Help for Trafficking Charges in Pinellas County
St. Petersburg Drug Trafficking Lawyer
The state of Florida aggressively prosecutes individuals accused of drug trafficking. Law enforcement agencies have drug crime units or joint task forces that specifically target drug trafficking. This prosecution, combined with severe mandatory minimum penalties, means your future is at risk. A criminal defense attorney can help prevent the worst.
At The Law Office of Timothy Hessinger you will be represented by a former prosecutor who knows the law and know how to attack the government's case. If you were arrested for drug trafficking or face a drug trafficking investigation, contact us immediately.
Drug Trafficking Defense
Attorney Tim Hessinger uses his knowledge of the prosecution process and legal experience to defend trafficking cases. Our team seeks to reduce trafficking charges to possession or obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. To do this, we ask questions such as: Did police exceed authority in a wiretap or search? What kind of deal did their informant get for implicating you? Was your conduct justifiable or excusable? If the government used a confidential informant to entrap you into committing a drug trafficking act, you may have an entrapment defense.
Mandatory Minimum Sentences
State drug trafficking laws impose mandatory minimum sentences for drug trafficking offenses involving drugs such as cannabis (marijuana), cocaine, and heroin. These sentences are laid out below, and can range from 3 years in prison to 25 years in prison and $500,000 in fines.
The total discretion to reduce your sentence from the mandatory minimum is with the state attorney. This means that you cannot ask the court to reduce your sentence — the court's hands are tied. Our drug trafficking defense attorney is a former prosecutor. We understand how prosecutors prepare their cases and what evidence they need to reduce mandatory minimum sentences. We work with the state attorney's office to negotiate an alternative for our clients.
Drug Trafficking and Prescription Pills
Trafficking of controlled substances such as marijuana, methamphetamines, cocaine and heroin lead to serious penalties. However, trafficking in prescription medication can also lead to many years in prison and large fines. Even if you only had five pills in your possession, you can be charged with drug trafficking. The government does not need to show proof of sale of the prescription drugs — just possession.
For example, possessing five OxyCodone pills (4.26 grams) carries a three year minimum mandatory sentence, while 33 OxyCodone pills can lead to 25 years in jail. Other commonly "trafficked" prescription medications include Vicodin (Hydrocodone), opium, morphine, Valium (Benzodiazepines), Ritalin (Methylphenidates) and Amphetamines.
Free Consultation — Drug Trafficking Defense
Our Florida drug trafficking defense attorney will sit down with you and discuss all of your options, including the risks and rewards of going to trial for drug trafficking.
Call us 24 hours a day at (888) 863-7415 or send us an e-mail.
Florida Drug Trafficking Penalties
§ 893.135: Trafficking, mandatory sentences; suspension or reduction of sentences; conspiracy to engage in trafficking.
CANNABIS (the following represent "Trafficking in cannabis," all of which are First Degree Felony Charges):
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Charge In excess of 25 but less than 2,000 pounds or 300 or more cannabis plants 2,000 pounds but less than 10,000 pounds or is 2,000 or more cannabis plants 10,000 pounds or more or is 10,000 or more cannabis plants |
Mandatory Minimum Sentence 3 Years + $25,000 fine 7 Years + $50,000 fine 15 Years + $200,000 fine |
COCAINE (the following represent "Trafficking in cocaine," all of which are First Degree Felony Charges):
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Charge 28 grams or more, but less than 200 grams 200 grams or more, but less than 400 grams 400 grams or more, but less than 150 kilograms |
Mandatory Minimum Sentence 3 Years + $50,000 fine
7 Years + $100,000 fine
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HEROIN (the following represent "Trafficking in heroin," all of which are First Degree Felony Charges):
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Charge 4 grams or more, but less than 14 grams 14 grams or more, but less than 28 grams 28 grams or more, but less than 30 kilograms |
Mandatory Minimum Sentence 3 Years + $50,000 fine
15 Years + $100,000 fine
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