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Federal Drug Crimes

Any type of drug charges can have potentially serious implications on an individual's life. Florida has tough state laws regarding these crimes, but being charged on a federal level can result in bigger fines, longer prison sentences, and other additional punishments.

While the U.S. government generally pursues cases involving large quantities of drugs, you may face such charges for even minimal offenses if you were apprehended by a federal agent. These drug laws are extraordinarily complex and can involve various sentencing enhancements that may dramatically affect your life.

Gainesville Federal Drug Crimes Lawyer

If you are facing federal charges, you cannot wait to seek effective legal representation. Galigani Law Firm represents clients accused of all types of drug crimes in Gainesville and nearby communities like Ocala, Alachua, and Lake City. Our skilled criminal defense attorneys are licensed in U.S. District Courts for the Northern District of Florida, including Gainesville, Tallahassee, Panama City, and Pensacola.

We fight to protect the rights of individuals accused of possession, delivery, trafficking, and many other alleged drug offenses. You can contact Galigani Law Firm at (352) 375-0812 or send us a message online to schedule a free, confidential consultation to let our Gainesville criminal defense lawyers provide an honest and thorough review your case.

Alachua County Federal Drug Crimes Overview

• What types of drug crimes can result in these charges in Florida?
• How are consequences determined for different drugs?
• What defenses do I have against these charges?

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Federal Drug Charges in Florida

Just as there are multiple drug crimes that may be prosecuted under Florida state law, there are several charges that may be pursued in federal court. Galigani Law Firm helps clients facing one or more of the following charges:

• Possession — Physical control of illegal drugs or illegal drugs found on you. Smaller quantities can be considered "simple possession," but larger amounts can result in a charge of "possession with intent to distribute" or even trafficking.
• Distribution — Selling, furnishing, or delivering illegal drugs.
• Trafficking — Despite the common misperception that this charge relates to the movement of illegal drugs, it is actually determined by the weight of the controlled substances involved. Drugs do not have to be moved or transported at all to result in a trafficking charge.
• Manufacturing — Participation (or even offering to participate) in any part of the process of creating an illegal drug.
• Cultivation — Growing plants such as marijuana or psychedelic mushrooms or any other plants used in creating an illegal drug.
• Distributing materials — Supplying materials such as chemicals, chemical mixtures, components, or any other materials used to make illegal drugs.
• Delivery — Physically delivering or having the intent to deliver an illegal drug. The physical exchange of money is not required for a delivery charge.
• Racketeering — Illegal business activities or obtaining money illegally through related criminal offenses such as laundering money, bribery, embezzlement, or various forms of fraud. This offense can also include obstruction of justice charges.
• Smuggling — Illegally transporting a controlled substance with the intent to distribute or sell.
• Fraud — Can relate to the illegal possession of prescription drugs, but other fraud charges relating to illegal drugs can include tax, bank, and mail or wire fraud.
• Conspiracy — An agreement between two or more people to commit an illegal drug-related crime.

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Penalties for Federal Drug Crimes in Gainesville

The consequences of these charges can be extremely serious, depending on the type and amount of the drug involved as well as whether you have been previously convicted. In certain cases, you could be facing prison sentences of several decades and possible seven-figure fines. Furthermore, penalties may be doubled or even tripled if you are older than 18 years old and distributed to individuals under the age of 21, the offense occurred near a school, college, or youth-related facility, or the offense was within 1,000 feet of a truck stop or highway rest area.

Controlled substances are classified under five schedules:

• Schedule I — The most dangerous drugs of all the drug schedules with potentially severe psychological or physical dependence, Schedule I drugs, substances, or chemicals have no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Examples include: Heroin, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), Marijuana (Cannabis), 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (Ecstasy), Methaqualone, and Peyote.
• Schedule II — Dangerous drugs, substances, or chemicals that also potentially lead to severe psychological or physical dependence and have a high potential for abuse but less abuse potential than Schedule I drugs. Examples include: Adderall, Cocaine, Dexedrine, Fentanyl, Hydromorphone (Dilaudid), Meperidine (Demerol), Methadone, Methamphetamine, Oxycodone (OxyContin), and Ritalin.
• Schedule III — Drugs, substances, or chemicals with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. Examples include: Anabolic Steroids, combination products with less than 15 milligrams of Hydrocodone per dosage unit (Vicodin), products containing less than 90 milligrams of Codeine per dosage unit (Tylenol with Codeine), Ketamine, Testosterone
• Schedule IV — Drugs, substances, or chemicals with a low potential for abuse and low risk of dependence. Examples include: Ambien, Ativan, Darvocet, Darvon, Soma, Talwin, Valium, and Xanax.
• Schedule V — Drugs, substances, or chemicals generally used for antidiarrheal, antitussive, and analgesic purposes, Schedule V drugs have lower potential for abuse than Schedule IV and consist of preparations containing limited quantities of certain narcotics. Examples include: Cough preparations with less than 200 milligrams of Codeine or per 100 milliliters (Robitussin AC), Lomotil, Lyrica, Motofen, and Parepectolin.

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Defenses to Federal Drug Charges in Florida

While a government agency like the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) may have an overwhelming amount of evidence against you, there is always a defense available. In addition to the tremendous help that a criminal defense attorney can provide with plea negotiations, federal sentencing, and numerous motions or petitions, some possible defenses to these charges can include, but are not limited to:

• Crime lab analysis errors
• Drugs belonged to another person
• Entrapment
• Inaccurate quantity of drugs
• Insufficient evidence or lack thereof
• Intentional police misconduct
• Lack of evidence
• Lack of probable cause for your arrest
• Mishandling of evidence by investigators or police
• Mistaken identity
• No clear possession or control of the drugs
• No knowledge that the drugs were in your possession
• Other violations of your constitutional rights
• Police procedure or protocol violated during investigation
• Search and seizure violations
• Statutory time limits for charges expired
• Wrong person charged or arrested
• You had legal prescription for the drugs, such as for medical marijuana

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Galigani Law Firm | A Federal Drug Crimes Lawyer in Gainesville

Galigani Law Firm provides aggressive criminal defense for clients in Alachua County, Marion County, Levy County, Gilchrist County, and Columbia County. We are licensed in U.S. District Courts for the Northern District of Florida and will work tirelessly to obtain the most favorable possible outcome for your case.

If you are seeking qualified legal representation for federal charges, our established firm offers a free consultation. Contact Galigani Law Firm right now at (352) 375-0812 or send us a message online to receive a no-obligation review of your case.