California Federal Drug Trafficking Attorney

Have you been charged with drug trafficking in federal court? Get the help you need by contacting the Law Offices of John D. Rogers to speak with an experienced California federal drug trafficking attorney.[1] Federal drug laws carry some of the most severe consequences and it requires a skilled lawyer to defend your rights. The government holds unlimited resources at their disposal to ensure you stand convicted. Contact us today to discuss your case and take early steps to mount your defense.

Overview of Federal Drug Trafficking Laws

Drug trafficking is charged when the government alleges you possessed an illicit substance harboring the intent to sell it. It does not require proof or evidence that you actually sold a substance, but rather you had the intent to distribute the substance to another. Federal drug trafficking can also be alleged via conspiracy or aider and abettor theory. Common forms of narcotic substances include cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, ecstasy, fentanyl, and marijuana.

Ordinarily, an investigation is sparked once the government receives information, usually through a confidential informant, and federal agents begin investigating. One should expect phone calls, e-mails, and even social media to be monitored and recorded by federal agents. Federal investigators can sometimes investigate large operations for months or even years prior to an indictment. Consequently, the evidence against you can sometimes be voluminous and overwhelming.

The federal government is normally interested in large scale cases versus small street operations. For example, the DEA is interested in the distribution of kilos versus small street sale grams. However, their investigation usually begins by charging low-level individuals and working their way towards leaders and organizers of the enterprise. Often times, the government will turn peripheral figures into confidential informants to help gain more information to support an indictment.

Defending Federal Drug Trafficking Charges

Because of the serious consequences for drug trafficking, having an experienced California federal drug trafficking attorney examine all the evidence and mount your defense is crucial. Inexperienced lawyers may be doing their clients is disservice by undertaking complicated cases and misapplying the law or facts towards your defense.

Ordinarily, federal charges result from confidential informants who provide information to investigators in support of search warrants. Accordingly, the credibility of informants is critical to establish probable cause regarding whether the warrant can legally be issued in the first place. A latent or patent defect in the warrant may result in the suppression of the evidence against you where the government will unlikely be able to proceed with their case.

Additionally, the government’s case may be built upon insufficient evidence from questionable sources. For instance, a witness who is expected to testify against you may suffer from a history of lying or is perhaps accepting a plea-bargain from federal prosecutors in exchange for their testimony.

Furthermore, you can have been an offender who has no authority is arranging the enterprise. Indeed, your involvement may have been carried out by duress or fear of retaliation by other members of the drug ring. In addition, knowledge is always a key issue in drug sales cases since you may have been a courier without specific knowledge of the contents you were transporting.

Consequences for Drug Trafficking

Federal drug laws are among one of the areas carrying mandatory minimum sentences. The consequences for drug sales largely depends on the amount and substance purity. Generally, a person convicted of selling 50 grams or more faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in federal prison. A conviction for selling a substance totaling 300 grams or more carries a mandatory sentence of 10 years in federal prison. Additional charges and/or enhancements may apply if the offense involved the possession of a firearm or carried out with a criminal threat.

Contact an Experienced California Federal Drug Trafficking Attorney

Retaining an experienced California federal criminal lawyer is crucial if you are charged with any federal drug offense. There are ways to receive a sentence below the mandatory minimum and several methods of contesting the evidence against you. Early intervention by a skilled drug crimes lawyer can help legally deflect the government’s case at its investigative stages. Contact the Law Offices of John D. Rogers today to schedule a free confidential consultation concerning your rights and defenses.

Footnotes:

[1] Our federal drug crime lawyers handle drug trafficking cases in Los Angeles, Newport Beach, Orange County, Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo.