In Florida, if you sell, manufacture, or deliver a controlled substance, it is considered a felony. The degree of felony depends on what exactly the controlled substance is. Because methamphetamine is considered more dangerous, delivery of that drug is considered a higher felony than delivery of marijuana. According to authorities, the Sheriff’s Office does not believe that the officer was “selling” the drugs, just being paid the smuggle them into the facility. JSO is continuing it’s investigation by conducting interviews of inmates and fellow officers to try to find out how pervasive this issue is.

The third charge is introducing contraband into a corrections facility. It is against Florida law to introduce contraband items into or possess in a county detention facility or give or receive contraband items from an inmate. These items include money, food, tobacco products, intoxicating drinks, narcotics, hypnotics, nasal inhalers, sleeping pills, marijuana, guns and cell phones. Anyone can be charged with this crime, including civilians, lawyers and law enforcement officers. Speaking from experience, lawyers and civilians are searched before they can enter the facility. We go through metal detectors and are subject to further search. It is not clear what search procedures, if any, corrections officers go through before they begin their shift. Since this arrest, security at the jail will most certainly be elevated.

If you or a loved one needs a criminal defense attorney in Jacksonville or the surrounding area, call The Mussallem Law Firm at (904) 365-5200 for a FREE CONSULTATION. Our Jacksonville Drug Attorney, Victoria “Tori” Mussallem, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Most of the criminal charges stemming from this drug bust are sale of drug charges. The people arrested for selling drugs in this sting are accused of selling cocaine, heroin, controlled substance (commonly pills), marijuana and methamphetamine. In order to be convicted of sale of any illegal drug in Florida, the state of Florida must prove that the substance is a controlled substance and that the suspect either sold, bought or delivered the drug. Selling a drug is defined as transferring or delivering something to another person in exchange for money or something of value. Delivery of a drug is defined as transferring of a controlled substance from one person to another. Under the “delivery” part of the statute, you can be prosecuted even if you are just the middle man. Sale of drugs in Florida is a second degree felony punishable by up to fifteen years in prison.

The second most common crime people were arrested for is possession of the drugs mentioned above and possession of paraphernalia. You can possess anything under Florida law in two ways. Possession of drugs in Jacksonville means you have personal charge of a thing. Actual possession is when you have the drug in your hand, on your person, in a container in your hand or so close it is in your ready reach and control. Constructive possession of drugs is a bit more obscure. Constructive possession means the drug is in a place over which the suspect has control. When police search a car and find drugs with multiple people in the car, they will often arrest everyone for possessing the drug, even though under our law, they all cannot possess it. Police threaten to arrest everyone or in fact arrest everyone to get someone to either take responsibility for the drug or point fingers. If everyone in the car says nothing, it is very difficult to prove who had sole possession.

If you or a loved one needs a criminal defense attorney in Jacksonville or the surrounding area, call The Mussallem Law Firm at (904) 365-5200 for a FREE CONSULTATION. Our Jacksonville Drug Attorney, Victoria “Tori” Mussallem, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

In many Florida drug bust cases, the narcotics officers posing as drug buyers approach a person and ask if they can buy drugs. Often times, the detectives are led to the “seller” by a confidential informant. This informant is usually working off a criminal case of their own hoping to make their situation better by setting up others. Once the introduction is made, police give marked money in return for the drugs. The police can make a Nassau County drug sale arrest right after the transaction or wait to conduct future sales. Police often use audio or video recording devices to chronicle the exchange. After the arrest is made, police attempt to get the suspect to confess to the sale.

Sale of drugs, from cocaine to controlled pills, is a second degree felony punishable by up to fifteen years in prison. Under Florida law, the substance sold has to be a controlled substance, such as heroin, cocaine, hydrocodone, etc. “Sale” is giving the drug to another person for money or something else of value agreed upon by both parties. If the quantity of the drugs is more than a set threshold under Florida law, the sale can transform to trafficking. When someone is charged with trafficking a substance, minimum mandatory sentences and immense fines come into play. Some people under Operation Liquidation were arrested for possessing drugs. “Possession” can be actual or constructive. Actual possession means you actually have the drug in your hand or on your person. Constructive possession means that you have control over the place where the drug is located. Possession of cocaine and heroin is a third degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison. If you possess over twenty grams of marijuana, it is also a third degree felony. If under twenty grams, the Florida marijuana possession charge is a first degree misdemeanor.

