NYC Federal Drug Crime Lawyer

NYC Federal Drug Crime Attorney

Facing federal drug charges in New York can be a life-changing experience. Prosecutors pursue these offenses aggressively and can request the strictest of penalties. If you face these charges, our knowledgeable NYC federal drug crimes lawyer can help secure the optimal outcome for your case.

How Federal Drug Charges Differ From State-Level Charges

Federal drug crime charges in New York can carry life-altering consequences, and these charges work differently than state-level drug offenses. The critical distinctions between federal and state-level drug offenses are essential to understand.

Severity of Penalties

Federal drug convictions are not to be taken lightly. These offenses can result in such harsh penalties that many can never return to their previous lives. While state-level drug charges can put you in jail, some federal drug offenses can land you in prison for life.

Depending on the offense and type of drugs, the severity of a sentence can seem incomparable. When dealing with mandatory minimums and hefty fines, it is vital to have a federal criminal defense attorney by your side.

Federal Sentencing Guidelines

While some people may think federal courts just make up their sentences, they can rely on guidelines outside the court. The guidelines can establish a framework for prison terms based on drug type and quantity, criminal history, and the defendant’s role in the offense. While these guidelines are rarely mandatory, they can heavily influence sentencing decisions.

Burden of Proof

The burden of proof is an essential part of criminal or civil cases. The amount of evidence required or doubt an attorney needs to present can be crucial to a case. The burden of proof required in a federal case differs widely from that in lower-level instances. It is essential to understand how these standards differ and how they can affect your drug crime case. If you face drug crimes in a federal court, you must contact an attorney.

Law Enforcement Agencies

Federal drug crimes often involve investigations by large government agencies that can intimidate easily. These agencies have extensive resources and investigative powers. These organizations can use sophisticated surveillance techniques, undercover operations, and complex financial tracking methods.

Facing federal drug charges means going up against well-funded entities who exist to convict you. It can be impossible to face these organizations alone.

Complexities of Federal Law

Federal drug laws change over time. These changes can be challenging to track, and while changes can benefit some people, other changes benefit the legal system. For regular civilians, federal statutes can be complicated to comprehend. Our NYC drug crime attorney can help you understand the complexities and ensure the protection of your rights.

Defense Strategies for Federal Drug Charges in New York

It can be difficult to fight without a highly strategic approach. Coming up with a suitable strategy on your own can be nearly impossible. You do not have to attempt to fight your charges alone. The Law Office of Jonathan Savella is experienced with federal drug crime charges and how to overcome them. We develop customized defense strategies to fight federal drug charges in New York.

Challenging the Search or Stop

The law protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures. If law enforcement stops or searches you without a valid warrant or probable cause, this can be vital to our case. If we can prove this, we can dismiss the evidence the officer obtained from your arrest.

This dismissal exemplifies how our attorneys can analyze your situation to determine if an officer infringed on your rights. When violations occur, we file motions to suppress evidence to weaken the prosecution’s case.

Investigating Procedural Errors

Law enforcement must adhere to strict protocols throughout the investigative process. Our team can thoroughly investigate your case for procedural errors. Whether the officer failed to advise you of your Miranda rights or mishandled evidence, we will find out and use it to help your case. Procedural errors like this can potentially lead to charge dismissals or reductions.

Exposing Weaknesses in the Prosecution’s Case

Prosecuting drug crimes can have the federal government’s resources behind them. This ability can make finding weaknesses in their case difficult, but it is not impossible. When we examine the evidence against you, we search for inconsistencies, flaws, or unreliable witnesses. We can expose these weaknesses in the prosecution’s case if the evidence’s chain of custody is questionable or the witness identifications are doubtful.

Negotiating Favorable Plea Bargains

Sometimes, negotiating a plea bargain can be the optimal option. With negotiations, you can seek reduced charges or receive more lenient sentences. Pleading to lesser offenses can keep you out of jail, reduce your fines, or eliminate most potential consequences. We assure you that we will do everything we can to thoroughly evaluate the prosecution’s case before we seek any negotiations.

Exploring Diversion Programs

For certain non-violent and first-time offenses, alternatives to traditional sentencing can exist. Many situations allow for pre-trial diversion programs, which give individuals the ability to avoid criminal convictions.

These programs can prevent criminal records by requiring defendants to complete court-mandated programs like drug rehabilitation or mental health counseling. If applicable, we can explore the possibility of diversion programs.

When these possibilities exist, we can advise you on whether or not these options align with your goals and interests.

Alibi Defenses

Many times, our clients have verifiable alibis. These explanations can demonstrate that the defendant was not present at the scene of the alleged crime when the offense occurred. Alibis can be a powerful defense strategy. If you have a good alibi, we can work with you to gather witness statements, helpful documentation, and any other evidence to support your alibi.

Entrapment Defenses

Sometimes, law enforcement may induce people to commit crimes that people otherwise would not commit. This action’s term is entrapment. If we determine entrapment occurred, we can defend you by arguing the government violated your rights. With this defense, we can seek a complete dismissal of charges.

