Tampa Drug Trafficking Attorney

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Drug Trafficking

If you have been arrested for conspiracy to traffic in illegal drugs (drug trafficking), including trafficking in cocaine, in the greater Tampa Bay area then contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at the Sammis Law Firm to discuss ways to aggressively fight the charges against you.

Drug trafficking is essentially an accusation that you possessed a certain quantity of a controlled substance. The possession of the drugs can be either actual or constructive. A drug trafficking conviction does not necessarily require a showing that you are a drug dealer, or that you even had the intention to sell the drugs to another person.

Instead, the prosecutor must essentially show only that you knew the illicit nature of the controlled substance that you possessed. Important defenses can be raised in these cases including contesting the illegal nature of the search or defenses related to your lack of knowledge concerning the alleged possession.

Under Florida law, a conviction for drug trafficking carries certain "minimum mandatory prison sentences" ranging from three years to life and hefty fines depending on the quantity and type of controlled substance involved in the trafficking offense. Minimum mandatory sentences for Federal drug trafficking crimes prosecuted in the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, carry incredibly harsh penalties and punishments.

Punishment Depends, in Part, on the Type of Controlled Substance Possessed

Drug trafficking offenses commonly involve the following types of narcotics or controlled substances:

Trafficking in Marijuana or Cannabis or Conspiracy to Traffic in Marijuana or Cannabis;
Trafficking in Cocaine, or Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine;
Trafficking in Heroin, or Conspiracy to Traffic Heroin; and
Trafficking in Prescription Medication such as hydrocodine or oxycotin.

If your case involves an aggravating factor such as a prior drug conviction, involvement in a conspiracy, or possession of a firearm, you could be facing an even longer prison sentence. After an arrest for any illegal drug trafficking case, contact an the experienced criminal defense attorneys at the Sammis Law Firm to discuss ways to aggressively fight your charges.

Contact an experienced Tampa drug trafficking attorney to discuss your case. We representation clients arrested on drug trafficking offenses, including trafficking in cocaine, in the Tampa Bay Area, including Pinellas County, Polk County, Pasco County, Manatee County, Hernando County and Hillsborough County.

If you were arrested for drug trafficking in Tampa, Bartow, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Brooksville, Dade City, or New Port Richey, contact an experienced Tampa Attorney for drug cases. Last updated on February 14, 2012.

Other Issues in Drug Trafficking Cases

Find out more about hiring an attorney to fighting for the immediate return of property subject to vehicle forfeiture or other asset forfeiture issues.

Find out more about "Nebia Hold or Nebbia Hold" which requires the defendant to prove that the source of funds to be used to post bond comes from legitimate sources.

An Overview:

· Florida Cocaine Trafficking Penalties
· Florida Cannabis Trafficking Penalties
· Florida Heroin Trafficking Penalties
· Defenses to Drug Trafficking Offenses
· Resources

Florida Cocaine Trafficking Penalties

Any charge of "Trafficking in Cocaine" is a first degree felony punishable by up to thirty (30) years in Florida State Prison. Florida law also provides for certain minimum mandatory sentences depending on the amount of cocaine allegedly involved in the trafficking incident:

If you are accused of trafficking between 28 to 200 grams of cocaine then the offense carries a three (3) year minimum mandatory sentence and a $50,000.00 fine;
If you are accused of trafficking between 200 to 400 grams of cocaine then the offense carries a seven (7) year minimum mandatory sentence and a $100,000.00 fine.
If you are accused of trafficking between 400 grams to 1.5 kilograms then the offense carries a fifteen (15) year minimum mandatory sentence and a $250,000.00 fine.

Florida Cannabis Trafficking Penalties

"Trafficking in Cannabis" penalties depend on the amount of cannabis involved in the trafficking offense, but each trafficking offense is a first degree felony, punishable by up to thirty (30) years in prison.

If you are accused of trafficking between 25 to 2,000 pounds of cannabis or 300 or more cannabis plants, then the offense carries a three (3) year minimum mandatory sentence and a $25,000.00 fine;
If you are accused of trafficking between 2,000 pounds to 10,000 pounds, or 2000 or more cannabis plants, then the offense carries a seven (7) year minimum mandatory sentence and a $50,000.00 fine;
If you are accused of trafficking between 10,000 pounds or more of cannabis or 10,000 or more cannabis plants, then the offense carries a fifteen (15) year minimum mandatory sentence and a $250,000 fine.

Florida Heroin Trafficking Penalties

"Trafficking in Heroin" charges are all first degree felony offenses punishable by up to 30 years in Florida State Prison. These penalties also apply to Opium, Morphine and prescription pills containing Hydrocodone (Percocet, Percodan, Roxicet, Tylox, and Codeine).

Minimum mandatory provisions depend on the amount of heroin allegedly involved in the heroin trafficking offense:

If you are accused of trafficking between 4 to 14 grams of heroin, then the offense carries a three (3) year minimum mandatory sentence and a $50,000 fine.
If you are accused of trafficking between 14 to 28 grams of heroin, then the offense carries a fifteen (15) year minimum mandatory sentence and a $100,000 fine.
If you are accused of trafficking between 28 grams and 30 kilograms, then the offense carries a twenty-five (25) year minimum mandatory sentence and a $500,000 fine.

Florida Amphetamine Trafficking Penalties

Amphetamine Trafficking penalties depend on the amount of amphetamine involved in the trafficking offense, but each trafficking offense is a first degree felony, punishable by up to thirty (30) years in prison.

