Miami, Florida Drug Distribution Attorney

Lawyer for Charges of Selling or Distributing Drugs in Miami

In Florida, law enforcement officials take offenses involving the distribution of controlled substances extremely seriously. Prosecutors are likely to take a harsh stance against people who have been accused of selling or distributing drugs to others. A conviction for drug distribution can lead to a long prison sentence, steep fines, the loss of civil rights, a permanent criminal record, and other penalties. Whether the charges involve street-level sales or larger distribution networks, the consequences can be severe.

Stroleny Law: Criminal Defense Attorney, represents clients in Miami who have been charged with offenses related to the sale, delivery, or distribution of illegal drugs, including prescription medications that are provided to people without authorization. Our drug crimes lawyer understands how these cases are investigated, how prosecutors build their arguments, and how to develop a successful defense strategy while protecting a person's rights.

What Leads to Drug Distribution Charges

Under Florida Statutes Section 893.13, charges of drug distribution may be based on accusations of:

• Selling or delivering a controlled substance to someone
• Possessing a controlled substance with the intent to sell or deliver it
• Transporting drugs for the purpose of distribution
• Aiding or participating in a drug transaction

Importantly, a person does not have to be caught in the act of selling drugs to face distribution charges. Accusations of possession of drugs with intent to deliver can result in the same charges a person would face for drug distribution.

In many cases, prosecutors rely on circumstantial evidence to argue that a person intended to distribute drugs based on the quantity of the drugs found by law enforcement, the possession of packaging materials like baggies or scales, large amounts of cash, or evidence like text messages or other communications indicating that a person engaged in activities related to selling or distributing drugs. Because of these factors, someone who has been arrested based on the possession of drugs may face far more serious charges if police officers and prosecutors believe that there is evidence that they intended to distribute the drugs.

Types of Controlled Substances and Potential Charges

In Florida, controlled substances are classified into five categories known as schedules. Schedule I drugs are more likely to lead to more serious charges because they have a high risk of addiction and few or no accepted medical uses. Schedule II drugs are considered to be less dangerous, but offenses involving these drugs can still result in serious penalties. Penalties may decrease for drugs in schedules III through V, although they will often be classified as felony offenses.

Distribution of most Schedule I and Schedule II drugs is a second-degree felony. The penalties in these cases may include prison sentences lasting for as many as 15 years and fines of as much as $15,000. Certain Schedule I drugs, including heroin and fentanyl, may result in first-degree felony charges if a person is accused of distributing more than 10 grams. In these cases, potential prison sentences may be as high as 30 years.

Increased penalties may also apply if drugs were allegedly distributed in certain locations, including within 1,000 feet of a school, park, community center, church, public housing, or mental health facility. In these cases, distribution of most Schedule I and Schedule II substances will result in first-degree felony charges, while other substances will typically result in second-degree felony charges.

Defense Strategies in Drug Distribution Cases

Our lawyer can work closely with clients to determine the best steps to take to defend against charges related to selling or distributing controlled substances. The potential strategies that may be successful will depend on the unique facts involved in a case, including the actions of law enforcement, the evidence that is available, and a person's criminal history. He may take steps such as:

• Demonstrating Insufficient Evidence: Without clear proof that a person took action to distribute drugs to others, the prosecution's case may not meet the legal standard for a conviction.
• Showing a Lack of Intent: Our lawyer may argue that a person possessed a substance for personal use rather than to sell or distribute it to others.
• Challenging Search and Seizure Methods: If drugs were discovered during an illegal stop or a search of a person's property without a warrant, our attorney will take steps to exclude the evidence from being used during a criminal trial.
• Arguing That Entrapment Occurred: In some cases, a person may have been induced or coerced into committing a crime. Our lawyer can address actions by undercover officers or others who convinced a person to distribute drugs or threatened them with harm if they did not do so.
• Highlighting Chain of Custody Errors: Our attorney will review the handling of the evidence in a case. If documentation of how the evidence was obtained, stored, and transferred between different people or departments is missing or incomplete, it may not stand up to scrutiny, or it could be excluded from a case.
• Demonstrating False Accusations or Mistaken Identity: If a client was implicated by unreliable witnesses or identified using inconclusive evidence, our lawyer will take steps to demonstrate that they did not commit the offense in question. He may be able to raise an alibi defense and show that the person was in a different location at the time of the alleged offense.

Contact Our Miami, FL Drug Distribution Defense Lawyer

In cases involving accusations of selling or distributing, the consequences of a conviction can be severe. Our lawyer can provide effective legal representation when defending against these charges, taking steps to protect a defendant's rights and help them avoid a criminal conviction for drug distribution. Call 305-615-1285 to contact our Miami drug distribution defense attorney and arrange a free consultation.