Lack of Knowledge or Intent

Being unaware of the nature of the substance you possess can matter in a federal case. In addition to lack of knowledge, having the lack of intent to distribute or sell can also be important. We can explore the circumstances of your arrest to show if either of these applied.

The defense strategy we pursue depends on the facts of your case. Our legal team works tirelessly to defend our clients. We can take the time to gather evidence, identify weaknesses, and explore every defense option available to us. Throughout your case, we can keep you informed, ensuring that you will know about it if we decide to change our strategy. We aim to achieve the optimal outcome in your case and fight for your future.

The Importance of Communication

When you retain our services for a federal drug crime charge, we can maintain clear and consistent communication with you. To build a suitable defense, we need to know everything that can help your case.

Many people need to be in a trusting and encouraging environment to give the information they have. We can ensure we maintain a trusting and confidential environment where you can understand we are on your side throughout the process.

Our priority is protecting your rights and ensuring that your case outcome has minimal effects on your future. When you work with us, know that you can tell us your story and situation, and we will never judge you unfairly. Maintaining a solid and communicative relationship with you is how we can pursue your top defense strategy. We are here to work for your future.

Why Choose the Law Office of Jonathan Savella?

Our team understands the circumstances that await you if convicted, and we seek to prevent these consequences on your life. We work purposefully to dismiss or minimize your charges. Some aspects we bring to your case are:

• Meticulous investigations. We can investigate the details of your case, gather necessary evidence, review police reports and documentation, and find and interview any available witnesses. Our priority is identifying any weaknesses in the case against you,
• Personalized strategy. Based on our consultation and investigation process, we can develop a defense strategy to combat the charges against you. We can explore precedent and past case results to determine the ideal defense for your case.
• Rights protection. When necessary, we advocate for your rights in the courtroom. While our goal is to prevent litigation, we represent our clients’ rights and desired outcomes when a case takes us to the courts. Before reaching the courtroom, we can prepare you for trial, dissect the prosecution’s case, and present the most compelling defense to seek case dismissal or reduced charges.
• Questions answered. When you have questions, we have answers. Clear and transparent communication is invaluable in federal cases. Your direct access to us means that you can come to us with anything to help your case. We want you to feel empowered and supported.

FAQs:

How Do You Beat NY Federal Drug Charges?

Beating federal drug charges can be a difficult task, especially when you try to do it alone. With the help of our skilled NYC federal drug crimes lawyer, we can explore strategies to fight the charges against you. The potential positive outcome you can expect can vary depending on the facts of your case.

At the Law Office of Jonathan Savella, we can look at all available options, such as challenging the evidence, negotiating with prosecutors, raising suitable defenses, and exploring pre-trial diversion programs.

What Makes a Drug Case Go Federal in NY?

Several factors contribute to a drug case going federal in NYC. Some common reasons include:

• Crossing state lines. Federal jurisdictions might apply when individuals or organizations transport drugs across state lines.
• Large quantities of drugs. Possession or distribution of significant amounts of illegal drugs often falls within federal crime law.
• Investigation from federal agencies. If a federal agency, like the DEA, investigates the crime or arrests someone, they will likely prosecute federally.
• Crimes involving drug trafficking organizations are usually in federal jurisdiction.

What Is the Statute of Limitations on Drug Charges in NY?

The statute of limitations on drug charges in NY can vary depending on the offense. Generally, misdemeanor offenses have a short statute of limitations, at a couple of years or less. Felonies have a higher level of criteria, so they can have a much longer statute of limitations. Some federal drug charges can carry no statute of limitations, meaning prosecutors can bring charges no matter how much time passes.

If you worry about the statute of limitations surrounding an alleged crime, it can help to contact a NYC federal crime attorney from the Law Office of Jonathan Savella.

How Long Do You Go to Jail for Selling Drugs in New York?

How long you go to jail for selling drugs in New York can depend on the drug in question, the amount of the drug caught selling, and any prior criminal history or other outstanding factors. With small-scale drug penalties, you may have months in jail, whereas larger-scale drug sales can upgrade to felony charges.

Felony drug sales can land people in jail for years to life. The length of jail time someone receives for selling drugs can vary due to the severity of the offense.

Contact Us Today for an Initial Consultation

Drug crimes are serious. Federal crime charges can increase stakes dramatically. If convicted of a federal drug crime, people’s lives change rapidly. It is never wise to take criminal charges lightly. There is too much to lose when facing federal charges, and if you’ve been convicted, working with a federal criminal appeal attorney can be crucial to challenging the outcome and seeking a second chance.

If law enforcement arrested you for a federal drug crime charge, you need our help as soon as possible. Calling our skilled and experienced NYC criminal defense law firm can ensure you have the protection you need from the legal system against you and ensure they do not take advantage of your situation. We are here for you if you face federal charges and need an attorney. Contact The Law Office of Jonathan Savella today so we can start consulting on your case.