Fort Myers Drug Crimes Lawyers Getting Our Clients the Best Results Possible for Their Cases

Over the past several years, there has been a significant push to legalize certain recreational drugs, such as marijuana, across the country. While many states have legalized marijuana at a recreational level, other states have not joined in yet, including Florida.

While marijuana possession is one of the most common drug crimes, it is not the only one. In general, drug crimes are harshly prosecuted by the law. If you are facing drug crime charges, you may be facing serious potential consequences depending on the type of drug you have been charged with possessing or trafficking and the amount you have been charged with possessing or trafficking.

Simply being charged with a drug crime can put you in a precarious situation, let alone being convicted of one. Whether you have been arrested for or charged with possessing or trafficking marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, or other controlled substances, hiring a criminal defense attorney from our experienced Fort Myers law firm can give you the representation you need to make a major difference in your case.

You may be looking at serious charges, depending on the circumstances surrounding your case. Our Fort Myers criminal defense attorneys can work on getting your drug charges dropped or reduced. In some cases, state and federal drug charges can put you in a serious bind, making your future unclear. We can alleviate some of your concerns by aggressively fighting for your rights and freedoms every step of the way.

If you or a loved one has been charged with a drug crime, contact a drug crime attorney from our law firm as soon as possible to represent your case moving forward.

By calling (239)-444-5529 you can be taking the first steps towards restoring your life and your future.

What are the Most Common Drug Crimes a Lawyer Can Help Me With?

There are various drug-related crimes that a criminal defense attorney in Fort Myers can help you with. However, when it comes to drug crimes, two specific types are considered the most common: drug possession (possession of a controlled substance) and drug trafficking.

While there are similarities between the two, there are key differences that can determine what drug crime you can be charged with following a drug-related arrest.

Possession of a Controlled Substance (Drug Possession)

Being in possession of a controlled substance simply means that you were found to be in possession of a drug that is considered illegal.

Controlled substances are classified into groups called schedules. These schedules range from one to five, one being the most dangerous, addictive, and medically-useless drugs and five being less addictive drugs. These controlled substances include but aren’t limited to:

• Heroin
• Marijuana
• MDMA
• PCP
• LSD
• Hallucinogenics – mushrooms, peyote
• Opium
• Cocaine
• Morphine
• Oxycodone
• Methamphetamine
• Codeine
• Xanax
• Valium
• Klonopin

Being in possession of a controlled substance doesn’t always mean you have an illicit and illegal drug in your possession. For example, you can have a prescription drug in your possession and still be charged with possession of a controlled substance.

However, this depends on how many prescription drugs were in your possession. Anything over the threshold allowed with a prescription can still constitute possession of a controlled substance. Likewise, being in possession of a prescription drug without a prescription can lead to drug charges for possession of a controlled substance.

When it comes to drug-related offenses, it’s important to have a drug crime attorney fighting on your side every step of the way because of the complex nature of these cases. Many drug charges in Fort Myers can end up being a felony, depending on various factors.

We can determine the best course of action for you as you move through your criminal case.

Drug Trafficking

One of the key differences between drug possession and drug trafficking is intent. Intent, when it comes to drug-related charges, involves what you were planning to do with the drugs you had in your possession.

In many situations, intent to sell or distribute drugs is not clearly displayed at first. Circumstantial evidence typically needs to be uncovered in order for a drug trafficking charge to be levied against you. This evidence may involve certain drug paraphernalia, including scales, plastic baggies used to portion out drugs for sale, and other tools used to manufacture drugs.

Large sums of cash on you at the time of your search and seizure can also indicate intent when it comes to drug trafficking. Drug trafficking is considered a felony.

This means that drug trafficking is punished much more severely than possession of a controlled substance. Drug crimes on a state and federal level can be punished quite harshly. That is why it is critical to contact a drug crime defense attorney as soon as possible to get started on your defense.

What is Actual Possession and Constructive Possession?

If you have been accused of possession of a controlled substance, chances are you were accused of being in actual possession of a controlled substance or constructive possession of a controlled substance. Determining the difference between the two can further help you understand what may be in store for you as your criminal case goes on.

