What are they thinking?  Why would they risk their lives and freedom for the mere pleasures that the selling of narcotics may bring?  Do they not realize that no one grows old and retires from this particular profession known as a drug dealer, street pharmacist, pusher, trapper, d-boy, and candyman?  Why not get a regular job?  Well, according to some drug dealers, they do have regular jobs.  In fact, some have more than one.  However, these jobs that pay a little over minimum wage barely scratch the surface.  In other words, the mediocre pay is not enough to pay all of the bills.  It is definitely not enough to pay for unexpected situations, such as medical emergencies or repairs on a vehicle.  Furthermore, the pay is not sufficient to pay for simple pleasures, such as taking their children out for pizza and/or a movie.  To add injury to insult, holidays are worse because these innocent children are not showered with gifts.  Actually, they do not receive any gifts.  And how does that make parents, or in some instances, grandparents feel?  According to the drug dealers, it is unbearable, and that is the reason that many of them sell drugs.  They are merely trying to survive and enjoy some of the simple pleasures in life.  We may disagree with their tactics and believe there are other ways to accomplish these goals.  However, drug dealers feel that their options are limited. 

In some instances, these individuals are not a part of a gang or drug cartel.  Moreover, they do not possess guns, and they have never injured or killed anyone.   Again, they simply feel as if there are no other options.  Surprisingly, these persons are not just the young, but elderly people have succumbed to this lifestyle because they are also trying to make ends meet in a world where Social Security and retirement checks are just not sufficient.  Consider the following cases. 


                                                                                                Proverbs 14:23 

Sirens shrieked as the elderly couple pulled their pickup truck over to the side of the road.  The officers approached the Toyota Tacoma and requested that the driver provide his driver’s license and registration.  Naturally, the driver wanted to know why he was stopped.  As a result, one of the officers informed the driver that he was driving over the center line.  Moreover, he failed to signal before he turned.  When the officers approached the vehicle, they could immediately smell the overpowering odor of marijuana.   Consequently, the deputies alerted the K-9 unit, conducted a search of the vehicle, and discovered 60 pounds of marijuana stashed in boxes that were located in the pickup topper. 

The 80-year-old man and 70-year-old woman said that they were travelling from California to Vermont, according to Lt. Paul Vrbka.  Of course, police officers arrested the couple and charged them with suspicion of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and no drug tax stamp.  The marijuana that the officers discovered during the traffic stop was considered high grade.  In fact, the drugs had a street value of $336,000.   

In another drug related case, authorities arrested a 73-year-old woman in Jim Wells County.  Specifically, 73-year-old, Andrea Flores was in her bedroom when officers raided the home that she was in at the time, located on the 1700 block of Carmen Street in Alice, TX.  Flores was packaging drugs and watching television when the officers entered the residency. 

After thoroughly searching the suspect’s home, officers found 40 grams of synthetic marijuana, 8 grams of cocaine, approximately 100 prescription pills, drug paraphernalia, a weighing scale believed to be utilized for weighing narcotics, and sandwich bags believed by authorities to be used for packaging illegal substances.  Consequently, authorities arrested Flores, escorted her to jail, and charged her with two counts of manufacturing and delivery of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.  The drug bust occurred after the successful investigation conducted by the Jim Wells County Sheriff’s Department focusing on the sell of narcotics. 


                                                                                                Matthew 25:31-46

Undoubtedly, these situations are heartbreaking because a grandparent should not have to succumb to selling drugs simply to survive.  As a criminal defense attorney, I uphold the law, and by no means am I condoning the behavior.  However, as a son and grandson of elderly individuals, I understand that Social Security checks do not always cover the bills and allow elderly persons to buy enough food to last throughout the month. 

The circumstances are appalling, and I refuse to look the other way.  I refuse to pretend as if it is acceptable to allow our grandparents to struggle and suffer in silence.  Undeniably, the conditions must be atrocious for an 80 or 70-year-old grandparent to risk everything to sell marijuana. 

Again, we uphold the law.  We do not condone the use or sell of drugs.  Nevertheless, we realize that sometimes people are placed in unfavorable conditions and therefore make regrettable decisions.  As a result, our law office is here to assist you.  If you or anyone that you know is facing charges related to controlled substances, please visit or call our law office, today.  Do not wait.  We are here to help you.