A federal drug trafficking charge is a very serious allegation, and the penalties could include significant jail time. You will want every resource possible on your side to help you take on federal prosecutors. Unless you can present a strong defense in this type of case, your life as you know it could be on hold for a decade or more.
A federal drug trafficking defense lawyer in Cincinnati, OH from The Law Offices of Steven R. Adams, LLC can help fight the charges against you. These are serious accusations, but we can explain your options and help you navigate the legal process. Call our Cincinnati office today at 513-929-9333 for a no-obligation case review.
What Is the Difference Between a State and Federal Drug Trafficking Offense?
Federal drug trafficking charges stem from violations of the Controlled Substances Act, including:
- Selling a controlled substance
- Transportation or delivery of a drug
- Manufacturing a controlled substance
- Possession with intent to sell, distribute, or traffic
- Illegal importation or exportation of controlled substances
All these acts could also be offenses under Ohio law. The major difference between the two is that the consequences of a federal conviction are usually much more serious.
In fact, if the federal court convicts you of trafficking a relatively small amount of a drug, you could receive a fine of up to $5 million and up to 20 years in prison. Larger amounts could result in ten years to life in prison, and fines of up to $50 million.
Even relatively minor drug trafficking offenses, when tried at the federal level, can drastically change the course of your life. You may spend years behind bars. You will likely have to abandon your career or drop out of school. You may miss a large part of your children’s childhood. The mark on your record could prevent you from getting a job or renting an apartment. You will likely not qualify for government benefits or federal college loans.
The Role of a Federal Drug Trafficking Lawyer in My Case
Federal drug trafficking charges are not something you want to try to manage on your own. By enlisting the help of an attorney, you will have someone on your side who can offer:
- Support
- Knowledge of complex laws
- Legal advice
- Building a strong defense on your behalf.
You do not need to face this process alone. From the moment you enlist our help, we will work aggressively to get the best outcome possible in your case. We investigate your arrest and analyze every step of the process. We may be able to find issues with your arrest or the search of your property. We may be able to show mistaken identity played a role.
We use what we find during our investigation to build a solid defense to present to the judge and jury. We know the tactics federal prosecutors use to prosecute these cases and can use this to our advantage. We represent your best interests throughout this process and fight for the best outcome available based on the specifics of your case.
How Will You Approach My Federal Drug Trafficking Case?
While we will fight aggressively to get your charges dropped or reduced, how we approach your case depends greatly on the individual circumstances.
Some of the most common ways we fight charges include:
Presenting Evidence to Get the Charges Dropped
If we can identify evidence to show you could not have trafficked the drugs in question, you were unaware of the drugs, or there is other proof of your innocence early on, prosecutors might drop the charges entirely. Another way this can occur is if police failed to get a search warrant before collecting evidence from your property or made other mistakes. If the judge disallows the evidence against you, the prosecution may have no choice but to drop the charges.
Negotiating a Plea Deal
One of the most common ways we can help our clients avoid the more severe penalties of a federal drug trafficking conviction is by negotiating a plea deal with prosecutors. This type of deal requires you to plead guilty in exchange for a lesser charge and reduced penalties.
Representing You in Court and Winning a Not Guilty Verdict
In some cases, our best option is to present your case to the jurors and let them decide. We can collect a wealth of evidence to support your side of the story, and to counter the prosecutor’s allegations. We are not afraid to go toe-to-toe with federal prosecutors. We will argue your defense to support reasonable doubt about your guilt in the minds of the jurors.
Are You Looking for a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Cincinnati, OH?
If you are facing criminal charges, you need to speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Cincinnati office directly at 513-929-9333 to schedule your free consultation.