Florida Statute Section 893.135(1)(b)
Under Florida Statutes, Section 893.135(1)(b), it is unlawful to knowingly sell, purchase, manufacture, deliver, or bring into the state of Florida, or knowingly be in actual or constructive possession of 28 grams or more of cocaine, or any mixture containing cocaine. A charge under this statute is a first-degree felony. If you are facing such charges you should immediately contact a Sarasota criminal defense lawyer.
Penalties Associated with a Conviction for Trafficking in Cocaine
- If you are convicted of Trafficking in Cocaine for 28 grams or more of the drug, but less than 200 grams, you will face a mandatory minimum term of three years in prison, and a fine of $50,000. You will also have your driving privileges revoked for one year.
- If you are convicted of Trafficking in Cocaine for 200 grams or more of the drug, but less than 400 grams, you will face a mandatory minimum term of seven years in prison, and a fine of $100,000. You will also have your driving privileges revoked for one year.
- If you are convicted of Trafficking in Cocaine for 400 grams or more of the drug, but less than 150 kilograms, you will face a mandatory minimum term of fifteen years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. You will also have your driving privileges revoked for one year.
The above are only mandatory minimum sentences. As a first-degree felony offense, you could potentially face up to thirty years in prison.
Penalties Associated with a Conviction for Trafficking in Cocaine as a First Degree Felony
- If you are convicted of Trafficking in Cocaine for 150 kilograms or more of the drug, you will be sentenced to life in prison, and will be ineligible for early release, other than a pardon, executive clemency, or a conditional medical release.
- If you committed one of the offenses above (in terms of amount of cocaine), and you also intentionally killed an individual (or caused the intentional killing of an individual), you will have committed a capital felony of trafficking in cocaine and will face the death penalty or life in prison without parole.
- If you are convicted of knowingly bring 300 kilograms or more of cocaine into the state of Florida with the knowledge that the result of such importation would be the death of another person, you have committed a capital felony of importation of cocaine, and will face the death penalty or life in prison without parole.
Finding Criminal Defenses to the crime of Trafficking in Cocaine
While your Florida criminal defense attorney will build your defense based on the facts surrounding your case, some of the more commonly-used defenses to this crime include:
- You were a victim of law enforcement entrapment;
- You were the victim of an illegal search and seizure;
- There is insufficient evidence to support your charges; or
- Substantial assistance—you agree to help law enforcement arrest other drug traffickers, and in return, you are spared the mandatory minimum sentence for your crime or your sentence is suspended.
How The Law Place’s Criminal Defense Attorneys can help if you’re charged with Trafficking in Cocaine
If you have been charged with Trafficking in Cocaine, you are facing extremely severe penalties in the event you are convicted of the charges. Because of this, you must have experienced, knowledgeable legal assistance from the moment you are arrested. By contacting a criminal defense attorney from The Law Place, you have taken an extremely important first step toward protecting your future and your rights. Call 941-444-4444 today for a FREE consultation.