Although possession of a controlled substance is illegal any which way you cut it, being in actual possession of a controlled substance can be more detrimental to you than being in constructive possession of drugs. Being in actual possession of drugs means exactly that – you physically had drugs on you at the time of your search and seizure.
This can mean you had drugs in your jean pocket, underneath your hat, in an undergarment, in your shoe, in your jacket pocket, and anywhere else on your body. On the other end of that spectrum, being in constructive possession of a controlled substance simply means drugs were in your general vicinity at the time you were detained and searched.

Constructive possession implies that the drugs found may be yours but may not entirely be the case. Constructive possession of drugs is often charged to groups of people whenever controlled substances are found. This can be the case if a group of people is driving in a car together and drugs are found in an accessible place within the vehicle, such as a glove compartment.

In general, it may be easier to have your charges reduced or dismissed if you were charged with constructive possession of drugs, but it may require additional legal help from an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Fort Myers.

Contact our law firm today so we can get to know more about your criminal case and work to get you the best possible results for your case.

What If I’m Convicted of Drug Crime?

Controlled substance possession charges and drug trafficking charges can be incredibly costly in multiple ways. When it comes to your freedom, you may face extensive time in prison, depending on which type of drug your charge revolves around and the number of drugs you were found to be in possession of. Because controlled substances are separated into schedules, punishments vary depending on which drug schedule your drug crime stems from. For example, if you were found with a Schedule IV drug such as prescribed drugs, you may end up receiving far less legal penalties if convicted than someone who was convicted of possessing a Schedule I drug.

It is important to know that many drug crimes, like possession of a controlled substance and drug trafficking, are considered felonies in Florida. A felony is a far more serious offense than a misdemeanor would be. Misdemeanor offenses typically limit you to up to five years in prison. Felony drug offenses can end up costing you well over twenty years in prison, depending on the circumstances in your case.

Fines for drug offenses can range from several hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars. Typically, the more egregious your crime was, the more legal penalties you will have to pay. Aside from monetary fines and time in prison, you may also face lengthy probation periods, community service, getting your license suspended, losing your job, and having to complete community service. While the legal penalties for any type of drug crime can be steep, the social and financial consequences of one can be just as bad after you have served your legal penalties.

Employers tend to shy away from convicted felons, especially those who have been convicted of a drug felony. Creditors may also shy away from approving any loans you may need to finance a purchase. The social stigma of being convicted of a felony can also be a lot to handle for many dealing with the aftermath of a drug crime conviction. Drug crimes are fiercely prosecuted in court.

You need to have someone on your side to battle on your behalf from start to finish. Give yourself an opportunity to regain your rights and freedoms following your drug crime arrest and charge by hiring a Fort Myers drug crime attorney from our law firm. We specialize specifically in criminal law to help those in need fight against the charges that threaten their lives.

Whether you are facing misdemeanor or felony drug charges, you should take action and contact our drug crime lawyers as soon as you can. Especially if you have been charged with a felony, getting legal help from our drug crimes law firm can help you avoid substantial consequences like years in prison and more.

What are the Benefits of Hiring a Drug Possession Lawyer?

Drug charges of any kind can carry serious legal penalties that can hurt your rights and freedoms during your legal process and long after it is done.

You are within your rights to seek the legal help you need by contacting our drug crime defense attorneys in Fort Myers. With years of combined experience under our collective belts, we understand the machinations and nuances of drug charges, such as possessing a controlled substance and drug trafficking. While individual drug charges may vary in complexity, we can always put your case in focus and approach it with personalized eyes to your situation.

We can examine specific evidence that can help you get your charges reduced or dismissed entirely. There are many defenses that our drug crime lawyers can utilize to get you the best possible results for your criminal case. Law enforcement sometimes goes beyond their rights and illegally searches you.

This could get your charges dropped outright if your rights were violated. With our deep knowledge of criminal law and our experience utilizing evidence to achieve your desired results, our Fort Myers drug crime lawyers can make a major difference in your case.

If you’ve been accused of, arrested for, or charged with possessing illegal drugs or trafficking them, we can advocate for you every step of the way. Reach out to our legal team by phone at (239)-444-5529 to learn more about your legal options today.