If you or a loved one needs a criminal defense attorney in Jacksonville or the surrounding area, call The Mussallem Law Firm at (904) 365-5200 for a FREE CONSULTATION. Our Nassau County Drug Attorney, Victoria “Tori” Mussallem, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Possession of less than twenty grams of marijuana is a first degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail. If you are issued a notice to appear or are arrested for this misdemeanor drug charge, you are most likely not facing any jail time. A person with no record is eligible for pretrial diversion programs and other options when facing this crime. One big issue that is not widely known is that if convicted of a possession of marijuana, even a misdemeanor, you will lose your driver’s license for two years. In Gaffney’s case, the police approached his car and claimed to smell the odor of burnt marijuana. This observation allows police to search the car they believe the smell is coming from. Even if no pot is found, the police will claim the person must have thrown the marijuana out before they got there.

A violation of injunction charge is also a first degree misdemeanor in Florida. If an injunction is signed by a judge, whether temporary or permanent, and that injunction has been served on the respondent, each violation is considered a new charge. Injunctions usually prevent a respondent from going within 500 feet of the petitioner’s person, home and place of work. Injunctions also prevent the respondent from possessing any firearms and may require the respondent to take anger management or domestic battery classes. In Gaffney’s case, the petitioner had a temporary injunction on him and a hearing on making it permanent has not yet occurred.

If you or a loved one needs a criminal defense attorney in Jacksonville or the surrounding area, call The Mussallem Law Firm at (904) 365-5200 for a FREE CONSULTATION. Our Jacksonville Drug Crime Attorney, Victoria “Tori” Mussallem, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Whenever someone enters a plea to a felony charge in Duval, Clay, Nassau or St. Johns Counties, the judge recites a plea colloquy. This conversation/question and answer session is designed to make sure a defendant fully understands the consequences of their plea. The judge advises the defendant of the nature of the charges, the minimum and maximum possible punishments, all the possible defenses to the charge and mitigation in each case. Judges also make sure to ask whether or not the plea is voluntarily made and ask if defendant has been promised anything, other than a negotiated disposition, to enter the plea. In addition to making sure the plea is freely made, judges also have to advise a defendant the rights they are giving up. Every arrested person has the right to a trial, the right to be represented by a criminal defense lawyer, the right to present witnesses on their behalf, the right to require the prosecutor’s office to prove the case against them beyond all reasonable doubt and the right against self-incrimination. Judges also remind defendants of the consequences of their plea, such as deportation.

If Duval county and others, there are forms that a defendant must read and sign prior to entering a plea to a felony charge. It is important to consult with an experienced St. Johns County criminal attorney prior to entering plea to the judge or negotiating with the the state attorney’s office.

If you or a loved one needs a criminal defense attorney in Jacksonville or the surrounding area, call The Mussallem Law Firm at (904) 365-5200 for a FREE CONSULTATION. Our St. Johns County Drug Attorney, Victoria “Tori” Mussallem, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

In Duval County and all over the state of Florida, possession of heroine, a controlled substance, is a third degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison. Possession can be in one of two ways, either actual or constructive. Actual possession is when a person has the drug in their hand, in a container on the person, or so close to the person only they can readily reach it. Constructive possession means that the drug is in a place and only the suspect can control. For example, if the driver of a car is the only person in the car, they constructively possess a drug found in the backseat of the car.

Sale of heroin is considered more serious than simply possessing the drug. If convicted of selling heroin in Jacksonville, a suspect is facing up to fifteen years in prison. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office typically runs “buy bust” operations to catch alleged drug sellers. It is usually two undercover narcotic detectives posing as drug users/abusers. They make contact with a potential seller through a tip or confidential informant to purchase some drugs. When they meet, these drug detectives have recording devices on their clothes. The recordings are usually audio, but sometimes contain video evidence. Once the buy is made, the police will do a predetermined take-down signal and the suspect is arrested.

