Tampa Drug Trafficking Defense Attorney
Under Florida Statute 893.135 certain minimum mandatory penalties are prescribed for possession, sale, transportation, manufacture or delivery of a certain quantity of a controlled substance or illegal drug.
Drug Trafficking refers generally to buying, selling, moving or possessing a certain amount of a drug. The penalties are significant because a conviction could result in minimum mandatory penalties prescribed by the legislature.
Minimum Mandatory sentences for drug trafficking include:
Illegal Substance & Amount | Minimum Mandatory Sentence | Fine |
---|---|---|
Cocaine: 28–200 Grams | 3 Years Prison | $50,000 |
Cocaine: 200–400 Grams | 7 Years Prison | $100,000 |
Cocaine: 400 Grams–150 Kilograms | 15 Years Prison | $250,000 |
Heroin: 4–14 Grams | 3 Years Prison | $50,000 |
Heroin: 14–28 Grams | 15 Years Prison | $100,000 |
Heroin: 28 Grams–30 Kilograms | 25 Years Prison | $500,000 |
Methamphetamine: 14–28 Grams | 3 Years Prison | $50,000 |
Methamphetamine: 28–200 Grams | 7 Years Prison | $100,000 |
Methamphetamine: More than 200 Grams | 15 Years Prison | $250,000 |
Marijuana: 25–200 pounds or 300–2000 plants | 3 Years Prison | $25,000 |
Marijuana: 2000–10,000 pounds or 2000–10,000 plants | 7 Years Prison | $50,000 |
Marijuana: More than 10,000 pounds or 10,000 plants | 15 Years Prison | $200,000 |
It is important to note that these are minimum sentences which must be imposed absent a plea agreement, reduction, or dismissal of the charges. By law all Drug Trafficking charges carry maximum sentences of up to 30 years in prison.
If you are charged with Drug Trafficking your bail will be very high. There may also be a hearing required called a “Nebia Hearing” which requires witnesses to come forward and testify to the court as to the source of funds being utilized to post bail for the defendant.
It is essential that if you are a loved one is facing a drug trafficking charge that you hire an attorney who can effectively represent you at a bail reduction hearing. Ray C. Lopez will set a bail reduction hearing as soon as possible so that he can argue for a reasonable bail that is affordable. He will also contact witnesses and bail bondsman who may be used to satisfy the court that bail will be posted with legitimate sources.
The best possible outcome in any drug trafficking case depends like any drug case on the evidence against you and the mistakes that the police may have made in attempting to gather evidence against you. Attorney Lopez will explore all avenues of relief including pre-trial motions to suppress evidence or statements if it is in the client’s best interest to do so.
Please contact our office at (813) 221-4455 for a free consultation so that we may further evaluate your drug trafficking charge.
As a former State Prosecutor and Tampa Police Department lawyer Ray Lopez is uniquely qualified to protect your constitutional rights and fight for your freedom. Drug charges can carry minimum mandatory prison sentences depending on the amount involved. It is important that you select an attorney who understands the way the police think.
Get the Law on Your Side
Police and prosecutors have considerable resources and increasing leeway to intrude on your rights in the “War on Drugs.” Contact Ray Lopez to aggressively respond to the charges and secure the best possible outcome. You can call us day or night at (813) 221-4455 for a free consultation. Se Habla Español.
Schedule A Free Consultation
A Federal Court in Florida has declared the Florida Drug Statute unconstitutional. Your drug case may be subject to being dismissed or overturned.
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Ray C. Lopez, P.A.
Call Now: 813-221-4455 (24/7)
Free Consultations • Se Habla Español
115 S Albany Avenue
Tampa, FL 33606
Phone: 813-221-4455
Fax: 813-251-1517
Other Areas of Practice
All areas of criminal defense, including:
- State and federal drug crimes
- White collar and federal crimes
- Military courts-martial
- Bail reduction
- Divorce / Family Law / Child Custody
- Record expungement
- Civil forfeiture in criminal cases
- Juvenile dependency
- Appeals of criminal convictions