The team at Weinstein Legal is here to share information regarding how to beat a drug trafficking charge in the state of Florida. Drug trafficking charges are a felony offense, which can land you in prison for quite some time. A conviction can have far-reaching negative impacts on your life and you stand to lose quite a few freedoms. However, this does not have to be the case. Even repeat offenders have the chance to beat their charges and avoid a conviction with the right legal help.
If you are wondering how to beat a drug trafficking charge in the state of Florida and have recently been arrested for the crime, contact the team at Weinstein Legal today. Head of the criminal defense division and fellow partner Matt Shafran is an experienced criminal defense attorney in Florida who is ready and willing to fight aggressively in a court of law to defend your rights. As a former prosecutor, Mr. Shafran has a unique advantage in the courtroom. He is already one step ahead of the prosecutor and is well familiar with the techniques they will likely employ in an attempt to convict you. For a free case evaluation that is completely free of obligation, contact Weinstein Legal law firm today and ask for defense lawyer Matt Shafran. Call 954-845-0505 any time, day or night, to speak with a member of our team.
What Amount of Drugs is Considered Trafficking in Florida?
It is essential to understand what the charge of "drug trafficking" means in the state of Florida, as well as the specifics of the legislation. For example, there is a difference between the criminal offense of drug possession and drug trafficking–but what is the difference and how do you know which is applicable in your specific case?
The state makes a differentiation between the two charges in several ways, one of which is the amount of a specific drug found on your person or in your control at the time of your arrest. The statute that outlines drug trafficking laws specifically in the state of Florida is Chapter 893.135.
The definition of "drug trafficking" in Florida, according to the state legislature, is: Any person who knowingly sells, purchases, manufactures, delivers, or brings into this state, or who is knowingly in actual or constructive possession of a controlled substance over a certain weight/amount or under certain circumstances.
The amount of a drug for which trafficking charges are applicable varies depending on the substance. Drug trafficking charges may be suitable for the following weights and amounts of common drugs:
- Cannabis. More than 25 lbs or more than 300 plants, seedlings, or cuttings, if there is evidence of root formation.
- Cocaine. More than 28 grams of the substance or a mixture including the substance.
- Morphine, opium, or hydromorphone. More than 4 grams of any of these substances, including any derivatives, salts, or isomers of such substances (including heroin).
- Hydrocodone. More than 28 grams of the substance.
- Oxycodone. More than 7 grams of the substance.
- Alfentanil, Carfentanil, Fentanyl, or Sufentanil. More than 4 grams of any of these substances of their derivatives.
- Amphetamine or Methamphetamine. More than 14 grams of the substance.
- GHB and GBL. More than 1 kilogram of the substance.
- LSD (commonly known as "acid"). More than 1 gram of the substance.
This list of illegal, controlled substances is not all-inclusive of substances that may incur charges of drug trafficking in the state of Florida. There are many other illegal narcotics to which the charges may apply, including MDMA, MDA, prescription pills, and more. Additionally, the severity of the penalties associated with each charge worsen as the amount of drugs found in your control increases. This may result in longer prison sentences and larger fines associated with a conviction.
For the best chance at beating a drug charge, you need an experienced drug crime attorney in Florida fighting hard on your behalf to prove your innocence to the courts and secure your freedom. Criminal defense attorney Matt Shafran at Weinstein Legal is precisely the representation you need. He will stop at nothing to ensure that your rights remain protected and that you receive a fair day in court.
Penalties for Drug Trafficking Charges in Florida
The penalties appointed by a judge will vary on several circumstances surrounding your drug trafficking charges in the state of Florida. The official state legislature does outline minimum sentences based on specific stipulations that are related to your charges. For example, if law enforcement arrests you with a larger quantity of a specific substance you may face a longer prison sentence. Additionally, if a person dies as a result of your drug supply you may face a much longer sentence and possible manslaughter or homicide charges as well.
Other elements of your case that may affect the severity of your penalties will include whether you are a first-time offender or if this is a repeat offense, whether any minors were involved or harmed in the process of the alleged crime, whether any person sustained an injury as a result of your alleged actions, and your past criminal history.
In the state of Florida, minimum prison sentences for drug trafficking charges begin at three years and may exceed a period of fifteen years depending on the circumstances surrounding your case. Fines begin at $50,000 and may exceed $250,000, not including lawyer fees and court costs.