If a person possesses, sells, buys or manufactures at least four grams of heroin, they can be arrested for trafficking in heroin Florida. Many people think “trafficking” means just selling, but not so in Florida. Having that amount that amount in your pocket is considered the same under Florida law as if you sold it on the street. If you have four to fourteen grams of heroin, you are facing up to thirty years in prison with a three year minimum mandatory sentence with a $50,000 fine. If you have over fourteen grams but less than twenty eight grams, you are facing a fifteen year minimum in prison with a $100,000 fine. If you possess more than twenty eight grams, but less than thirty kilograms, you are facing a twenty five year minimum mandatory sentence with a whopping $500,000 fine. Needless to say, the Florida legislature intended to send a strong message when deciding the punishment for heroin related crimes.

If you or a loved one needs a criminal defense attorney in Jacksonville or the surrounding area, call The Mussallem Law Firm at (904) 365-5200 for a FREE CONSULTATION. Our Jacksonville Drug Attorney, Victoria “Tori” Mussallem, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The first man was charged with two misdemeanor counts – the initial theft charge police were investigating and a marijuana possession charge – and a felony possession of a controlled substance charge for the methamphetamines. The felony is a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in state prison. The second man in this Clay County Drug Crimes Case was charged with manufacturing methamphetamines and possession of methamphetamines with intent to sell. Each of those charges is a second-degree felony with a maximum penalty of 15 years in state prison.

Charges and potential sentences in Clay County Drug Cases are based primarily on two main factors: the type of drug the person is a accused of possessing, and the amount of said drug. The difference is clear in the charges against the first man in this Clay County Drug Crimes Case. Police find marijuana and meth on him when they go to talk to him about the theft. He is facing no more than a year in the county jail for the marijuana charge, but up to five years for having methamphetamines. For the second man in this Clay County Drug Crimes Case, he likely had a larger amount of the drug, but not enough to constitute drug trafficking. Drug trafficking charges are based solely on the amount of the drug a person is accused of having – not on the physical selling of narcotics. Trafficking thresholds start low in Clay County Drug Crimes Cases involving methamphetamines and trafficking charges are first-degree felonies with maximum penalties of 30 years in prison a minimum mandatory sentences kicking in with as little as 14 grams of the drug.

Our Clay County Drug Crimes Attorney represents people on all types of drug charges – from misdemeanor marijuana possession on up to trafficking in and manufacturing methamphetamines. Our Clay County Criminal Defense Attorney will thoroughly investigate the case against you or your loved one and provide you with the information to make the best decision going forward.

If you or a loved one needs a criminal defense attorney in Jacksonville or the surrounding area, call The Mussallem Law Firm at (904) 365-5200 for a FREE CONSULTATION. Our Clay County Drug Crimes Attorney, Victoria “Tori” Mussallem, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The man was charged with four separate charges of possession with intent to sell – one each for cocaine, opiates, marijuana and steroids. The charges involving cocaine and opiates are both second degree felonies with a maximum sentence of 15 years in state prison. The charges involving marijuana are third-degree felonies punishable by up to five years in state prison. In fact, the charge for actually selling marijuana to an undercover officer is also only a third-degree felony. So, having cocaine and planning to sell it can lead to 10 more years in prison than actually selling marijuana. This case exemplifies the fact that the charges in Jacksonville Drug Crimes Cases are based primarily on two main factors: the type of drug the person is accused of possession or selling, and the amount of the drug police allege the person possesses. The court system does not look at all drugs equally, and places much stricter penalties on crimes involving cocaine than it does on crimes involving marijuana.

