Cocaine is a white, powdery substance derived from the coca plant that can cause an intense, euphoric response when ingested and carries extreme addictive qualities. Possessing, using, or distributing cocaine are serious crimes at both the state and federal levels.
A Winter Park cocaine lawyer can offer essential legal assistance if you are facing cocaine charges. A respected drug defense attorney with extensive knowledge and experience in these matters, as well as with interacting with judges and prosecutors, can provide quality legal representation at each phase of your case.
Charges for possession, distributing, or trafficking cocaine are all extremely serious offenses. If you are convicted for any of these alleged offenses, you will contend with serious financial penalties, years in jail, and many other long-term consequences associated with a felony.
Possession of less than 28 grams of cocaine is a third-degree felony. That means that if you are convicted, you could spend up to five years incarcerated. You could also have to pay financial penalties as high as $5,000.
When a person is found possessing 28 grams or more of cocaine, even without intent to sell, the charge automatically upgrades to cocaine trafficking. A person who is charged with constructive possession or trafficking of 28 grams or more of cocaine, but less than 150 kilograms, has committed a first-degree felony and could face up to 30 years in jail if convicted.
Mandatory minimum periods of incarceration also apply to cocaine trafficking offenses. For example, if a person is convicted of trafficking cocaine in an amount of 28 grams or above but below 200 grams, they face a mandatory minimum of three years in jail, plus fines as high as $50,000. If that amount of cocaine was at or above 200 grams but less than 400 grams, that mandatory minimum jail time goes up to seven years, plus up to $100,000 in fines.
If a person is convicted of trafficking cocaine that meets or exceeds the 150-kilogram threshold, that is a first-degree felony with a potential prison term to life behind bars without parole. If a person engages in this offense, and someone else was killed as a result, they can be charged with a capital felony.
A Winter Park attorney can evaluate the details of your cocaine charge and what defenses may be open to you. We also work tirelessly to get you the best possible results while fighting to safeguard your future.
A cocaine defense attorney in Winter Park could deploy all effective defenses for your case, such as lack of evidence. If a single element of the prosecution’s case is missing, they may not be able to reach the burden of proof standard. Unless guilt can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, a charge will not lead to a conviction.
While it may be possible to get some cocaine charges dismissed altogether, other defenses strategies may revolve around getting the charge reduced or bargained down to a lesser offense. Common defenses to cocaine charges can include:
An attorney knows what evidence is needed and what strategies will prove most beneficial for your individual case. We could give you peace of mind throughout the legal process while serving as an essential buffer between you and the judicial system.
A variety of factors can aggravate or mitigate a cocaine charge. A prior criminal history, the quantity of cocaine, and whether you are charged with possessing or selling the substance are a few important factors that can affect your case.
The timeliness and quality of your legal defense will also play a significant role in the outcome of your cocaine possession or distribution charge. A Winter Park cocaine lawyer can examine the evidence against you and formulate an appropriate defense strategy that promotes a positive outcome.
There are many ways to fight a cocaine charge, so do not hesitate to speak with a criminal defense attorney who can immediately get to work advocating for your rights in and out of the courtroom. Schedule your one-on-one case consultation with our team today.
The Umansky Law Firm Criminal Defense & Injury Attorneys
