 years or a fine up to $50,000

Distribution of marijuana carries up to 5 years for a first offense, up to 10 years for a second, and a mandatory minimum of 5 years up to 20 years for a third. Certain distribution offenses are classified as 85% crimes in South Carolina, meaning a defendant must serve at least 85% of the imposed sentence before becoming eligible for any early release. Parole and probation aren’t available for these offenses.

Beyond incarceration, a felony distribution conviction carries lasting collateral consequences: loss of voting rights while incarcerated, prohibition on firearm ownership, and significant barriers to employment and housing.

How T. Kirk Truslow, P.A. Defends Drug Distribution Cases

Mr. Truslow holds a Board Certified Specialist in Criminal Trial Advocacy designation and has served as lead counsel in more than 100 jury trials, including a Not Guilty verdict in a Trafficking Cocaine case. That trial record directly informs how he approaches distribution charges, where the line between acquittal and conviction often runs through the strength of suppression arguments and the credibility of the state’s witnesses.

Defense strategies vary by the facts but commonly include:

Fourth Amendment challenges: Contesting the legality of the search and seizure that produced the evidence
Confidential informant credibility: Examining whether the informant had motives to fabricate or exaggerate, or had a history that undermined reliability
Entrapment: Asserting that law enforcement induced an offense the defendant wouldn’t otherwise have committed
Mistaken identity: Challenging identification made through surveillance footage or informant testimony that is unclear or disputed
Chain of custody and lab results: Contesting the accuracy or handling of drug evidence

When a client is under investigation but not yet charged, Mr. Truslow pursues pre-indictment investigation and negotiation. After indictment, the focus shifts to building the strongest possible defense for trial, seeking dismissal or charge reduction where the facts support it, and preparing mitigation for sentencing if a conviction results. He is admitted to the U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina, and the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, which allows him to represent clients when distribution charges are brought in federal court, where sentencing guidelines are typically more severe than their state counterparts.

Why Myrtle Beach Clients Choose T. Kirk Truslow, P.A.

Mr. Truslow opened his practice in 1995 and has spent the decades since representing clients in Horry County General Sessions Court and in federal court on the most serious criminal charges South Carolina law carries. He holds an AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been named a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers.

What distinguishes the firm from many practices is a genuine commitment to litigation rather than a default toward settlement. Mr. Truslow exhausts every legal avenue before recommending a plea and is prepared to take a case to trial when that’s what the client’s interests require.

Anyone facing distribution charges, or who believes they may be under investigation, should speak with a drug distribution lawyer in Myrtle Beach before responding to law enforcement. T. Kirk Truslow, P.A. is available around the clock at (843) 212-1116 for a free initial consultation. Don’t wait to get counsel involved.

How Law Enforcement Builds Drug Distribution Cases

Most distribution arrests don’t follow from an officer witnessing a sale. Law enforcement in South Carolina frequently builds these cases over weeks or months before making an arrest, using methods that create distinct challenges for the defense.

Confidential Informants & Controlled Buys

Confidential informants are central to many distribution investigations. An informant may arrange controlled buys while wearing a recording device, producing audio and video recordings that become the prosecution’s primary evidence. The reliability of that informant is a legitimate defense issue. Informants may be working to reduce their own pending charges, may have a financial interest in the investigation, or may have a history that undermines their credibility before a jury. Defense counsel should obtain all recordings, law enforcement reports, and informant history before the case moves forward to evaluate whether any evidence may be subject to suppression.

Surveillance & Undercover Operations

Undercover operations and surveillance are also common. Mistaken identity can become a viable defense when a case rests on informant identification or surveillance footage that is disputed or unclear. Entrapment may apply when the record shows that law enforcement induced a person to commit an offense they wouldn’t otherwise have committed.

A thorough review of how the investigation was conducted, what warrants were obtained, and how evidence was collected is the starting point for any distribution defense.

When Police Ask You to Cooperate After an Arrest

After a drug distribution arrest, law enforcement or members of a Drug Enforcement Unit may approach the defendant immediately and pressure them to cooperate as a confidential informant. This decision shouldn’t be made without defense counsel.

Officers are permitted to describe the potential benefits of cooperation, but they don’t have authority to negotiate a defendant’s case. Only the prosecutor can offer a formal arrangement, and any benefit remains subject to prosecutorial discretion. Cooperation doesn’t guarantee reduced charges, a lighter sentence, or dismissal.

There are also personal risks. A defendant who agrees to work as a confidential informant may eventually be required to testify in open court, and the safety implications of that exposure are serious.

In some situations, cooperation may serve a defendant’s interests. Whether that’s true in any particular case depends on the strength of the evidence, the specific charges, and what a realistic assessment of the case shows. That assessment requires a defense attorney. Before responding to any law enforcement questions or cooperation requests, a defendant should exercise the right to remain silent and the right to counsel.

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