Conspiracy does not just revolve around super-secret FBI or CIA government information, such as the movie, “All the President’s Men” (Nixon’s Watergate scandal) or conspiracy theories that Area 51 is holding an alien species. Being arrested for conspiracy to drug trafficking is an actual criminal offense. Florida law states that any person who agrees or conspires with another to commit a drug trafficking act prohibited by law will be committing a 1st degree felony. That felony carries the same punishable outcome as if that person committed the act. Therefore, drug trafficking and conspiracy to drug trafficking carry the same offense weight.
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Articles Posted in Trafficking
Getting Arrested for Trafficking in MDMA, Methamphetamine, and Oxycodone May Be Easier Than You Think
When people think of trafficking drugs, the first thing that often comes to mind are scenes from movies involving large quantities of drugs and cash being moved through complex criminal organizations. A real-life example of this that was recently in the news was a federal case where several arrests were made from an international drug ring moving cocaine from South America through Mexico and into Los Angeles. Federal agents seized over 7,700 pounds of cocaine with a street value of $500 million from this drug ring over a three-year period. Seven individuals were indicted on federal charges and one higher-ranking member has been extradited to the United States to face charges. The criminal organization was also linked to two murders, including a video recording of a murder involving torture and dismemberment. Continue reading
Can I be Charged with Drug Trafficking If I Was Only in Possession of Drugs and Did Not Actually Sell Any?
I was recently pulled over by law enforcement, and during the traffic stop marijuana was found in my vehicle. I wasn’t planning on selling the marijuana and only had it for personal use, so why was I charged with trafficking and not possession?
Under Florida Statute, it is possible to be charged with trafficking without ever selling any marijuana if someone is in possession of a large amount. Florida Statute 893.135 defines trafficking as any person who knowingly sells, purchases, manufactures, delivers, or brings into this state, or who is knowingly in actual or constructive possession of, in excess of 25 pounds of cannabis, or 300 or more cannabis plants. Trafficking marijuana is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison and fines, with minimum mandatory sentencing guidelines based on the amount of marijuana involved.
If the amount of marijuana involved in over 25 pounds but less than 2,000 pounds, or between 300 and 2,000 marijuana plants there is a minimum mandatory sentence of three years and a $25,000 fine. For amounts between 2,000 and 10,000 pounds, or 2,000 to 10,000 plants, the minimum mandatory sentence is seven years and a $50,000 fine. If the amount involved is over 10,000 pounds or 10,000 plants the mandatory minimum sentence is fifteen years and a $200,000 fine.