Fort Lauderdale Drug Trafficking Defense Lawyer
Drug trafficking is the large-quantity sale, delivery, manufacture or possession of a drug. While the crime is always a felony of the first degree, there are different penalties in place depending on what drug was involved and what quantity. It is of the utmost importance you hire a skilled Fort Lauderdale criminal attorney to defend you against these charges. Some people have even received the death penalty for importing large quantities of narcotics. If you have any questions about which specific penalties you may face, speak with your Fort Lauderdale drug trafficking criminal lawyer.
Marijuana is has some of the more lax drug trafficking sentences in Florida. The crime becomes trafficking whenever more than 25 pounds of the drug or 300 cannabis plants are involved. At minimum, the penalty for trafficking marijuana will be three years in prison and a $25,000 fine. The maximum penalty for marijuana trafficking involves situations with over 10,000 pounds of marijuana or 10,000 cannabis plants. In these cases, the penalty will be 15 years in prison and $200,000 in fines.
Cocaine has the least strict trafficking sentencing after marijuana. The sentencing is much the same as marijuana, with 28 grams being the threshold for trafficking charges. When over 150 kilograms are in question though, the crime becomes punishable by life imprisonment. Additionally, if someone was killed in relation to the trafficking crime, the sentence may include the death penalty.
Most other drugs have similar sentencing with one another. Once they meet the minimum quantity for the trafficking charge, a person can be sentenced with 3 years in prison and $50,000 in fines. When enough drugs are entered into the equation, the sentence may be the death penalty if the prosecution can show that the defendant knew the importation of the drug could result in someone’s death. In these situations, it is critical that you hire a top Fort Lauderdale criminal attorney that handles drug trafficking cases.
The minimum trafficking quantities and the amount that may result in the death penalty for a variety of drugs are included below:
- Heroin, morphine and other opiates: 14 grams, possible capital punishment for over 60 kilograms
- Phencyclidine (PCP): 28 grams, possible capital punishment for over 800 grams
- Amphetamines or methamphetamines: 14 grams, possible capital punishment for over 400 grams
- Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB): 1 kilogram, possible capital punishment for over 10 kilograms
- Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD): 1 gram, possible capital punishment for over 7 grams
- Methaqualone (quaaludes): 200 grams, possible capital punishment for over 50 kilograms
- Flunitrazepam (roofies): 4 grams, possible capital punishment for over 30 kilograms
- 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA): 10 grams, possible capital punishment for over 30 kilograms
If you have been charged with drug trafficking, it pays to hire a Fort Lauderdale criminal lawyer from The Stella Law Firm. If you have any questions, contact our offices today to speak with a representative. Our office prides itself on providing top criminal defense in Fort Lauderdale and surrounding areas.