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Oxycodone Trafficking

Oxycodone Trafficking Charges

Oxycodone is an opioid pain medication used to treat pain. It can be habit-forming and can slow someone's breathing, and fatal side effects can occur when somebody uses Oxycodone with alcohol or other drugs that cause drowsiness and slowed breathing. Many people are surprised to learn that they can be charged with oxycodone trafficking even when they do not have ties to crime syndicates. Oxycodone trafficking can be charged based on simply possessing a threshold amount. At Hanlon Law, St. Petersburg oxycodone trafficking lawyer Will Hanlon strongly believes in protecting the rights of the accused.

Understanding Oxycodone Trafficking Charges

You can be charged with oxycodone trafficking if you have a minimum of seven grams of oxycodone or a mixture that contains oxycodone. What matters is the overall weight of the mixture, rather than just the weight of the pure oxycodone. If you have the threshold amount or more, you face the possibility of being sentenced to a mandatory minimum. When a mandatory minimum is prescribed for a particular offense, the judge does not have discretion except in extremely limited circumstances involving youthful offenders to depart downward from that sentence.

The prosecution needs to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that you were knowingly in actual or constructive possession of at least seven grams of oxycodone or any salt of it, or that you knowingly sold, made, bought, delivered, or carried into Florida this amount. If you are caught with 7-14 grams, you may face a mandatory minimum sentence of three years’ imprisonment and a $50,000 fine. If you are caught with 14-25 grams, you may face a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years and a $100,000 fine. If you are caught with 25-100 grams of oxycodone, you may face a mandatory minimum prison term of 15 years and a $500,000 fine. If you are caught with 100 grams-30 kg of oxycodone, you may face a mandatory minimum of 25 years’ imprisonment and a $750,000 fine. There are also other potential penalties, such as the suspension or loss of a professional license. To avoid these penalties and the stigma that comes from having a criminal record, you should consult an oxycodone trafficking attorney in the St. Petersburg area.

Someone who is knowingly in actual or constructive possession of oxycodone, or who sells, buys, makes, delivers, or carries into the state 30 kg or more of oxycodone (or a mixture containing it) faces the possibility of being charged with a first-degree felony. This charge is punishable by life imprisonment, in which you are ineligible for any kind of discretionary early release. When someone knowingly brings into Florida 60 kg or more of oxycodone or a mixture including oxycodone that weighs this amount, and they know that the probable result of doing this is the death of somebody else, they can be charged with capital importation of illegal drugs, which is a capital felony.

There are a number of different defenses that a St. Petersburg oxycodone trafficking attorney might develop for you, depending on the circumstances. These include Fourth Amendment violations, such as a lack of probable cause to stop you during the detention in which the drugs were found, the illegal search and seizure of a home or car, and the lack of a valid warrant prior to the search that resulted in the threshold amount of oxycodone being found. When a defendant's constitutional rights are violated in the course of obtaining evidence, it may be possible to win a motion to suppress the evidence. Without the crucial evidence of a threshold amount of oxycodone, the prosecutor probably will not be able to prove the case. In other cases, it may be possible to secure a dismissal of the charges based on a valid prescription.

Contact an Oxycodone Trafficking Lawyer in St. Petersburg

You should hire an aggressive and skillful St. Petersburg criminal attorney if you are being investigated for oxycodone trafficking. In trafficking cases, the judge does not have the discretion to sentence you to less than the mandatory minimum, so it is important to hire an attorney who will mount a strong defense at the earliest possible stage. Will Hanlon has been providing aggressive and knowledgeable criminal defense representation since 1994. You can call Hanlon Law at 727.289.0222 or complete our online form.

Client Reviews
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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