Sacramento Drug Trafficking Attorney
Our Experienced Drug Trafficking Attorneys have an Exceptional Track Record in California
When facing the very serious criminal offense of drug trafficking, it is understandable to feel weighed down by the worry of potential penalties, such as prison time, hefty fines, and asset forfeiture. This concern can make it challenging to know how to proceed, even if you believe you have a chance at defending yourself. This is where the support of a trusted Sacramento drug trafficking lawyer from Tully & Weiss can step in and help.
How a Drug Trafficking Lawyer Can Help
A drug trafficking lawyer can provide critical legal defense and guidance throughout your case. They can support you in the following ways:
- Analyze the Case and Build a Defense Strategy: A lawyer can review and understand the details of your case, like arrest procedures, to challenge any police misconduct during your arrest and identify any violations of your rights. They can challenge evidence against you and argue for lack of intent, wrongful accusations, or other defenses as applicable.
- Negotiate for Reduced Charges or Dismissal: Lawyers can work to reduce felony charges to a lesser offense, negotiate a plea deal to avoid harsh sentences or mandatory minimums, or seek alternative sentencing options, like rehabilitation programs.
- Court Representation: Lawyers can help clients prepare for trial if needed, gathering witnesses to testify on your behalf. They can cross-examine the prosecution’s evidence and challenge the weak points against you.
- Assist With Sentencing and Appeals: If convicted, lawyers can argue for reduced sentences based on mitigating factors, and they can assist in filing appeals if there were errors that happened during the trial process.
We are available 24/7 and can quickly meet you in jail or at your location. Start your defense on the right track from the very first step.
Common Defense Strategies That May Work for You
There are several common defense strategies that may work in a drug trafficking case in Sacramento, CA, depending on the circumstances.
Below are some of the most effective strategies explained:
- Illegal Search and Seizure: If law enforcement violated the Fourth Amendment by conducting an unlawful search, such as by having no probable cause to search you, the evidence of drugs found during the search may be suppressed, and the case may be dismissed.
- Lack of Knowledge or Intent: The prosecution must prove that the defendant knew about and intended to distribute the drugs. If the defendant was unaware that the drugs were present, this can be a strong defense.
- Entrapment: If law enforcement pressured, coerced, or tricked the defendant into committing a crime they otherwise wouldn’t have committed, an entrapment defense may apply.
- Insufficient Evidence: The prosecution is required to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant was involved in trafficking. If the evidence is weak, circumstantial, or based on unreliable witnesses, the charges may be reduced or dismissed.
- Mistaken Identity: If the defendant was wrongly identified as being involved in drug trafficking, a mistaken identity defense may work, especially if there’s no direct evidence linking them to the crime.
- Violation of Miranda Rights: If the police fail to read Miranda rights during an arrest, any statements made by the defendant can be inadmissible in court.
- Duress or Coercion: If the defendant was forced or threatened into trafficking drugs under fear for their own safety or their family’s safety, they could argue duress as a defense.
Each case is highly unique, and the ideal defense strategy will depend on the specific facts of each case.
Drug Trafficking FAQs
A: Winning a drug trafficking case will depend on several factors influencing your case, such as the strength of the prosecution’s evidence, the legal defense strategy, and procedural issues in the case. Common defense strategies that are used in drug trafficking cases include challenging illegal searches, disputing possession, questioning the chain of custody, proving entrapment, challenging intent to distribute, and negotiating a favorable plea deal.
A: The length of time needed to complete a drug trafficking case is unique to the factors of each case, such as the complexity of the case, the court’s schedule, and whether the defendant takes a plea deal or goes to trial. Each part of the legal case requires time, including the arrest, the initial hearings, the pretrial phase, the trial phase, and any appeals. The time needed for a case reflects how straightforward or challenging the case is.
A: If you are convicted of drug trafficking, the consequences can vary but are often severe, resulting in prison time, fines, and other long-term impacts, such as asset forfeiture and immigration consequences. Penalties are determined by looking at the amount and type of drug involved, any prior convictions, and whether the case is handled at a state or federal level.
A: An accomplice to drug trafficking is someone who knowingly helps, facilitates, or plays a role in the trafficking of illegal drugs, even if they are not the main offender. Under the law, an accomplice can face the same charges and penalties as the primary trafficker. A person may be seen as an accomplice if they transported drugs, financed drug trafficking operations, stored or hid the drugs, helped with drug distribution, or arranged transactions as a middleman.
A: The cost of hiring a drug trafficking lawyer varies widely depending on factors such as the severity of the charges, the lawyer’s experience, and if the case moves to trial. There may be other costs associated with a case that impact overall expenses, such as court filing fees, document preparation, and the use of other professional services, like private investigators.
Speak With a Trusted and Local Sacramento Drug Trafficking Lawyer Today
If you are looking for trustworthy legal support to guide you through the legal process you face after a drug trafficking accusation, it is time to reach out to Tully & Weiss.
By scheduling an initial consultation with our trusted drug trafficking legal team, you are placing your case in the hands of an experienced and professional legal advocate who is ready to fight for fair results and push for the most advantageous resolution possible. Do not hesitate to get the help you need.