Need a Coral Gables Drug Possession with Intent to Sell Lawyer? Here’s What You Should Know
Getting arrested is scary; being accused of intending to sell drugs raises the stakes even higher. If you’re facing drug charges in Coral Gables, Florida, you need legal advice from an experienced criminal defense attorney. Don’t go it alone—the prosecutors want convictions, not justice.
I know you’re terrified. You may feel ashamed, overwhelmed, angry, or resigned. But don’t lose hope! With an empathetic lawyer on your side, understanding the law and your options, you can get through this. I’ve seen good people make bad choices when desperate or struggling with addiction. You still deserve compassion.
Let’s break this down step-by-step so you know what to expect. I’ll explain the specific laws around possession with intent in Coral Gables, potential defenses we could use, and why having the right lawyer matters so much. Read on for straight talk from someone who wants to help.
The Charges Against You
In Florida, drug offenses are categorized based on the type and quantity of drugs involved. Possession with intent means prosecutors believe you planned to sell or distribute drugs. This charge depends on two key legal concepts:
- Possession means police found illegal drugs on you or somewhere you control, like your car or home. Just having drugs in your possession is against the law.
- Intent means circumstantial evidence suggests you wanted to sell or share the drugs. This could include:
- Having a large quantity of drugs
- Packaging drugs for sale
- Possessing scales, baggies, or other distribution materials
- Texts or witness statements about selling
- Prior drug convictions
- Having a large amounts of cash
In Florida statute 893.13, possession with intent carries harsher penalties than simple possession because it’s considered more serious.
The type and weight of drug can also impact the charges. For example, possessing cannabis with intent can lead to up to 5 years imprisonment and a $5,000 fine under section 893.13(1)(a)(2). For cocaine over 28 grams, it’s up to 30 years and a $500,000 fine under section 893.135(1)(b)(1).
I know those numbers are terrifying. But stay with me—we’ll explore defenses and strategies to avoid the harshest outcomes. First, let’s look at the Coral Gables context.
Local Laws in Coral Gables
Coral Gables prides itself on safety and family-friendly values. So prosecutors and judges tend to take drug crimes very seriously, even for first-time offenders.
Specific local laws include:
- City ordinance 26-2 prohibits manufacturing, distributing, dispensing, or possessing controlled substances. This echoes Florida statute 893 but gives Coral Gables another tool for enhanced penalties.
- As a Miami suburb, Coral Gables adopts Miami-Dade County’s drug abuse prevention and control plan. This plan focuses on reducing substance abuse through treatment programs—but also supports the full prosecution of drug sellers as criminals.
- Coral Gables police have a dedicated vice and narcotics squad focused on catching drug crimes. In some areas, these cases don’t get pursued due to backlogs. But in Coral Gables, they’re a top priority.
- As an affluent community, Coral Gables has high legal resources to devote to drug prosecution. Expect experienced attorneys arguing for stiff penalties.
- Judges and prosecutors in Coral Gables tend to emphasize moral values, safety for families and youth, and protecting business interests. They’re often less open to creative sentencing alternatives for drug offenders.
- The local media highlights drug arrests to bolster the city’s wholesome image. This adds extra scrutiny and pressure on your case.
The bottom line—you’ll face an uphill battle if defending drug charges alone. But the good news? Coral Gables cases can be won with the right legal strategy. Which brings us to…
Possible Defenses in Your Case
A skilled drug crimes lawyer knows how to poke holes in the prosecutor’s argument. Here are some defenses we might use:
“Those aren’t my drugs!” We can argue the drugs belonged to someone else—for example, if others had access to your car or home. This works best when you have limited, indirect access to the location where drugs were found. I’d scour the scene for fingerprints, trace evidence and witness statements to raise doubt.
“I had no clue those were there.” If the drugs were well-hidden or contained without your knowledge, we can claim innocent, unknowing possession. This helps especially when the quantity is small.
“The drugs were for personal use only.” Even if you possessed illegal substances, we can admit this while denying any intent to sell. I’d argue your use aligns with personal addiction rather than profit. This works better for minor charges with limited packaging evidence.
“The police made mistakes.” If the search, arrest procedure or evidence handling was sloppy, we can challenge it. For example, if they lacked probable cause for search or arrest, we can seek to exclude evidence or statements. Any ambiguity works in our favor.
“The informant isn’t credible.” Police often use confidential informants who provide tips in exchange for leniency. We can attack their credibility and motives. Unless we can access the identity, background and deal struck, their info becomes less convincing.
“You were entrapped.” A skilled lawyer knows how to argue entrapment, when police improperly induced you to commit a crime you otherwise wouldn’t. This applies mainly to undercover sting operations.
The odds still feel scary. But an experienced local lawyer intimately understands prosecutors, judges, juries and defense strategies. We craft the narrative to sow those seeds of doubt.
Now let’s discuss why I’m your best ally…
Why the Right Lawyer Matters
Facing drug possession with intent charges in Coral Gables without a lawyer? You may as well walk into a lion’s den wearing a suit made of meat.
Here is why skilled legal counsel is so essential:
- We negotiate with prosecutors using discretion, leverage and persuasion honed from past cases. We push for reduced charges or pretrial diversion to avoid lasting conviction.
- We know which judges respond best to particular arguments so we can tailor our strategy accordingly. Local familiarity breeds better outcomes.
- We can interpret complex laws and spot potential technicalities that you’d never know to use. The law has nuance that profoundly impacts results.
- We investigate the arrest details through independent lens to strengthen defenses. You need someone in your corner questioning the so-called “facts.”
- We understand the system, know the stakeholders, and can guide you through each confusing step. You need an advocate to lean on.
- We have resources to assign private investigators, forensic experts, and other specialists to assist.
- We appreciate the human impact beyond just legal results. You need empathy and discretion right now.
Yes, skilled defense lawyers cost money. But not having one could ruin your finances, career, relationships and reputation for years through incarceration, probation, fines and criminal record.
Think of me as an insurance policy for your life and liberty. Let me shoulder this burden for you. Call me anytime 24/7 for free case review and consultation. We’ll craft a customized defense highlighting weaknesses and mitigating factors.
I can’t guarantee victory. But I can promise to defend your freedom with all energy and skill the law allows. We’ll fight together, through every court date, motion, hearing and trial procedure until we give your best case for acquittal or leniency.
You deserve hope. And I’m here to give it. Don’t wait – let’s talk strategy today. This is beatable. I believe in you.