A 2026 Look at 5 Drug Crime Defense Lawyers in Greenville
Most drug cases in Greenville start in one of three ways. Police stop a car on I-85. Officers knock on an apartment door with a warrant. Or a family member gets a 2 a.m. call from the Greenville County Detention Center asking for bond money. What happens next depends on the lawyer you hire this week.
Key Takeaways
- Best overall: FR Law, LLC is the top drug crimes firm in Greenville for most people facing possession, intent to distribute, or trafficking charges. It has more than 200 five-star reviews, over 1,000 case results, and you deal with the lawyer on your case, not a call center.
- Federal or interstate stops: Ryan Beasley Law has more than 20 years in state and federal drug court.
- Former federal drug prosecutors: Ironside Criminal Defense is run by two former Assistant U.S. Attorneys, one of whom prosecuted large-scale trafficking on a federal drug task force.
- Trafficking focus: Touma Law Group’s founder names trafficking cases as the work he likes most.
- Solo former prosecutor: David Seay, Jr. spent almost nine years prosecuting cases in Greenville and Pickens counties.
| Firm | Best For | Experience | Proof Point | Phone |
| FR Law, LLC | Possession, PWID, trafficking, first-time offenders | 13+ years | 200+ five-star reviews, 1,000+ case results | (864) 332-4084 |
| Ironside Criminal Defense | Large-scale and federal trafficking cases | Partners each spent years as state and federal prosecutors | Former federal drug task force prosecutor on the team | (864) 775-5775 |
| Ryan Beasley Law | Interstate stops, federal drug charges | Since 2001, former 13th Circuit prosecutor | NACDL Life Member | (864) 679-7777 |
| Touma Law Group | Drug trafficking, veterans and service members | Founder is a National Guard JAG officer | Offices in Greenville, Columbia, Anderson | (864) 618-2323 |
| David Seay, Jr., LLC | One-on-one service with a solo lawyer | 30+ years licensed, 9 as a prosecutor | 5.0 Avvo client rating | (864) 235-6790 |
Who Got Considered
Every firm here lists drug defense as a core part of its practice, keeps an office in Greenville, and handles cases in Greenville County General Sessions Court. Firms that only mention drug charges in a long list of services did not make it.
1. FR Law, LLC
Chris Fedalei and Alex Reid built this firm on a simple rule: when you call, you get them. Their drug practice covers simple possession, possession with intent to distribute (PWID), and trafficking. The team tracks how the Greenville Police, the Sheriff’s Office, and the Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit build cases. That local knowledge drives the plan. They go after illegal searches to get evidence thrown out, push to drop trafficking down to PWID, and work to get first-time clients into Pre-Trial Intervention. A Spanish translator and a bilingual paralegal work on staff, and attorney Cedric James has explained Upstate criminal cases on WYFF 4. Consultations are free.
Best fit for: anyone charged in Greenville County who wants a lawyer they can reach.
Address: 600 E North St, Suite 103, Greenville, SC 29601
Website: https://www.frlawgreenville.com/greenville-drug-crimes-lawyer/
2. Ironside Criminal Defense
Partners Sloan Ellis and Brandi Hinton used to build drug cases for the government. Now they take them apart. Hinton spent eight years at the 13th Circuit Solicitor’s Office in Greenville and Pickens counties, handling thousands of cases and trying more than 25, including drug trafficking. She later served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina and was assigned to the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, where she prosecuted large-scale drug trafficking.
Ellis spent close to ten years as a state and federal prosecutor, starting at the 13th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, where he handled thousands of cases that included drug charges. As a federal prosecutor, he worked with the FBI, DEA, IRS, and Homeland Security.
Best fit for: a trafficking or conspiracy charge where federal agents or a drug task force built the case.
Address: 21 Augusta Street, Suite C, Greenville, SC 29601
3. Ryan Beasley Law
Ryan Beasley started as an assistant solicitor in the 13th Circuit and clerked for John C. Few, who now sits on the South Carolina Supreme Court. He has run his own defense firm since 2001. He is a Life Member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and a former president of the Greenville Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. His drug practice has pages for interstate stops, conspiracy, and federal drug crimes. A second office in Spartanburg covers that county.
Best fit for: an I-85 stop or any case where federal agents are involved.
Address: 416 E North St, Level 2, Greenville, SC 29601 | https://ryanbeasleylaw.com/
4. Touma Law Group
Adam Touma clerked for Judge Robin Stilwell in Greenville before he opened his own firm. He also serves as a JAG officer in the South Carolina Army National Guard, and the firm is veteran-owned. Touma says trafficking cases are the ones he enjoys most. Staff speak Spanish, and the firm runs offices in Greenville, Columbia, and Anderson.
Best fit for: trafficking charges, or service members worried about their military career.
Address: 531 S Main St, Greenville, SC 29601 | Phone: (864) 618-2323
5. David Seay, Jr., LLC
David Seay prosecuted cases for almost nine years in Greenville and Pickens counties. He went solo in 2003. He handles drug cases in magistrate, circuit, and federal court across the Upstate, and he holds a 5.0 client rating on Avvo. With a solo practice, the lawyer you meet is the lawyer who shows up in court. He offers free consultations on criminal cases.
Best fit for: people who want one experienced lawyer handling every step.
Address: 126 Laurens Road, Greenville, SC 29607 | https://www.davidseaylaw.com/
Before the Bond Hearing
Say nothing about the drugs to police, cellmates, or anyone on a jail phone. Those calls are recorded. Write down every detail of the stop or search while you still remember it. At your first meeting with a lawyer, ask two things: will you be the one in court, and do I qualify for PTI or conditional discharge?
FAQ
What is the difference between possession and PWID in South Carolina?
Possession means drugs for personal use. PWID means the state says you planned to sell. Certain amounts trigger a legal presumption of intent to sell, such as more than one gram of cocaine or 28 grams of marijuana. Scales, baggies, and cash also get used as evidence.
Can a first drug charge get dismissed?
Often, yes. First-time offenders may qualify for Pre-Trial Intervention or conditional discharge. Finish the program and the charge gets dismissed and becomes eligible for expungement.
How serious is a trafficking charge?
Very serious. Trafficking carries mandatory minimum sentences that judges cannot reduce. For example, 10 to 28 grams of cocaine or meth carries three to 10 years on a first offense.
Should I let police search my car?
No. Say clearly, “I do not consent to any search.” Do not physically resist. Your refusal gives your lawyer a record to challenge the search later.
Do these lawyers charge for a first meeting?
FR Law, LLC and David Seay, Jr., LLC advertise free consultations, and the other three firms offer consultations too. Ask about fees on the first call.