Central Florida law enforcement officers can make assumptions about what to charge you with if they stop you and find drugs in your control, including prescription drugs. Charges range from simple possession to trafficking, and one can rise to the other even if you have no intention of distributing drugs.
Drug charges are felonies. A conviction means you will lose your freedom, but it also means difficulty finding housing, getting a loan, and keeping a college scholarship. Your community may view you differently, and you will lose any guns you own. If you find yourself in this predicament, a Dr. Phillips drug trafficking lawyer can take charge and defend you.
If you are found with a controlled substance in your possession illegally, you will be charged with drug possession. Under the Controlled Substance Act (CSA) the federal government and Florida adopted a list of five classes of drugs that are controlled, some with no known benefits such as heroin, and some with valid medical uses but they are controlled through prescriptions. So, if your friend gives you a vial of oxycodone for your pain, and they are not prescribed for you, law enforcement could charge you. They can also charge you if you purposefully visit numerous doctors who all prescribe oxycodone for you, called doctor shopping, and you intend to distribute the pills.
Trafficking charges involve a greater quantity of drugs than possession. However, if you are carrying enough to qualify for a trafficking charge, the law will not care if you did not intend to sell, deliver to buyers, or transport what you are carrying, you will be charged with trafficking because of the weight of the drugs.
You could also be charged with possession with intent to distribute, a more serious accusation than possession for your own use, and not as serious as trafficking. This charge is determined by how much cash you have on you when drugs are found, if your home is searched and packaging material is discovered, or Orange County deputies find a client list, implying you are selling drugs. These incriminating finds require intervention from a Dr. Phillips drug trafficking attorney as soon as possible.
If you are arrested for trafficking in Dr. Phillips, remember that the prosecutor must prove the elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt, and our job is to refute the evidence, provide a credible defense, and get you exonerated, or the charges reduced. The penalties for those convicted of trafficking begin with possession of at least 28 grams and less than 200 grams of an illicit drug like cocaine, which is a first-degree felony, punishable by a mandatory minimum prison sentence of three years and a fine of no more than $50,000. Prison time ratchets up to a mandatory seven years and a fine of no more than $100,000 for trafficking 200 grams but less than 400 grams. Four hundred grams but less than 150 kilograms lands a convicted person in prison for at least 15 years and a fine of up to $250,000.
Other drugs attach to severe penalties, often because Florida has always had the dubious distinction as a drug trafficking destination. For instance, lax laws over several years allowed people from other states to visit pill mills, physician practices prescribing great amounts of painkillers such as hydrocodone. Today, those convicted of trafficking between 300 grams but less than 30 kilograms of hydrocodone face up to 25 years in prison and a fine of up to $750,000. For aggressive representation after a drug trafficking charge in Central Florida, contact a Dr. Phillips lawyer with a proven track record of successful advocacy.
We tailor your defense to the facts in your case. No single defense is suitable for every situation. Some common defenses to felony drug charges include:
We take defending you seriously and will seek and assess every scrap of evidence to ensure you receive exemplary help in this predicament. Call a Dr. Phillips drug trafficking attorney now if you are under investigation or have just been arrested.
A drug trafficking conviction means losses that exceed your freedom with mandatory prison sentences, but also the skepticism and embarrassment your family will experience, and discrimination that is common for convicted felons. Just because you are charged with a crime does not mean you will be convicted.
The best step you can take is to contact a Dr. Phillips drug trafficking lawyer for help. You have one chance to defend yourself before a jury and convincing them to acquit, or for a prosecutor to drop or lessen the charges, is what we aim for.
The Umansky Law Firm Criminal Defense & Injury Attorneys
