Orlando Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Cocaine Trafficking
In late September, a Florida judge sentenced an Orlando man to 10 years and one month in prison for cocaine trafficking. The conviction was in connection with his role in conspiring with others to distribute the drug.
According to a press release from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the agency assisted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation in the crime. The 41-year-old man was said to be a major player in Orlando drug trafficking, and his arrest marked progress in a larger investigation of Florida drug crimes.
Although organizations like those involved with this man’s arrest target the larger drug distributors, Florida law enforcement officers are always seeking to find and arrest those in possession of any type of illegal controlled substance. Even when people are not manufacturing or distributing drugs, they could still face serious consequences for drug possession crimes.
Under Florida law, possession of most types of controlled substances is considered a third-degree felony. A conviction of drug possession could net you up to five years incarceration and fines up to $5,000. It doesn’t matter if the felony is a first offense.
However, there are some ways defendants and their attorneys can argue against these charges. Individuals who were unaware that the material they carried was a controlled substance might be able to successfully defend against a criminal conviction.
Additionally, valid prescriptions from a medical professional are legal, as long as the person with the drug is the person to whom it was prescribed. Finally, depending on how the police discovered that the drug was in the person’s possession, the Fourth Amendment’s illegal search and seizure laws could serve as a valid defense.
If you have been arrested for drug possession in the Orlando area, you may face serious penalties. An experienced Florida drug crime defense lawyer with the Law Offices of Salazar & Kelly can help you understand your rights and best options moving forward.
