Miami lawyer Joffe is an AV® Peer Review Rated criminal defense attorney
who represents clients in federal and state criminal matters across the State of Florida.

CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER DAVID JOFFE REPRESENTS AND DEFENDS CLIENTS IN FEDERAL AND STATE CRIMINAL CASES IN MIAMI, FORT LAUDERDALE, WEST PALM BEACH, FORT MYERS AND THROUGHOUT FLORIDA. SEE THE FOLLOWING LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THE VARIOUS TYPES OF CASES THAT WE HANDLE

• FEDERAL CRIMES

• Antitrust Violations
• Asset Forfeiture
• Child Pornography
• Conspiracy cases
• Counterfeiting
• Cyberstalking
• Domestic Violence
• Drug Crime
• Drug Trafficking
• Economic espionage
• Embezzlement
• Environmental Law Violations
• Espionage
• Expunging Records
• Failure to File Cash Transaction Reports (CTR's)
• Federal Criminal Appeals
• Federal Criminal Trials
• Grand Jury Representation
• Healthcare Fraud
• Insider Trading
• International Crimes
• International Extradition
• IRS Violations
• Kickbacks
• Money Laundering
• Mortgage Fraud
• Public Corruption
• RICO Cases
• Security Violations
• Sex Crimes
• Structuring
• Tax Evasion
• Trade Secret Theft
• White Collar Crimes

FRAUD OFFENSES

• Bank Fraud
• Bankruptcy Fraud
• Business Fraud and Theft
• Computer Fraud
• Credit Card Fraud
• Financial Fraud
• Government Fraud
• Insurance Fraud
• Internet Fraud
• Mail Fraud
• Tax Fraud
• Telemarketing Fraud
• Wire Fraud

DRUG CRIMES

• Drug Charges
• Drug Importation
• Drug Mule
• Drug Trafficking
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substance
• Conspiracy with Intent to Distribute

INTERNATIONAL CRIMES

• International Criminal Attorney
• Drug Trafficking
• Money Laundering
• Financial Crimes
• Tax Crimes
• Internet Crime
• Espionage
• Economic Espionage
• Interpol Red Notice Removal
• OFAC SDN Sanctions Removal

MIAMI ATTORNEY DAVID JOFFE HANDLES ALL TYPES OF FEDERAL AND STATE CRIMES.

FELONY CRIMES

• Bribery
• Cyberstalking
• Domestic Violence
• Embezzlement
• Environmental Law Violations
• Expunging Records
• Public Corruption
• RICO Cases
• Security Violations
• Sex Crimes
• State Felony Appeals
• State Felony Trials
• Trade Secret Theft

MISDEMEANOR CRIMES

• Domestic Violence
• Expunging Records

DRIVING OFFENSES

• Driving Under the Influence (DUI/DWI)

OTHER CITIES IN FLORIDA

• Miami Criminal Lawyer
• Fort Lauderdale Criminal Lawyer
• West Palm Beach Criminal Lawyer
• Palm Beach Criminal Lawyer
• Fort Pierce Criminal Lawyer
• Fort Myers Criminal Lawyer
• Criminal Lawyer in Key West
• Naples Criminal Lawyer
• Criminal Lawyer in Ocala
• Criminal Lawyer in Orlando
• Tampa Criminal Lawyer
• Criminal Lawyer in Gainesville
• Criminal Lawyer in Panama City
• Criminal Lawyer in Tallahassee
• Criminal Lawyer in Jacksonville

OTHER US CITIES

• Criminal Lawyer in New York
• Criminal Lawyer in Los Angeles

Possession with Intent to Distribute, Deliver and/or Sell Controlled Substances

In Florida, drug offenses or drug charges cover a broad range of offenses, from the less severe, like simple possession of a small amount of certain drugs, to the more serious, such as drug trafficking, participation in an ongoing drug-related criminal enterprise or manufacturing and distributing drugs.

Whether a person accused of a drug-related offense is prosecuted in the federal or Florida state criminal system depends on what laws were violated and the policies and procedures of each court system. Most federal and state prosecutors divide up criminal charges based on availability of resources, which statute most closely fits the criminal conduct, available punishment in each system, and each system's policy considerations.

Federal and State Drug Laws

In 1970, the Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act, codified federal drug law into a uniform system. The Act classifies drugs into five categories, listed in schedules, and establishes regulatory requirements and penalties for the misuse of the drugs on each schedule.

The most severe legal restrictions and penalties involve Schedule I and II drugs, including heroin, LSD, mescaline, marijuana, peyote, opium, cocaine, methadone, amphetamines, and methamphetamines.