If you are accused of trafficking between 14-28 grams of amphetamine, then the offense carries a three (3) year minimum mandatory sentence and a $50,000.00 fine;
If you are accused of trafficking between 28-200 grams of amphetamine, then the offense carries a seven (7) year minimum mandatory sentence and a $100,000.00 fine;
If you are accused of trafficking more than 200 grams, then the offense carries a fifteen (15) year minimum mandatory sentence and a $150,000 fine.

Florida G.H.B. Trafficking Penalties

G.H.B. trafficking penalties depend on the amount of G.H.B. involved in the trafficking offense, but each trafficking offense is a first degree felony, punishable by up to thirty (30) years in prison. G.H.B. includes gamma-hydroxbutyric acid including GBL or gamma butyrolactone. One liter of liquid GHB weights about 1 k.g.

If you are accused of trafficking between 1 kilo to 5 kilos of G.H.B., then the offense carries a three (3) year minimum mandatory sentence and a $50,000.00 fine;
If you are accused of trafficking between 5 kilo to 10 kilos of G.H.B., then the offense carries a seven (7) year minimum mandatory sentence and a $100,000.00 fine;
If you are accused of trafficking more than 10 kilos of G.H.B., then the offense carries a fifteen (15) year minimum mandatory sentence and a $250,000 fine.

Florida 1,4 BD (1,4 Butanediol) Trafficking Penalties

1,4 BD is a G.H.B. alternative drug which is also known as GHB-OH. It is metabolized slower than GHB and GBL. 1,4 BD trafficking penalties depend on the amount of 1,4 BD involved in the trafficking offense, but each trafficking offense is a first degree felony, punishable by up to thirty (30) years in prison.

Note that one liter of liquid 1,4 BD weights about 1 kg.

If you are accused of trafficking between 1 kilo to 5 kilos of 1,4 BD, then the offense carries a three (3) year minimum mandatory sentence and a $50,000.00 fine;
If you are accused of trafficking between 5 kilo to 10 kilos of 1,4 BD, then the offense carries a seven (7) year minimum mandatory sentence and a $100,000.00 fine;
If you are accused of trafficking more than 10 kilos of 1,4 BD, then the offense carries a fifteen (15) year minimum mandatory sentence and a $250,000 fine.

Florida M.D.M.A. (Ecstasy) Trafficking Penalties

Trafficking in MDMA or Ecstasy penalties depend on the amount of ecstasy or M.D.M.A. involved in the trafficking offense, but each trafficking offense is a first degree felony, punishable by up to thirty (30) years in prison. Note:

one (1) tablet weights about .25 grams;
forthy (40) tablets weight about 10 grams;
eight hundred (800) tablets weight about 200 grams; and
one thousand six hundred (1,600) tablets weight about 400 grams.

These penalties also apply to other types of phenethylamines.

If you are accused of trafficking between 10-200 grams MDMA, ecstasy or phenethylamines, then the offense carries a three (3) year minimum mandatory sentence and a $50,000.00 fine;
If you are accused of trafficking between 200 - 400 grams of MDMA, ecstasy or phenethylamines, then the offense carries a seven (7) year minimum mandatory sentence and a $100,000.00 fine;
If you are accused of trafficking 400 grams to 1.5 kilos of MDMA, ecstasy or phenethylamines, then the offense carries a fifteen (15) year minimum mandatory sentence and a $250,000 fine.

Defenses to Drug Trafficking Offenses

Defenses to drug trafficking, conspiracy to traffic drugs, and trafficking in cocaine can include contesting the legality of the search warrant, arrest warrant, vehicle or home search, or showing an affirmative defense such as entrapment.

Drug trafficking charges are treated very seriously under Florida law. The State of Florida is considered by the United States Drug Enforcement Association (DEA) to be an important area for international money laundering and drug trafficking operations. Major drug trafficking organizations are active in Florida because of Florida's 8,000 miles of coastline, proximity to the Bahamas, and ties of Floridians to Central and South America. Trafficking in cocaine is considered the primary threat within Florida.

We represent individuals charged with serious drug trafficking crimes in the Tampa Bay Area including Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Polk County, Pasco County, Manatee County, and Hernando County, FL. Contact an experienced Tampa drug attorney to discuss your drug trafficking case today. We handle cases involving an arrest for drug trafficking or conspiracy to traffic in Tampa, Bartow, Brooksville, Dade City, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and New Port Richey, Florida.Contact us.

Resources for Drug Trafficking Penalties

Federal Drug Trafficking Penalties - Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) list of penalties for federal trafficking offenses.

Drug Trafficking and Interdiction - Drug Policy Alliance Network provides information on interdiction efforts directed at international drug trafficking.

Youth Gang Drug Trafficking - Bulletin from the Department of Justice Office and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention about gang member involvement in drug sales.

Call the attorneys at the Sammis Law Firm, P.A., to discuss the particular facts of your case by calling 813-250-0500. Related criminal charges include:

Armed Trafficking in Illegal Drugs which is a Felony punishable by life in Florida State Prison (even for a trafficking charge such as possession of 14 to 28 grams of cocaine);
Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell or Manufacture (can be charged as a second degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in Florida State Prison);
Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell or Manufacture (which can be charged as a first degree felony);
Possession of a Controlled Substance;
Doctor Shopping for Prescription Drugs in Florida;
Trafficking Prescription Drugs in Florida.

When you call our office, our criminal defense attorneys will talk with you about the facts of your case either over the phone or in the office. Call 813-250-0500 to speak with an attorney today.

Sammis Law Firm, P.A.
1005 N. Marion St. Tampa, FL 33602
Phone: (813) 250-0500 · Fax: (813) 276-1600
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