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LSD Trafficking

LSD Trafficking Charges

LSD, also known as "acid" and other names, is a powerful, mood-changing chemical made from lysergic acid found in the ergot fungus. LSD is made in crystal form in laboratories, and the crystals are turned into an odorless and colorless liquid to be distributed. Often, LSD is distributed on the street for recreational use in gelatin squares called window panes, small tablets known as microdots, or small absorbent paper squares with cartoon characters on them. Generally, an acid trip lasts 12 hours, and this sometimes turns disastrous. You can be charged with LSD trafficking if you have the minimum amount, which can have serious consequences. St. Petersburg LSD trafficking lawyer Will Hanlon knows how to fight a drug charge and is ready to discuss your options with you.

LSD Trafficking Offenses

In order to secure a conviction for LSD trafficking, a prosecutor needs to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you knowingly possessed, sold, purchased, made, delivered, or carried into the state one gram or more of either acid or a mixture that contained LSD and another drug, such as amphetamines. In some cases, it is possible to attack the charge by showing that the prosecution cannot prove these elements beyond a reasonable doubt. For example, your involvement may not have been knowing. If you were driving a car, and your roommate was accompanying you, carrying a suitcase containing four grams of acid, you may not have known that the acid was there or that you were transporting the acid. In that case, it may be possible for an LSD trafficking attorney in St. Petersburg to defeat the charge.

If you have one gram or more of acid, you can be charged with trafficking, rather than another drug crime. Trafficking carries a mandatory minimum sentence, and these sentences are steeper with the more acid that is involved. Most often, that means that a judge cannot look at mitigating factors and depart downward for your sentence. Complicating factors could include other crimes, such as a probation violation or a sex crime. If you are caught with 1-5 grams of LSD, you face a possible mandatory minimum prison sentence of three years and a $50,000 fine. If you are caught with 5-7 grams of LSD, you face a possible mandatory minimum prison sentence of seven years and a $100,000 fine. If you are caught with seven grams or more of LSD, you face a potential mandatory minimum prison sentence of 15 calendar years and a $500,000 fine. If the prosecutor can show that you knowingly made or imported into the state a minimum of seven grams of LSD or an LSD-containing mixture, and you knew that the probable result of making or importing the acid would be someone's death, you can be convicted of a capital felony.

There often are defenses that a St. Petersburg LSD trafficking attorney can raise, whether you are a bit player in a trafficking operation or an important figure. What is at issue is how much LSD was involved. If the LSD was not found directly on you, the prosecution will mostly need to use circumstantial evidence. It may be possible to attack the circumstantial evidence, particularly if the police violated your constitutional rights in connection with obtaining it. For example, if the police did not have a warrant that was needed to make a search that led to a discovery of seven grams of acid, it may be possible to get the evidence of the seven grams suppressed. Similarly, if you were in a custodial interrogation related to another suspected crime, and you admitted trafficking in LSD, it might be possible to get your confession suppressed if you were not given Miranda warnings before being questioned.

In other cases, it may be possible to raise the defenses of substantial assistance or entrapment. However, these defenses are fact-sensitive and should only be raised with the help of an experienced St. Petersburg criminal attorney.

Seek Assistance from an LSD Trafficking Lawyer in St. Petersburg

You should immediately consult an aggressive criminal defense attorney if you are being investigated for LSD trafficking. When sentencing in a drug trafficking case, the judge must sentence you to the mandatory minimum except in limited circumstances, so it is important to hire an attorney who will mount a vigorous defense at the earliest possible stage. Will Hanlon has offered tough criminal defense representation to the accused since 1994. You can call Hanlon Law at 727.289.0222 or use our online form.

Client Reviews
★★★★★
As a practicing attorney, I was shocked to hear that a family member of mine was alleged to have committed a sex crime. Knowing full well the consequences this type of allegation can have on anyone and their future, I immediately reached out to William Hanlon for help. I had every confidence that Mr. Hanlon had the knowledge, expertise, and experience to handle this problem. Approximately 4 weeks from an initial conference with Mr. Hanlon, we received a call with the news that a letter of release was being issued and the case was being dropped. Now my family member can finally exhale, take a deep breath, and go on with his life. Thank you, William! Jerry
★★★★★
Was on the ball. Remembered names, events, places, situations. Never need to re explain the situation. Keeps in touch through out the entire experience and keeps you feeling safe, comforted and protected. Fights hard. Worth every single penny. Would never settle for anything less than Will. Carrie
★★★★★
I was facing a charge that if convicted would carry two years in prison minimally. Not only was he empathetic and listening to what I had to say but he arranged with the prosecutor for my charges not to be filed under terms of a pre trial investigation. Would highly recommend. Alec
★★★★★
I am very happy for what he did for me. Always there when I needed him. Explained everything well. He Fights for his clients. He got me what I needed. Hes an excellent lawyer. Mutaz
★★★★★
Mr. Hanlon did what no other lawyer could do. Not only did he turn my criminal history into a thing of the past so I could move on, he was a loyal associate. No matter how bad the situation is, he has miraculously cleared me on every charge since he became my lawyer 5 years ago. I have the best lawyer that the legal system has to offer. I have had other really good lawyers try to get my business, but I know that no one can do a better job than William Hanlon. Jesse