Drug Crimes

Philadelphia  Drug Crimes

Possession

 Possession of a controlled substance is illegal in Pennsylvania, including possession of:

Marijuana Crack cocaine Cocaine Heroin Ecstasy Crystal methamphetamine

Penalties are assessed based on the circumstances of the case, including the quantity of drugs involved, whether the drugs were sold or intended to be sold, whether the drugs were cultivated (marijuana) or manufactured (crystal methamphetamine, ecstasy, crack) and whether the incident occurred in or near a sensitive location (school, daycare center, youth group center). Other circumstances would include:

Prior drug conviction history Severity of the drug convictions, related history Other prior criminal history and related offenses Current situation, including school enrollment, employment, military history, life direction

If you have been charged with possession of drugs, it is essential to obtain qualified legal representation from a skilled Philadelphia drug crimes criminal defense attorney. Your drug crimes lawyer will work on your behalf by thoroughly examining the details of your case and he will  look for flaws such as illegal arrest procedures, absence of required probable cause and improperly obtained or tainted evidence that can result in a dismissal, reduction to a less serious offense, alternative sentencing or a satisfactory plea agreement. You are invited to call our office now for a free confidential consultation.

Crack Cocaine Mandatory Sentence Eliminated – Are You Eligible for a Sentence Reduction?

If you were charged with a crack cocaine offense, you may be eligible for a reduced sentence. President Obama signed a bill on Aug. 3, 2011, that amended the mandatory minimum sentencing for federal cases.

The law eliminates the five year mandated minimum sentence that applied to crack cocaine simple possession offenses. Although the law itself is not retroactive, it will affect some cases. In fact, 18 individuals in Philadelphia – federal inmates - will be eligible for release on Nov. 1, 2011, when the law goes into effect.

If you or a friend or loved one is federally incarcerated for a crack cocaine offense, consult your Philadelphia drug crimes attorney to determine whether this new law affects the case in question. 

Philadelphia Drug Conspiracy Accuses 53

A whopping 498 count indictment targeted 53 defendants in Philadelphia on Aug. 10, 2011, for an elaborate drug fraud scheme that involved doctors, pharmacists, pharmacies, patients and traffickers. If convicted, each charge of conspiracy, distribution of a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute each carry a 20 year maximum prison sentence. In this case, a Northeast Philadelphia pharmacist and a physician in neighboring Montgomery County allegedly concocted a plan wherein they recruited phony patients in order for the doctor to write prescriptions for oxycodone that were later filled by the pharmacist, yet kept by a third person – an alleged narcotics trafficker – for sale to drug dealers. It is alleged that more than 200,000 pills raked in about $5 million in less than two years. This is a case that seems to scream “guilty” on its face but there are many defendants involved and numerous agents and officers who may have been overeager and overzealous in an effort to “wrap the case.” Experienced and knowledgeable attorneys in Philadelphia who specialize in drug crimes will scrutinize every aspect of this case for violations of procedure, rights, evidence and law. An accusation of guilt is not a conviction of guilt, even in the face of overwhelming evidence. If you have been charged with a drug offense, do not settle for less than the best legal representation available. Call our office now for a free consultation.