US Code Title 21 Section 841 states:
Prohibited acts A

-STATUTE-
(a) Unlawful acts
Except as authorized by this subchapter, it shall be unlawful for any person knowingly or intentionally -
(1) to manufacture, distribute, or dispense, or possess with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense, a controlled substance; or
(2) to create, distribute, or dispense, or possess with intent to distribute or dispense, a counterfeit substance.
(b) Penalties
Except as otherwise provided in section 849, 859, 860, or 861 of this title, any person who violates subsection (a) of this section shall be sentenced as follows:
(1)(A) In the case of a violation of subsection (a) of this section involving -
(i) 1 kilogram or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of heroin;
(ii) 5 kilograms or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of -
(I) coca leaves, except coca leaves and extracts of coca leaves from which cocaine, ecgonine, and derivatives of ecgonine or their salts have been removed;
(II) cocaine, its salts, optical and geometric isomers, and salts of isomers;
(III) ecgonine, its derivatives, their salts, isomers, and salts of isomers; or
(IV) any compound, mixture, or preparation which contains any quantity of any of the substances referred to in subclauses (I) through (III);

(iii) 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance described in clause (ii) which contains cocaine base;
(iv) 100 grams or more of phencyclidine (PCP) or 1 kilogram or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of phencyclidine (PCP);
(v) 10 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD);
(vi) 400 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of N-phenyl-N- [ 1- ( 2-phenylethyl ) -4- piperidinyl ] propanamide or 100 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of any analogue of N- phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinyl] propanamide;
(vii) 1000 kilograms or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of marihuana, or 1,000 or more marihuana plants regardless of weight; or
(viii) 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, its salts, isomers, and salts of its isomers or 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, its salts, isomers, or salts of its isomers;

such person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment which may not be less than 10 years or more than life and if death or serious bodily injury results from the use of such substance shall be not less than 20 years or more than life, a fine not to exceed the greater of that authorized in accordance with the provisions of title 18 or $4,000,000 if the defendant is an individual or $10,000,000 if the defendant is other than an individual, or both. If any person commits such a violation after a prior conviction for a felony drug offense has become final, such person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment which may not be less than 20 years and not more than life imprisonment and if death or serious bodily injury results from the use of such substance shall be sentenced to life imprisonment, a fine not to exceed the greater of twice that authorized in accordance with the provisions of title 18 or $8,000,000 if the defendant is an individual or $20,000,000 if the defendant is other than an individual, or both. If any person commits a violation of this subparagraph or of section 849, 859, 860, or 861 of this title after two or more prior convictions for a felony drug offense have become final, such person shall be sentenced to a mandatory term of life imprisonment without release and fined in accordance with the preceding sentence. Notwithstanding section 3583 of title 18, any sentence under this subparagraph shall, in the absence of such a prior conviction, impose a term of supervised release of at least 5 years in addition to such term of imprisonment and shall, if there was such a prior conviction, impose a term of supervised release of at least 10 years in addition to such term of imprisonment. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the court shall not place on probation or suspend the sentence of any person sentenced under this subparagraph. No person sentenced under this subparagraph shall be eligible for parole during the term of imprisonment imposed therein.
(B) In the case of a violation of subsection (a) of this section involving -
(i) 100 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of heroin;
(ii) 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of -
(I) coca leaves, except coca leaves and extracts of coca leaves from which cocaine, ecgonine, and derivatives of ecgonine or their salts have been removed;
(II) cocaine, its salts, optical and geometric isomers, and salts of isomers;
(III) ecgonine, its derivatives, their salts, isomers, and salts of isomers; or
(IV) any compound, mixture, or preparation which contains any quantity of any of the substances referred to in subclauses (I) through (III);

(iii) 5 grams or more of a mixture or substance described in clause (ii) which contains cocaine base;
(iv) 10 grams or more of phencyclidine (PCP) or 100 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of phencyclidine (PCP);
(v) 1 gram or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD);
(vi) 40 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of N-phenyl-N- [ 1- ( 2-phenylethyl ) -4- piperidinyl ] propanamide or 10 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of any analogue of N- phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinyl] propanamide;
(vii) 100 kilograms or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of marihuana, or 100 or more marihuana plants regardless of weight; or
(viii) 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, its salts, isomers, and salts of its isomers or 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, its salts, isomers, or salts of its isomers;