In this Jacksonville Drug Crimes Case, though, the initial contact was around the sale of marijuana. In most Jacksonville Drug Crimes Cases involving the sale of drugs to undercover officers, detectives will have some sort of recording of the transaction, most likely an audio recording. That evidence will be critical to the case and there are several important policies and procedures police must follow in order for the recordings to be admissible in court. Our experienced Jacksonville Drug Crimes Attorney represents people accused of all types of Jacksonville Drug Crimes and can review the evidence the state plans to present and determine if it meets the strict standards of the court.

If you or a loved one needs a criminal defense attorney in Jacksonville or the surrounding area, call The Mussallem Law Firm at (904) 365-5200 for a FREE CONSULTATION. Our Duval County Drug Crimes Attorney, Victoria “Tori” Mussallem, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Clay County arrest warrants are not uncommon in drug deals, buying or selling. The police will make contact with a supposed drug seller and form a “relationship”. The police will make one buy and go on about their way. They then proceed to rack up more sales over the next week or so and then ultimately make all of the drug sale arrests at the same time. Police use this tactic to increase the penalties one is facing to increase the chance of a plea to the charges. It seems irresponsible to leave a drug seller on the streets for weeks if the police really wanted to protect the community. Even so, this tactic is not only used by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, but is also used by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

The officer in this case is facing a second degree drug sale felony. The sale of heroin is punishable by up to fifteen years in prison. In many cases, police receive a tip from a confidential informant, likely working off a case of their own, that someone is selling a drug. The informant is usually the middleman between police and the suspect. The informant can conduct the “buy” on their own or simply make an introduction. Often times, the informant or drug detective is wearing an audio or video recording device.

Selling all controlled substances is illegal, but there are levels. If you are convicted of selling marijuana in Clay County, it is a third degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison. Selling heroin, cocaine, or methamphetamine is a second degree felony in Florida. If you are accused of selling any drug, it is important to speak to a Clay County Criminal Attorney about your rights, your defense, and your options. Our Clay Criminal Lawyer has represented thousands of clients on drug charges.

If you or a loved one needs a criminal defense attorney in Jacksonville or the surrounding area, call The Mussallem Law Firm at (904) 365-5200 for a FREE CONSULTATION. Our Clay County Drug Attorney, Victoria “Tori” Mussallem, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

As the case turned out, it appears that detectives and the state may have significantly overplayed their hand. Trafficking in marijuana is a first-degree felony with a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison that also has a minimum mandatory sentence of three years in state prison. The state dropped that charge, as well as the possessing a place for manufacturing or trafficking a controlled (a second-degree felony with a maximum penalty of 15 years in state prison) and the manufacturing marijuana charge (a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in state prison). So that’s a potential 60 years in state prison on charges the state just dropped. That is rare to find in St. Johns County Drug Crimes Cases. The couple initially told police they were growing the drug for medicinal use and did nothing wrong

Now while pleading guilty is technically an admission of guilt, it can also be a procedural move to get the case resolved and receive a sentence that is manageable, rather than push the case to trial and risk a stiffer punishment – particularly when there is a minimum mandatory sentence involved. Our St. Johns County Drug Crimes Attorney represents people arrested on all types of drug charges, from misdemeanor marijuana possession on up to felony trafficking charges that have a minimum mandatory sentence. Our St. Johns County Criminal Defense Attorney will investigate the case against you and provide information so you or your loved one can make the best decision moving forward.

If you or a loved one needs a criminal defense attorney in Jacksonville or the surrounding area, call The Mussallem Law Firm at (904) 365-5200 for a FREE CONSULTATION. Our St. Johns County Drug Crimes Attorney, Victoria “Tori” Mussallem, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

So if the defendant in this St. Johns County Drug Crimes Case was convicted of all counts and sentenced to the maximum, he’d be looking at 70 years in state prison. While that is highly unlikely, he is facing very serious charges. In St. Johns County Drug Crime Cases, the charges are based on two primary factors: the type and amount of the drug the person is accused of possessing. For example, one of the charges in this case is trafficking in methamphetamines. While this charge sounds like the man is accused of selling large quantities of the drug, it has nothing to do with selling drugs. Trafficking charges are based solely on the amount of the drug the person is accused of possessing. In St. Johns County Drug Crimes Cases involving meth, the trafficking amount begins at 14 grams. As a comparison, drug charges involving marijuana are still misdemeanors at that amount. Trafficking charges also have minimum mandatory sentences that apply based on the amount of the drug the person is accused of possessing.

