Home » Drug Defense Attorney in Columbus, OH » Columbus Federal Drug Charges Attorney
Practice AreasColumbus Federal Drug Charges Attorney
Most drug charges are brought at a state level. If you are accused of being involved with illegal drugs, such as marijuana possession or manufacturing meth in Ohio, then you are charged with a violation of state law. If you are convicted, your punishment will remain within the state’s legal system and is dictated by Ohio law. However, the federal government also has laws against drug possession and trafficking. In some situations, instead of being charged with violating an Ohio law, you will be charged with violating a federal law. This is serious since many federal drug charges result in more severe penalties than the state equivalent. Federal drug crimes may have harsh mandatory minimums, which could have you serving years or decades in prison for one poor choice.
When you are facing federal charges, you need to work with a criminal defense attorney who is experienced in federal court and prepared to face federal prosecutors who want to appear tough on crime and the war on drugs. You need to call a Columbus federal drug charges attorney from Luftman, Heck & Associates right away. We have represented many clients against federal drug charges. We have the experience, knowledge, and resources you need to build a strong defense and fight for your freedom. Call us at (614) 500-3836 to learn more about how we can help.
When You May Face Federal Drug Charges
There are many ways in which an offense in relation to drugs can be charged at the federal level, including but not limited to:
- Your actions violated a federal statute
- Your actions took drugs across state lines
- You imported drugs from outside of the U.S. or exported drugs from the U.S. to another country
- The offense took place on federal property, such as a government facility or in a national park
- Your actions were investigated by a federal agency, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) or the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
- You were arrested by a federal officer, such as a DEA agent
- You were arrested through the use of an informant
- You are suspected of being part of a larger drug or crime organization
- There is an agreement between state and federal prosecutors
If one of these circumstances or something else has caused you to be charged with a federal drug offense, do not hesitate to reach out to our federal drug charges attorneys at Luftman, Heck & Associates.
Federal Drug Conspiracy Charges
A common federal drug charge is conspiracy to commit a drug offense. You may be charged with conspiracy if federal authorities or prosecutors believe you are connected to a larger organization, such as a drug trafficking ring. Prosecutors often move forward with these charges against minor participants in larger drug schemes in hopes of collecting information about those higher up in a criminal organization.
If you are charged with conspiracy, you need to contact a federal drug crimes defense lawyer immediately. There are many elements the government must prove, and we will point out all of the flaws in their case against you. They must prove you voluntarily and knowingly made an agreement with one or more co-conspirators to commit a drug offense and you knew the conspiracy existed. This does not mean that you had to know all of the details of the conspiracy or even the exact end result. The government only has to demonstrate you knew the conspiracy’s main purpose, such as bringing drugs into the country or manufacturing drugs.
A conspiracy does not require a written contract. Instead, the government only has to prove you were in agreement with one or more other people. They must show you were all acting within an understanding.
In regard to a drug-specific conspiracy, the government does not have to prove that you committed an overt act to move the conspiracy forward. It only has to show you joined in the conspiracy and knew about it. However, if you did not commit any act in furtherance of the conspiracy, a federal drug crimes lawyer at Luftman, Heck & Associates can use this in your defense. If we can show that you did not act in a way that moved the conspiracy toward its intended goal, then we can cast doubt on whether you truly joined the conspiracy at all.
If you are convicted of a drug conspiracy, you may be sentenced to the same punishment as if you were convicted of the offense you conspired to commit. Despite being only a minor player in a larger conspiracy that you had little-to-no control over, you could face years in prison. That is why it is essential to speak with a criminal defense attorney immediately.
Other Federal Drug Offenses
You can face a federal drug charge for any action that would be illegal under Ohio law. Common drug offenses that may arise to the level of a federal crime include but are not limited to:
- Drug possession
- Possession of fake or counterfeit drugs
- Trafficking fake or counterfeit drugs
- Cultivation of marijuana
- Manufacturing Drugs
- Possession of precursor chemicals
- Drug trafficking and distribution
If you have been charged with any drug offense by federal prosecutors, you need to contact a federal drug crimes attorney today. You always want to avoid having a drug conviction on your record, and you need an aggressive defense lawyer to fight federal charges, which can lead to particularly harsh punishments. In general, federal convictions can lead to tougher penalties than state-level convictions, making it all the more important to mount a strong defense in your case.
Penalties for Federal Drug Charges
Federal drug offenses have mandatory minimum sentences that may be triggered based on the presence of certain factors in your case. The involvement of a certain amount of an illegal drug above a threshold amount triggers mandatory minimum sentences, such as a minimum of five or 10 years in prison. You could be looking at years in prison for a relatively minor offense if an aspect of your case calls for a certain minimum sentence. In the fiscal year 2016, the U.S. Sentencing Commission reported that individuals convicted of a crime that carried a mandatory minimum penalty were sentenced to 110 months of imprisonment compared to an average of 28 months when a mandatory minimum sentence did not apply to the offense.
The federal sentencing guidelines also enable judges to sentence you to many more years in prison above the minimum. Months and years can be added onto your sentence for factors such as the use of a weapon, violence or threats of violence, or bodily injuries or deaths resulting from the drug offense.
When you face any federal drug charge, you need a federal drug charges attorney who will fight for your exoneration in court or for you to face only the minimum prison sentence, if a conviction cannot be avoided.
In addition to a lengthy prison sentence, you also face:
- Significant fines
- Loss of gun rights
- Loss of federal benefits
- Loss of your driver’s license
- Loss of a professional license or ineligibility to acquire one
- Difficulty finding and maintaining a job
- Difficulty being approved for rental housing
- Difficulty obtaining personal loans
- Difficulty gaining admission to college
- Reduction in or loss of child custody or visitation
- Immigration issues such as a visa denial, ineligibility for citizenship, or deportation
Defending Against a Federal Drug Crimes
The defenses that are most appropriate for your case depend on the charge you face and the exact circumstances of your case. The defense most appropriate for a possession charge may not be the right strategy against accusations of a conspiracy. You need a federal drug charges attorney to review your situation and advise you of your options.
You may have a number of strong defenses, including arguing that an illegal drug was never in your actual or constructive possession. We may be able to prove you did not have the necessary intent for the offense. We may also focus on establishing in court that the federal prosecutors do not have enough evidence to prove you committed the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Call us at Luftman, Heck & Associates to learn more about possible defenses to drug charges.
Contact a Federal Drug Charges Attorney Today
If you are being investigated by federal authorities in relation to drug charges, have been arrested by federal agents, or have had a federal indictment brought against you, contact a Columbus federal drug charges attorney from Luftman, Heck & Associates right away. Depending on the facts of your case, we can advise on the best and worst possible scenarios. We may recommend negotiating a plea deal or fighting for an acquittal at trial. Whatever route we take, our Columbus drug crimes lawyers are here to tenaciously fight for the best possible outcome in your case.
Call us at (614) 500-3836 to schedule a confidential initial consultation.
For over a decade, the Columbus criminal defense lawyers at LHA have successfully represented clients on criminal offenses ranging from minor misdemeanors to first-degree felonies. That extensive previous experience will enable us to better help you.
Get Help from our Columbus Criminal Defense Lawyers
If you have any questions about the material or if you need an experienced, competent attorney, call the Columbus criminal defense attorneys at Luftman, Heck & Associates at (614) 500-3836.