Federal drug trafficking charges involving the manufacture, distribution, or possession of controlled substances with the intent to sell or deliver are serious business. The penalties for federal drug-related crimes are generally harsher than those imposed by state courts, and the prison terms are longer.
Depending on the type and amount of drugs involved, as well as other factors such as the defendant’s criminal history and role in the offense, federal drug trafficking charges can carry harsh penalties, including mandatory minimum sentences, hefty fines, and asset forfeiture. In some cases, federal drug trafficking charges can result in life imprisonment or even the death penalty.
If you are facing federal drug trafficking charges, you need a strong defense strategy to protect your rights and interests. For a free consultation with an experienced and aggressive Orlando criminal defense attorney at the Rivas Law Firm about federal drug trafficking charges, call 407-644-2466
Federal Drug Trafficking Defense Attorneys
A federal drug trafficking defense attorney can help you challenge the evidence against you, negotiate a plea deal, or present your case at trial. Some of the possible defenses to federal drug trafficking charges include:
- Illegal Search and Seizure: The Fourth Amendment protects you from unreasonable searches and seizures by law enforcement. If the police did not have probable cause or a valid warrant to search you, your vehicle, your home, or your business, any evidence they obtained may be suppressed or excluded from trial.
- Entrapment: Entrapment occurs when law enforcement induces or persuades someone to commit a crime that they would not have otherwise committed. If you can show that you were entrapped by an undercover agent or an informant, you may be able to avoid conviction or reduce your charges.
- Lack of Knowledge or Intent: To convict you of federal drug trafficking, the prosecution must prove that you knowingly and intentionally possessed or distributed the drugs. If you can show that you did not know about the drugs or that you did not intend to sell or deliver them, you may have a valid defense.
- Duress or Coercion: Duress or coercion occurs when someone is forced or threatened to commit a crime by another person. If you can show that you were acting under duress or coercion when you engaged in drug trafficking, you may be able to avoid conviction or reduce your charges.
Drug trafficking charges – the manufacture, sale, transportation, or possession of illegal drugs, mainly methamphetamine and cocaine – are the second most common type of federal criminal prosecutions.
What Happens if You Are Charged with Federal Drug Trafficking?
If you are arrested on state charges, the state prosecutor or district attorney will file charges against you, and your case will be adjudicated in a state court by a trial judge. If you face federal drug trafficking charges, however, the case will be prosecuted by a United States Attorney. The U.S. Attorney’s office will use federal investigators from agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Agency or the FBI to create a case against you and bring it to a grand jury, frequently in collaboration with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The grand jury will almost certainly issue an indictment.
There will be an arraignment, which is a hearing at which you will enter a plea and be sentenced. It is in your best interests to talk to the best defense attorney for federal charges that you can find. You should not face the power and resources of the United States federal government without experienced and aggressive legal representation.
A federal drug trafficking defense attorney can help you understand your options and fight for the best possible outcome. Call 407-644-2466 for a free consultation with an Orlando criminal defense attorney at the Rivas Law Firm about federal drug trafficking charges.