Our St. Johns County Drug Crimes attorney represents people facing all types of drug charges, from misdemeanor marijuana possession on up to trafficking in or manufacturing methamphetamines. Our St. Johns County Criminal Defense Attorney will thoroughly investigate your case and provide you or your loved one with the information you need to make a decision on how to proceed.

If you or a loved one needs a criminal defense attorney in Jacksonville or the surrounding area, call The Mussallem Law Firm at (904) 365-5200 for a FREE CONSULTATION. Our St. Johns County Drug Crimes Attorney, Victoria “Tori” Mussallem, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Several people, including the main distributor at the prison and the supplier in Jacksonville, are charged with trafficking in oxycodone. The charge is a first-degree felony with a maximum penalty of up to 30 years in state prison. In Jacksonville Drug Crimes Cases, the charge and potential punishment are primarily determined by two main factors: the type of drug the person is accused of having and the amount of said drug. For example, in this Jacksonville Drug Crimes Case, even though the sale of drugs is the root of the investigation, the trafficking charge is based solely on the amount of the drug the defendants are accused of possessing. There are several other charges in this case, including conspiracy to purchase or distribute a controlled substance, but the trafficking charges are the most serious.

In Jacksonville Drug Crimes Cases involving Oxycodone, trafficking charges start at 7 grams – which can be just a couple dozen pills. As a comparison, possession of marijuana is still a misdemeanor until a person is accused of having more than 20 grams. But with Oxycodone, not only does trafficking begin at 7 grams, but minimum mandatory sentences kick in. If a person is charged with having between 7 and 14 grams, there is a minimum mandatory sentence of three years in state prison. For between 7 and 25 grams, there is a minimum mandatory sentence of seven years, and that bumps up to 15 years if the person is accused of having between 25 and 100 grams. In far-reaching cases such as this with multiple defendants, prosecutors often make deals with some of the lower level defendants in exchange for more information about the people they are really targeting. Our Jacksonville Drug Crimes Attorney represents people accused of all types of drug crimes and can help you or your loved one navigate the criminal justice system and make the best decision on how to proceed.

If you or a loved one needs a criminal defense attorney in Jacksonville or the surrounding area, call The Mussallem Law Firm at (904) 365-5200 for a FREE CONSULTATION. Our Jacksonville Drug Crimes Attorney, Victoria “Tori” Mussallem, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The man is now charged with trafficking in LSD, possession of cocaine with intent to sell within 1,000 feet or a school or church, possession of a hallucinogen within 1,000 feet of a school or church, possession of marijuana with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a school or church, possession of marijuana for the manufacture or delivery of drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia. Jacksonville Drug Crimes Charges are based on two main factors: the type of drug the person is accused of having in his or her possession and the quantity of the drug. The LSD and the cocaine charges are both first-degree felonies with a maximum penalty of 30 years in state prison. The marijuana and the hallucinogen charge, for the illegal mushrooms, are both second-degree felonies with a maximum penalty of 15 years in state prison. The possession charge involving the manufacturing or delivering drugs is a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in state prison, while the other paraphernalia charge is a misdemeanor. If he was to be convicted of all of the charges and sentenced to the maximum on each charge, he could be looking at 95 years in state prison. That’s unlikely, but it speaks to the seriousness of the charges and how quickly the charges and prison time can add up in Jacksonville Drug Crimes Cases.

Initially, the driver denied police permission to search the vehicle, but the officer called in a drug-sniffing dog, which detected drugs in the car. If a drug dog hits on the vehicle, the police then legally have the reasonable suspicion required to search the car in Jacksonville Drug Crimes Cases and the driver does not need to provide specific permission to conduct the search. However, the search must be done as part of traffic stop, meaning the police cannot hold the driver for a long time waiting on the dog. There are specific policies and procedures police must follow in traffic stops and to define the actual possession of drugs. In this Jacksonville Drug Crimes Case, the drugs were found in a backpack, which the driver said was given to him by a stripper, the television station reported. Our Jacksonville Drug Crimes Attorney will thoroughly investigate the case against you or your loved one to determine if all of those rules were followed to the letter of the law.

