Drug Crimes

Because Florida is a major center for illegal international drug trafficking, drug offenses are aggressively prosecuted in the state. The amount of drugs involved in a person's arrest can determine whether the person will be charged with a felony or a misdemeanor.

A person arrested for a drug crime can be charged with at least one of the following offenses:

• Possession of drugs or drug paraphernalia.
• Delivery of illegal drugs.
• Trafficking/Distribution of controlled substances.
• Manufacturing narcotics.
• Cultivation/growth of a narcotic.
• Fraudulent sale or possession of prescription drugs.
• Possession of drugs with intent to sell them.
• Illegal use of a drug.

Drugs related to these offenses can include:

• Heroin
• Marijuana
• Medical Marijuana
• Cocaine
• Meth/Crystal Meth
• Ecstasy
• Crack
• LSD
• PCP
• GHP
• Other Designer drugs

Florida statute makes it a crime for anyone to distribute or possess drugs/controlled substances. Punishment for drug possession can depend on the amount of drugs involved.

A first degree misdemeanor: includes a fine of up to $1000 and up to one year in prison.

A first degree felony: includes a fine of up to $10,000 and up to 30 years in prison.

Drug trafficking: can include up to life in prison and a fine of up to $500,000.

The death penalty can also be imposed if someone was involved in trafficking drugs into Florida and knew that someone could end up dying because of this.

A drug-related conviction can also lead to disqualification from consideration for federal aid or state employment.

Under Federal law, penalties for drug crimes can be more severe than if a person were found guilty of a drug crime under state law. A person found guilty of a drug crime under Federal law can face life imprison and be required to pay a fine of up to $8 million.

If you are arrested for a drug crime in the state of Florida, an experienced criminal defense attorney can represent you in court and protect your civil rights. Your lawyer can also find out if you were subject to any illegal searches and seizures that lead to your arrest. There may be circumstances related to your drug charge that your lawyer can use to get the charges against you dropped or the penalties reduced if you are convicted.

If this is the first time you have been arrested for a drug crime, you may be able to participate in certain programs that could allow the state or court to drop the charges against you. Your attorney can help you with this.

Attorney Ralph Behr is a criminal defense attorney who has successfully defended hundreds of drug cases in the state of Florida. He is also a board certified criminal trial attorney who has the skills and experience to defend you in court. He will handle every area of your case and will be available to you every step of the way.

If you have been arrested for a drug crime in Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, St. Petersburg, Palm Beach, Vero Beach, Fort Meyers, Miami Dade County, Tampa, Broward County, Fort Lauderdale, or Orlando, Florida, and you need an experienced and skilled criminal defense attorney, call Ralph immediately at 1-800-761-3446.