Arizona has extremely strict laws concerning drugs, especially those concerning trafficking and distributing drugs. If you have been arrested for possession of cocaine, there is a chance you may be charged with intent to distribute drugs. Distribution charges are very serious charges that could lead to federal-level criminal proceedings.
An Avondale Drug Possession With Intent to Distribute lawyer from Suzuki Law Offices can protect your rights and work to defend you against federal charges for cocaine possession with intent to distribute. As a former prosecutor, lead attorney Richard Suzuki understands how to approach federal criminal cases involving drugs and can work to mitigate the worst of the consequences.
Contact our offices today to speak to a cocaine possession with intent to distribute lawyer in Avondale. Your freedoms may be at stake, so don’t delay.
Why You Need a Federal Crime Defense Lawyer
If you are facing federal charges for serious drug crimes like possession with intent to distribute cocaine, you need a federal drug crime lawyer in Avondale.
The government can pursue both state and federal charges simultaneously, so you need a lawyer with experience in both. Our Avondale federal crimes defense lawyer stays engaged, responsive, and focused on doing the work the right way.
An Avondale criminal defense lawyer from Suzuki Law Offices can meet federal charges and create a defense to defend you against the penalties. We have experience navigating federal crime cases and understand how federal prosecution and court procedures differ from state criminal cases.
What Is Cocaine Possession with Intent to Distribute?
Arizona laws concerning the possession and sale of drugs are found in ARS 13-3407. Possession with intent to distribute is a more serious crime than simple drug possession and can be punished as a Class 2 felony, the second-highest level of criminal offense in Arizona.
A class 2 felony can carry up to a 12-year prison sentence for a first-time offense. Offenders may also have to pay a fine and attend mandatory drug counseling as part of a sentencing deal. Felony drug offenses will also show up on a background check and could make offenders ineligible for housing and certain types of employment.
Drug Possession Threshold for Cocaine
In Arizona, if you are caught with more than a certain amount of cocaine, the law will automatically assume that you intend to sell it. This amount is called the drug possession threshold and represents a per se limit where distribution charges are automatic.
For cocaine, the relevant drug threshold amount is nine grams. In other words, if you are arrested with more than nine grams of cocaine in your possession, you will very likely receive a possession with intent to distribute charge, even if there is no other evidence of an intention to sell.
Note that you can still receive a possession with intent to sell charge even if you have below the threshold amount. The police can look at other evidence to establish an intent to sell, such as text messages, weighing scales, transporting drugs in a vehicle, and equipment for packaging drugs (e.g., plastic bags).
Possession With Intent to Distribute Can Lead to Federal Charges
Cocaine distribution charges often involve large amounts of drugs or the crossing of state lines, which can trigger a federal investigation. Federal drug charges are much more severe than state charges and carry extremely harsh mandatory minimums.
The US practices the doctrine of dual sovereignty, meaning that you can face both state and federal charges for the same crime. Typically, state charges are filed first before federal charges are pursued. You can receive a conviction in one and not the other, so it’s possible to beat state charges yet still be convicted under federal charges.
As such, you need an Avondale cocaine possession with intent to distribute lawyer experienced in navigating federal courts and procedures.
Suzuki Law Offices can defend you from both state and federal charges, giving you a better chance of avoiding the worst consequences of conviction.
Defenses Against Cocaine Possession or Distribution Charges
Below are some possible defenses an attorney could use to counter charges for cocaine possession with intent to distribute:
- No knowledge. Possession charges require the offender to knowingly commit the crime. If you didn’t know about the drugs or they belonged to someone else, your attorney could argue you lacked intent.
- Didn’t intend to sell. An attorney could also argue that the drugs were for personal use, not for sale. Certain equipment, like weighing scales, doesn’t always signal an intent to sell.
- Illegal search and seizure. If the police illegally searched and seized your property when they found the drugs, your attorney could petition to have the evidence suppressed in court.
Contact an Avondale Cocaine Possession with Intent to Distribute Lawyer
It is hard to overstate the severity of cocaine possession and distribution charges. If convicted, you could face a lengthy prison sentence and other losses of freedoms, such as a revocation of firearm rights.
Suzuki Law Offices can be your legal advocate and defend you from the charges, while using every strategy to secure the most favorable possible legal resolution.
Contact our offices today or reach out by phone to speak to a cocaine possession with intent to distribute lawyer in Avondale.
Call or text (602) 682-5270 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form