Additionally, there are many other rights and freedoms that you stand to lose as the result of a conviction. For example, if you are a parent a drug trafficking charge in Florida may pose challenges for your custody agreement, particularly if your children were present for any portion of the alleged crime. You may also have to forfeit any weapons or firearms that you own and you may lose your right to vote in political elections for a period of time. Being a convicted felon means that the criminal offense will always show up on a background check and you may find it difficult to find housing or employment in the future.
Do not allow any of these things to happen to you. The team at Weinstein Legal will evaluate your case and can best advise you on the strategy we will use in regard to how to beat a drug trafficking charge, therefore preserving your freedoms and constitutional rights.
What Is a Confidential Informant?
A confidential informant is a person who provides information to law enforcement regarding another individual or organization in relation to a crime. If you receive drug trafficking charges in the state of Florida and the prosecution notes that they had the help of a confidential informant, it is important to know that you may never find out who this person is. The prosecutor's office is not generally required to reveal a confidential informant's true identity, as many fear that it may put that source in danger.
However, sometimes, knowing who a confidential informant is in the case can be crucial to the defense team. It may be possible to show that the confidential informant has ulterior motives in sharing information with the police and that the facts they provide may be false. This is often the case in former business partners who have been scorned, former lovers, and even individuals who used to be friends but had a falling out.
In fact, it is possible for a defense team to call a confidential informant as a witness during the court case, and oftentimes that person is able to provide valuable information that sheds light on the tactics of the prosecution. It often comes to light that things may not be as they seem and this can greatly help your defense.
In the United States, you must also remember that as a defendant in a criminal case you have the right to face your accused. If an individual is giving information to the police that could land you in jail, you deserve the right to face that person in a court of law in an attempt to clear your name. At the Weinstein Legal Team, we work diligently to uncover all of the facts surrounding your case and believe that this is essential when considering how to beat a drug trafficking charge.
How to Defend Against Drug Trafficking Charges
When considering how to beat a drug trafficking charge in the state of Florida, many individuals wonder what defenses are available to them. Although drug trafficking is a felony charge that can carry steep consequences upon a conviction, it is possible to form a suitable legal defense that can help protect your rights and keep you out of prison even if you are a repeat offender.
The most common legal defenses against a drug trafficking charge include proving that you were not the individual in control of the illegal substances, or that you had no knowledge of their presence. To be convicted of drug trafficking charges, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you were the individual in control of the drugs and that you knew they were there. For example, if another person is riding in your car as a passenger when police stop your vehicle and they are arrested for having a large amount of drugs on their body or in their belongings, if you had no knowledge of the drugs being present it is unlikely that a court can convict you.
Similarly, if you borrow a friend or family member's car to run errands around town and law enforcement pulls you over, searches the vehicle, and finds illegal drugs hidden inside yet you did not know they were there, it may also be challenging to convict you. Other times that it may be more difficult to secure a conviction include drug trafficking charges that result in another person's overdose. It may be challenging for law enforcement to prove that you were the source of the narcotics that led to the individual's death and suspicion alone is not enough to convict a person and send them to jail for many years.
Contact the Weinstein Legal Team Today
If you are wondering how to beat a drug charge in the state of Florida and have an upcoming court case for these criminal charges, contact Weinstein Legal today and ask for criminal defense attorney Matt Shafran. Mr. Shafran has years of experience defending the rights of clients in a court of law and has secured a successful outcome for many individuals. Whether you are a first-time offender or you have received charges in the past relating to drugs or other criminal activity, the team at Weinstein Legal is here to help.
It is possible to beat drug trafficking charges. However, you need a tireless defense team fighting on your behalf. There are legal defenses available to you. The team at Weinstein Legal will use all of the resources available to them to help prove your innocence, including private investigators and more.
To get started working on your case and to learn how to beat drug charges in the state of Florida, contact Weinstein Legal today. You can receive an entirely free case evaluation with absolutely no obligation. We will review the facts surrounding your unique case and provide you with honest answers. Do not wait to start working on your defense. Every day that passes is another day that the prosecutor's office is working to secure your guilt. You deserve the same chance at having an excellent legal defense. Call 954-845-0505 today.