If you or a loved one needs a criminal defense attorney in Jacksonville or the surrounding area, call The Mussallem Law Firm at (904) 365-5200 for a FREE CONSULTATION. Our Duval County Drug Crimes Attorney, Victoria “Tori” Mussallem, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

She was charged with purchase of a controlled substance. Because the pill was OxyContin, a variety of the prescription pain killer Oxycodone, the charge is a second-degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in state prison. Yes, in some Jacksonville Drug Crimes Cases, one simple pill is a second-degree felony. There are two major factors that determine the charge and potential punishment in Jacksonville Drug Crimes Cases: the type of drug the defendant is accused of having and the amount that is allegedly in his or her possession. Penalties vary based on the type of drug and some prescription pain pills, such as OxyContin in this Jacksonville Drug Crimes Case, carry serious potential penalties for just one pill. Methamphetamines, cocaine and other prescription drugs have charges that are automatic felonies – but in many cases they are third-degree felonies with a maximum sentence of five years in state prison. Marijuana, however, is a completely different story. Possession of marijuana up to 20 grams is still considered a misdemeanor, meaning the only time behind bars that would be on the table would be up to one year in the county jail.

Actual possession could be an issue in this Jacksonville Drug Crimes Case involving OxyContin because police did not find a pill in her possession. Her statement that she did have the pill but dropped it, along with the series of text messages that set up the transaction may be enough to prove the intent and the possession, but there can also be issues with text messages and other communications during these types of undercover operations. Our Jacksonville Drug Crimes Attorney represents people on a variety of drug charges – people accused of possessing, buying or selling all types of drugs. Our Jacksonville Criminal Defense Attorney will thoroughly investigate the case against you or your loved one and provide you with information to make the best decision going forward.

If you or a loved one needs a criminal defense attorney in Jacksonville or the surrounding area, call The Mussallem Law Firm at (904) 365-5200 for a FREE CONSULTATION. Our Duval County Drug Crimes Attorney, Victoria “Tori” Mussallem, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

By all indications, the father is who police believe is the one leading the organization. In many Jacksonville Drug Crimes Cases, police go after some of the more minor players and attempt to squeeze information out of them that leads to prosecutors being able to prove the case against the biggest fish beyond a reasonable doubt. In most cases, that information comes with an offer for a lighter sentence or a reduction in charges. There’s an interesting dynamic in this Jacksonville Drug Crimes Case, and it might be difficult for a person to give police information about his father. But, for an ex-wife to talk to police to potentially save her son – that scenario seems a little more likely. As for the officer who was arrested, employers operate under different rules than the criminal justice system. That is especially true in law enforcement. Internal policies usually dictate that persons who are convicted of or plead guilty to a felony cannot serve in law enforcement. But even if this case doesn’t go that far, it’s possible her days of a police officer are over. While police are held to different standards, it’s one thing if an officer gets in trouble away from the job – such as a DUI in a personal car. This however, involved the use of police information to assist someone who was under investigation, which is a serious no-no in law enforcement circles. Our Jacksonville Drug Crimes Attorney represents people charged with all levels of drug crimes – from misdemeanor marijuana possession charges on up to felony charges of trafficking in cocaine.

