Drug Offenses

Drug offenses involve the use, sale, or distribution of illegal narcotics such as:  marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, or unauthorized prescription drugs.  Unlike other criminal offenses, drug crimes can be prosecuted by state and federal judiciary systems.  In Florida, common drug offenses include:

• drug possession
• drug possession with intent to sell
• drug distribution
• drug manufacturing
• drug trafficking
• possession of drug paraphernalia

Drug offenses and drug crime charges differ in severity.  When a person is arrested for committing a drug offense, law enforcement will consider several factors before pressing criminal charges.  In most cases, law enforcement will consider the type of drug involved, amount of drug involved, if there was an intent to distribute the drug, if there was an intent to distribute the drug to a minor, and prior drug related convictions.  After these factors are carefully evaluated, law enforcement will decide upon criminal charges.  These charges may be enhanced if the offender has a prior drug conviction or if the offender sold to a minor. 

In the state of Florida, all drug offenses involve strict legal punishments.  If a person is convicted of a drug crime, he/she may be punished with:  imprisonment, monetary fines, court-ordered rehabilitation programs, probation, community service, and drug offender registration.  A convicted drug offender may also lose his/her right to drive and obtain student loans.  During drug crime investigations, the offender may also have his/her personal property seized by law enforcement.      

Drug offense convictions can lead to devastating, life-changing consequences.  People who are charged with drug crimes need to enlist the immediate aid of a qualified Florida attorney.  A drug crimes attorney can challenge the evidence presented against the alleged offender, evaluate the offender’s case to see if legal errors were made, question law enforcement, and negotiate with state and federal prosecutors.

If you have been charged with a drug offense, contact the Law Offices of Travis Reinhold for a free consultation.  Our experienced criminal defense attorneys will advise you of your rights and provide reliable counsel throughout the legal process.