Call us now:
All Other Drug Offenses including MDMA/Ecstasy/Fentanyl – Learn About a Florida or Gainesville Drug Trafficking Defense
Below there is more information that will help you understand other trafficking offenses as well as their penalties. Learn what you need for a Gainesville Drug Trafficking Defense
What Constitutes Drug Trafficking in Florida?
Florida Statute § 893.135, if a person is knowingly selling, importing, delivering, manufacturing, or possessing an excessive amount of drug, he or she could be charged with drug trafficking. The drug must be a scheduled offense as defined by Florida Statute as well. Drug trafficking is not limited to drugs such as heroin, cocaine, or marijuana, it also includes controlled substances that require a prescription.
The following quantities are examples of the amount of illegal drugs which can trigger a minimum mandatory sentence pursuant to the trafficking statute:
Sentencing for Drug Trafficking in Florida
If you have been accused of drug trafficking in Florida, you can face a mandatory minimum sentence. Due to the severity of these offenses, you should retain the help of Gainesville drug trafficking defense attorney Matt Landsman.
If the judge finds the defendant guilty of drug trafficking, she or he will face a mandatory minimum sentence which is applied no matter what the unique circumstances of the offense or the offender are. So, if a first-time offender is found guilty of drug trafficking, with rare exception the offender will receive at a minimum the designated sentence. In addition to these penalties, if you are convicted for drug trafficking, you will also lose your professional and driver’s license, you will not be allowed to vote or own a gun, and your properties and assets may be forfeited.
How to Defend Against Drug Trafficking and Drug Charges – Potential Paths for Your Florida or Gainesville Drug Trafficking Defense
Every case is unique to that individual, but there are some concepts which you need to know if you have been charged with a drug offense in Florida. Some of these topics have been covered in other links here, but below is an additional synopsis.
Entrapment
In some drug cases, law enforcement officers might have induced or coerced a person to engage in illegal activity (for example, buying or selling drugs). If defendants were victims of entrapment, their lawyer may be able to use it as a strong and effective defense. Key to this concept is a lack of predisposition of the Defendant. To know more, and whether this applies to you contact Drug Defense attorney Matt Landsman today.
Illegal Search and Seizure
The Fourth Amendment protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures. Thus, any evidence collected in an unlawful search and seizure will be excluded in a trial. Being knowledgeable about how to challenge consensual encounters, traffic stops, detentions, pat downs, body searches, warrants, misleading interrogations, and many other circumstances is key to getting the best advice.
Lack of Evidence
For a person to be convicted for drug trafficking in Florida, the State needs to prove the elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt, and this means not just the possession element but also the knowledge element.
If you have been accused of drug trafficking in Florida, retain legal representation as soon as possible since the number adn type of issues that arise in these cases is quite high, and a Gainesville Drug Defense attorney can help.
Have you been accused of a crime in Gainesville or North Florida? Call or contact us online to schedule a free consultation in Gainesville Florida.