If you or a loved one needs a criminal defense attorney in Jacksonville or the surrounding area, call The Mussallem Law Firm at (904) 365-5200 for a FREE CONSULTATION. Our Jacksonville Drug Crimes Attorney, Victoria “Tori” Mussallem, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Although this Jacksonville Drug Crimes Case does appear to involve the sale of drugs, trafficking charges in Jacksonville Drug Crimes Cases are based solely on the amount of the drug the person is accused of having. And how much of the drug makes it a trafficking charge varies dramatically by the type of drug. For example, the marijuana charge is a misdemeanor because the man is accused of having less than 20 grams of the drug. But for oxycodone, trafficking charges can begin at just four grams of the drug – just a handful of pills. If the person has between four and 14 grams, there is a minimum mandatory prison sentence of three years. If the amount is between 14 and 28 grams, there is a 15-year minimum mandatory sentence. More than 28 grams and it is 25 years. To compare, possession of marijuana does not become a trafficking charge until the person is caught with 25 POUNDS of the drug – or 300 plants. And in terms of the Jacksonville Drug Crimes Case police are now investigating, cocaine is treated much closer to opium than it is marijuana, so the man and the others suspected in the ring are likely looking at the possibility of decades behind bars if arrests are eventually made and charges are ultimately filed. Our Jacksonville Drug Crimes Attorney represents people on all types of drug crimes – from misdemeanor marijuana possession on up to felony trafficking cases.

If you or a loved one needs a criminal defense attorney in Jacksonville or the surrounding area, call The Mussallem Law Firm at (904) 365-5200 for a FREE CONSULTATION. Our Jacksonville Drug Crimes Attorney, Victoria “Tori” Mussallem, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

St. Johns County Drug Crimes Cases involving meth are typically felonies. The charges for manufacturing methamphetamines are typically second-degree felonies punishable by up to 15 years in state prison. Those charges are upgraded to a first-degree felony with a 30-year maximum penalty if the drugs are produced in the presence of minors. The charged are enhanced because the fumes emitted during the process of cooking the meth are toxic and can be extremely dangerous, especially to children. Typically when meth labs are discovered in hotels or apartment complexes, immediate neighbors are evacuated so the rooms can be decontaminated. Even possessing the chemicals used to make meth can be charged as a second-degree felony, though it certainly improves the state’s case if the drugs are found in the vicinity of where the chemicals are found.

When it comes to the amount in St. Johns County Drug Crimes Cases, a person can be charged with trafficking in meth if he or she has just 14 grams of the drug. For comparison, possession of marijuana is not even a felony until the person is accused of having more than 20 grams. Trafficking in meth is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in state prison, and minimum mandatory sentences also apply. Many people think that someone can only be charged with drug trafficking if the person is caught selling drugs. That is not the case. In St. Johns County Drug Cases, the amount of the drug is the only thing that can constitute a trafficking charge – even if the drugs are only for personal use. Our St. Johns County Drug Crimes Attorney represents people accused of all types of drug crimes. From misdemeanor marijuana possession on up to trafficking in cocaine, our St. Johns County Criminal Defense Attorney will thoroughly investigate the charges and lay out the options for you or your loved one so you can make an informed decision on how to proceed.

If you or a loved one needs a criminal defense attorney in Jacksonville or the surrounding area, call The Mussallem Law Firm at (904) 365-5200 for a FREE CONSULTATION. Our St. Johns County Drug Crimes Attorney, Victoria “Tori” Mussallem, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

In St. Johns County Drug Crimes cases, the severity of the charges – and thus the potential sentence in state prison or county jail – can vary dramatically based on the drug in question. With methamphetamines, for example, nearly any charge is going to be a felony. Methamphetamines can be manufactured with a mixture of various dangerous chemicals that are cooked to produce the drug, but emit toxic fumes in the process. Even possessing the chemicals used to make the drug can be a second-degree felony with a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in state prison. There could be difficulty in this St. Johns County Drug Case as to who was in actual possession of the chemicals because there were multiple people in the vehicle. In many cases, police may end up arresting and charging everyone in the car, then waiting for people to get nervous and start pointing fingers at one another.

