Drug crimes in California involve the possession, sale, transportation, manufacturing, transportation for sale of an unlawful narcotic, money laundering, drug trafficking and distribution.
Narcotics crimes and drug offenses are the unlawful use or possession of narcotics including cocaine in its base form (crack), marijuana, methamphetamine (speed), heroin, LSD, cocaine, PCP, ecstasy, as well as unauthorized use, possession or sale of prescription drugs such as Vicodin or Oxycontin.
Some of the California drug crimes include the following:
- Possession of drug paraphernalia – Health and Safety Code Section 11364
- Possession of a narcotic – Health and Safety Code Section 11350(a)
- Possession for Sale of a Controlled Substance – Health and Safety Code Section 11352(a)
- Transportation of a Controlled Substance – Health and Safety Code Section 11352(b)
- Transportation for Sale of a Controlled Substance – Health and Safety Code Section 11352(b)
- Sale or Furnish a Controlled Substance to a Minor – Health and Safety Code Section 11353
- Selling a Substance in Lieu of a Controlled Substance – Health and Safety Code Section 11357(a)
California leads the United States with drug prosecutions. The penalties for a conviction of a drug crime can vary greatly. The prosecutor files charges depending on the type of drug, the quantity, whether the drug is possessed for personal use or for sale, and the past criminal record of a person.
The consequences of a conviction can result in imprisonment in jail or prison, probation or parole after a person is released from custody, enormous legal fines, restitution to law enforcement for the cost of investigation, mandatory drug counseling, registration as a drug offender with local law enforcement, and having a driver’s license revoked.
Drug crimes will be used to enhance future sentencing if a person is convicted of a crime. Commonly, law enforcement will charge a person with possession for sale even if the person possessed the narcotics for personal use. It is important to hire an aggressive criminal attorney who has many years of experience to handle these types of cases.
In many cases, a highly trained drug crime defense attorney may have the possession charges thrown out completely because of unfair practices by law enforcement. In other cases, serious drug cases that could result in a prison sentence of life may be pled down to simple possession charges and a person may be eligible for a drug diversion program and counseling, rather then jail time.
In some cases, law enforcement will have executed search warrants in homes and vehicles that they believe house illegal narcotics. If drugs are found, the property will be seized and forfeited. If this happens, a person will loose their property forever. This includes homes, cars and money.
Hiring an Aggressive and Experienced North Bay Drug Crimes Attorney
It is critical that a person who is arrested or charged with a drug crime contact North Bay drug crime attorney Michael A. Fiumara. Mr. Fiumara has the knowledge and experience to fight a drug crime case. Attorney Michael Fiumara is a North Bay criminal defense attorney that has been helping clients fight their drug crime charges for over 23 years.
Mr. Fiumara knows what motions to file, and how to effectively argue your case. Often times there police have a history of filing false arrest warrant affidavits. Mr. Fiumara and his legal team know how to uncover unlawful police conduct. Once this is found, this will lead the prosecutor to either dismiss the case against you, or significantly reduce the charges.
He will go to court with you and assist in getting you released from custody and explaining to the judge why you should not be held in jail. He can also assist in having a bail bondsman in court to facilitate an immediate release from custody. When you learn there is a drug crime case filed against you, contact North Bay criminal defense attorney Michael A. Fiumara at Fiumara & Milligan Law, PC at 707-571-8600 or 415-492-4507.
