In 2019, there were 76,538 cases reported to the U.S. Sentencing Commission — 20,085 of these cases involved drugs and 19,765 involved drug trafficking. Seven major drug types accounted for 96.5 percent of these drug trafficking offenses, including marijuana, cocaine, heroin, meth, and fentanyl. The average sentence for these offenders was 77 months, with 96.4 percent being sentenced to prison and 65.6 percent carrying out the mandatory minimum penalty.
These statistics alone should demonstrate how seriously the federal government treats drug trafficking cases. Florida is no exception. Even playing a minor role in something like a drug trafficking conspiracy could lead to heavy mandatory minimum sentences. If you are facing a drug trafficking charge or being investigated for drug trafficking in the State of Florida, it’s important to seek the advice and legal counsel of the best criminal lawyer in Tampa as soon as possible. Ignorance of the law is not a defense.
Florida law defines drug trafficking as the intentional sale, purchase, manufacturer, delivery, import, possession, or transport of a specific amount of a controlled substance specified by Section 893.135, F.S.. This specific amount is what’s known as the “trafficking amount,” or the minimum amount of specific drugs required to establish a drug trafficking charge. As the amount of the illicit drug increases, so does the minimum sentence. The minimum trafficking amount of some of the most common drugs are as follows.
Any person who knowingly sells, purchases, delivers, brings into the state, or who is in possession of more than 25 pounds of cannabis or 300 plants has committed a first-degree felony, punishable as follows:
These minimum sentences may be increased for habitual offenders or those with several prior convictions.
Starting at 28 grams, the sale, distribution, possession, and trafficking of cocaine is constituted as a first-degree felony with the following penalties:
This family of drugs includes morphine, heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opiates. If you’re found in possession of more than 4 grams of the listed substances, you could wind up facing the following penalties:
If you’ve been arrested for drug trafficking in the State of Florida, it’s time to contact one of the highly-experienced and dedicated criminal lawyers in Tampa with The Rickman Law Firm. We will examine the specifics of your case, determine if your rights were violated by police, and get to work at building a defense for your case. We’ve worked with countless clients accused of drug trafficking in Florida and are prepared to aggressively fight your criminal charge.
For a free consultation with the best criminal lawyer in Tampa, please contact The Rickman Law Firm at (813) 999-0502 or submit our contact request form.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.