Because of the distinct odor produced from making methamphetamines, it can be difficult to hide from passerby and from police. In many St. Johns County Drug Crimes Cases, meth labs are discovered in hotel rooms and apartment complexes, though it is now becoming more common for people to use cars. The fumes are viewed as being toxic to the point that penalties are increased if there are children around when the drug is being produced. The charge moves to a first-degree felony, punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Just as important in St. Johns County Drug Crimes is that the charge for having children present includes a minimum mandatory sentence of five years in prison. Minimum mandatory sentences can be critical because they tie the judge’s hands if a person is convicted of the crime, meaning the judge could not give a lesser sentence. Also, every day of a minimum mandatory sentence must be served, unlike traditional sentences where people serves about 85 percent, provided they stay out of trouble behind bars. Our St. Johns County Drug Crimes Attorney represents people accused of all types of drug crimes and will fully investigate the case against you or your loved one.

If you or a loved one needs a criminal defense attorney in Jacksonville or the surrounding area, call The Mussallem Law Firm at (904) 365-5200 for a FREE CONSULTATION. Our St. Johns County Drug Crimes Attorney, Victoria “Tori” Mussallem, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For example, manufacturing methamphetamines is a second-degree felony, with a maximum penalty of 15 years in state prison. In this Clay County Drug Crimes Case, the criminal activity was discovered when someone smelled the odor. When people are manufacturing methamphetamines, a distinct odor is produced. That odor can also be toxic, which is why the television station reported that several other rooms in the hotel had to be evacuated. The toxicity of the fumes is also why there are enhanced penalties if the suspect is accused of manufacturing meth when there are children present. If someone is arrested for making meth with someone under the age of 16 present, the charge becomes a first-degree felony and the maximum penalty doubles to 30 years. More importantly, there is a five-year minimum mandatory sentence that kicks in. Minimum mandatory sentences are particularly important because every single day of the sentence must be served, as opposed to the 85 percent of a sentence that inmates often serve, provided they stay out of trouble while they are in prison.

Drug trafficking charges could also apply in this Clay County Drug Crimes Case, depending on how much of the drug was seized by police. A person does not have to be physically selling drugs to be charged with trafficking. Trafficking is based solely on the amount. For methamphetamines, the trafficking threshold begins at 14 grams. For comparison, possession of marijuana is still a misdemeanor at that amount. But for methamphetamines, having between 14 and 28 grams is a first-degree felony with a minimum mandatory sentence of three years in prison. Our Clay County Drug Crimes Attorney knows how different drugs are treated in the Florida statutes, and can explain the different ramifications and penalties to you or your loved one so you can make the best decision on how to proceed with the charges.

If you or a loved one needs a criminal defense attorney in Jacksonville or the surrounding area, call The Mussallem Law Firm at (904) 365-5200 for a FREE CONSULTATION. Our Clay County Drug Crimes Attorney, Victoria “Tori” Mussallem, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

In these Nassau County Drug Crimes Cases, the amount does not appear to be the issue. All of the transactions appear to be a small amount of drugs and none of the 23 is facing trafficking charges – which is where far more serious penalties, including minimum mandatory sentences, are in play. For example, sale of cocaine is a second-degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in state prison. The same second-degree felony charge applies for sale of methamphetamines, as well as hydrocodone in Nassau County Drug Crimes Cases. But sale of marijuana is a third-degree felony and the maximum prison time is only five years. In fact, for even just possession of most drugs other than marijuana, the charges are more than likely going to be felonies – rarely are the charges misdemeanors. In this Nassau County Drug Crimes Case, while most of the charges were for sale of drugs, there were several charged only with possession. Only one person, who was charged with possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, is facing a misdemeanor charge. Others charged with possession of cocaine are looking at third-degree felony charges and a possibility of up to five years in state prison.

In many of these Nassau County Drug Crimes charges, the charges are based on the men and women selling drugs to undercover officers. In most of these instances, police have video and audio recording of the transaction, which can be admissible in court if the police follow all of the proper rules and procedures. Our Nassau County Drug Crimes Attorney represents people charged with all types of drug crimes – possession, sale and trafficking – involving all types of drugs, from marijuana and cocaine to prescription drugs and methamphetamines.

If you or a loved one needs a criminal defense attorney in Jacksonville or the surrounding area, call The Mussallem Law Firm at (904) 365-5200 for a FREE CONSULTATION. Our Nassau County Drug Crimes Attorney, Victoria “Tori” Mussallem, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.