New Jersey Drug Trafficking Lawyers Protect the Rights and Reputation of Those Charged with Federal Drug Offenses
Federal criminal law treats drug crimes much more seriously than many states. A conviction on federal drug trafficking charges will result in severe penalties, including long prison sentence and substantial fines. You need experienced legal representation to help you protect your rights and interests as you face prosecution for drug trafficking. Let the federal drug trafficking defense attorneys at Agre & St. John help. Our legal team has seven decades of combined legal experience that includes trying numerous cases to verdict as criminal defense attorneys as prosecutors. Our experience gives us a unique insight into how prosecutors prepare cases, which we use to develop strategic defenses for our clients to pursue great results.
Drug trafficking crimes are serious criminal offenses under federal law that carry harsh punishments. If you’ve been charged with federal drug trafficking offenses, get legal help to defend your freedom and future. Contact Agre & St. John for a free initial case evaluation to learn more about how our New Jersey drug trafficking lawyers can help.
When facing federal charges, trust Agre & St. John's experienced attorneys to mount a vigorous defense and protect your rights in complex federal criminal cases. Call 856-454-8674 or complete our online contact form for a confidential consultation.
What Is Drug Trafficking Under Federal Law?
Federal law makes it illegal to manufacture or distribute controlled substances except as otherwise authorized by the federal Controlled Substances Act. The federal drug trafficking statute, 21 U.S.C. s. 841, outlaws knowingly or intentionally manufacturing, distributing, dispensing, or possessing with intent to distribute any controlled substances, or creating, distributing, or possessing with intent to distribute any counterfeit substance.
Prosecutors will classify the possession of drugs as a drug trafficking offense rather than a simple possession charge based on factors such as:
- The quantity of drugs – An individual found in possession of a substantial quantity of drugs may be presumed to be trafficking those drugs
- How the drugs are packaged – Drugs that are found packaged for transport or individual sale may indicate that a defendant was transporting or selling the drugs
- The presence of items indicating a drug trafficking operation – If a defendant is found in possession of other materials consistent with drug manufacturing or distribution, such as manufacturing or processing equipment, scales, packaging equipment/materials, or large amounts of cash, they may be presumed to be trafficking
Defenses to Drug Trafficking Charges
A defendant facing drug trafficking charges may have various defenses available to them. Examples of common defense strategies used in drug trafficking cases include:
- Lack of actual or constructive possession – If the drugs are not discovered on your person or in your immediate vicinity, the government will need to prove that you “constructively” possessed the drugs, which requires showing that you had the means to control access to and the location of the drugs. However, if the drugs were found somewhere you did not have access to, you may have a defense to possession.
- The recovered substances were not drugs – If the government fails to confirm via testing that the seized substance was an illegal drug, you may have the opportunity to argue that the substance wasn’t illegal.
- Lawful possession – If you had a valid prescription or other legal authorization to produce or possess the drugs, you may have a defense to the trafficking charge.
In many cases, defense strategies in drug trafficking cases focus on challenging the legality of law enforcement’s search and seizure of the drugs, which may lead to the district court excluding the drugs from evidence as fruit of an illegal search.
Don't face federal charges alone – schedule a confidential consultation with Agre & St. John's skilled defense team to understand your options and build a robust defense strategy.
Let the Federal Drug Trafficking Defense Attorneys at Agre & St. John Help You Pursue a Favorable Resolution to Your Case
Federal drug trafficking charges carry severe penalties for a conviction. If you’ve been charged with federal drug offenses, you need strong legal advocacy to help you minimize the consequences of an arrest or conviction. Turn to the New Jersey drug trafficking lawyers of Agre & St. John who can help you secure a favorable outcome by:
- Independently investigating the allegations against you to obtain all useful and exculpatory evidence
- Identifying potentially effective defense strategies, such as challenging evidence as unlawfully obtained by investigators or arguing that the evidence cannot prove one or more elements of your charges beyond a reasonable doubt
- Taking time to explain your charges and answer your questions to provide you with the information and advice you need to make decisions for your best interests
- Fighting for the best outcome under the circumstances of your case, whether that means negotiating a fair plea deal or advocating your innocence at trial
Contact Us for a Free, Confidential Consultation to Discuss Your Options with Our New Jersey Drug Trafficking Lawyers
After you’ve been arrested and charged with federal drug trafficking offenses, you need experienced legal representation to protect your rights and interests. Contact Agre & St. John today for a free consultation to learn more about how our federal drug trafficking defense attorneys will advocate on your behalf to pursue a favorable resolution to your charges.