such person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment which may not be less than 5 years and not more than 40 years and if death or serious bodily injury results from the use of such substance shall be not less than 20 years or more than life, a fine not to exceed the greater of that authorized in accordance with the provisions of title 18 or $2,000,000 if the defendant is an individual or $5,000,000 if the defendant is other than an individual, or both. If any person commits such a violation after a prior conviction for a felony drug offense has become final, such person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment which may not be less than 10 years and not more than life imprisonment and if death or serious bodily injury results from the use of such substance shall be sentenced to life imprisonment, a fine not to exceed the greater of twice that authorized in accordance with the provisions of title 18 or $4,000,000 if the defendant is an individual or $10,000,000 if the defendant is other than an individual, or both. Notwithstanding section 3583 of title 18, any sentence imposed under this subparagraph shall, in the absence of such a prior conviction, include a term of supervised release of at least 4 years in addition to such term of imprisonment and shall, if there was such a prior conviction, include a term of supervised release of at least 8 years in addition to such term of imprisonment. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the court shall not place on probation or suspend the sentence of any person sentenced under this subparagraph. No person sentenced under this subparagraph shall be eligible for parole during the term of imprisonment imposed therein.
(C) In the case of a controlled substance in schedule I or II, gamma hydroxybutyric acid (including when scheduled as an approved drug product for purposes of section 3(a)(1)(B) of the Hillory J. Farias and Samantha Reid Date-Rape Drug Prohibition Act of 2000), or 1 gram of flunitrazepam, except as provided in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (D), such person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not more than 20 years and if death or serious bodily injury results from the use of such substance shall be
sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than twenty years or more than life, a fine not to exceed the greater of that authorized in accordance with the provisions of title 18 or $1,000,000 if the defendant is an individual or $5,000,000 if the defendant is other than an individual, or both. If any person commits such a violation after a prior conviction for a felony drug
offense has become final, such person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not more than 30 years and if death or serious bodily injury results from the use of such substance shall be sentenced to life imprisonment, a fine not to exceed the greater of twice that authorized in accordance with the provisions of title 18 or $2,000,000 if the defendant is an individual or $10,000,000 if the defendant is other than an individual, or both. Notwithstanding section 3583 of title 18, any sentence imposing a term of imprisonment under this paragraph shall, in the absence of such a prior conviction, impose a term of supervised release of at least 3 years in addition to such term of imprisonment and shall, if there was such a prior conviction, impose a term of supervised release of at least 6 years in addition to such term of imprisonment. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the court shall not place on probation or suspend the sentence of any person sentenced under the provisions of this subparagraph which provide for a mandatory term of imprisonment if death or serious bodily injury
results, nor shall a person so sentenced be eligible for parole during the term of such a sentence.
(D) In the case of less than 50 kilograms of marihuana, except in the case of 50 or more marihuana plants regardless of weight, 10 kilograms of hashish, or one kilogram of hashish oil or in the case of any controlled substance in schedule III (other than gamma hydroxybutyric acid), or 30 milligrams of flunitrazepam, such person shall, except as provided in paragraphs (4) and (5) of this subsection, be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not more than 5 years, a fine not to exceed the greater of that authorized in accordance with the provisions of title 18 or $250,000 if the defendant is an individual or $1,000,000 if the defendant is other than an individual, or both. If any person commits such a violation after a prior conviction for a felony drug offense has become final, such person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not more than 10 years, a fine not to exceed the greater of twice that authorized in accordance with the provisions of title 18 or $500,000 if the defendant is an individual or $2,000,000 if the defendant is other than an individual, or both. Notwithstanding section 3583 of title 18, any sentence imposing a term of
imprisonment under this paragraph shall, in the absence of such a prior conviction, impose a term of supervised release of at least 2 years in addition to such term of imprisonment and shall, if there was such a prior conviction, impose a term of supervised release of at least 4 years in addition to such term of imprisonment.
(2) In the case of a controlled substance in schedule IV, such person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not more than 3 years, a fine not to exceed the greater of that authorized in accordance with the provisions of title 18 or $250,000 if the defendant is an individual or $1,000,000 if the defendant is other than an individual, or both. If any person commits such a violation after one or more prior convictions of him for an offense punishable under this paragraph, or for a felony under any other provision of this subchapter or subchapter II of this chapter or other law of a State, the United States, or a foreign country relating to narcotic drugs, marihuana, or depressant or stimulant substances, have become final, such person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not more than 6 years, a fine not to exceed the greater of twice that authorized in accordance with the provisions of title 18 or $500,000 if the defendant is an
individual or $2,000,000 if the defendant is other than an individual, or both. Any sentence imposing a term of imprisonment under this paragraph shall, in the absence of such a prior conviction, impose a term of supervised release of at least one year in addition to such term of imprisonment and shall, if there was such a prior conviction, impose a term of supervised release of at least 2 years in addition to such term of imprisonment.
(3) In the case of a controlled substance in schedule V, such person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not more than one year, a fine not to exceed the greater of that authorized in accordance with the provisions of title 18 or $100,000 if the defendant is an individual or $250,000 if the defendant is other than an individual, or both. If any person commits such a violation after one or more convictions of him for an offense punishable
under this paragraph, or for a crime under any other provision of this subchapter or subchapter II of this chapter or other law of a State, the United States, or a foreign country relating to narcotic drugs, marihuana, or depressant or stimulant substances, have become final, such person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not more than 2 years, a fine not to exceed the greater of twice that authorized in accordance with the provisions of title 18 or $200,000 if the defendant is an individual or
$500,000 if the defendant is other than an individual, or both.
(4) Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(D) of this subsection, any person who violates subsection (a) of this section by distributing a small amount of marihuana for no remuneration shall be treated as provided in section 844 of this title and section 3607 of title 18.
(5) Any person who violates subsection (a) of this section by cultivating or manufacturing a controlled substance on Federal property shall be imprisoned as provided in this subsection and shall be fined any amount not to exceed -
(A) the amount authorized in accordance with this section;
(B) the amount authorized in accordance with the provisions of
title 18;
(C) $500,000 if the defendant is an individual; or
(D) $1,000,000 if the defendant is other than an individual; or both.
(6) Any person who violates subsection (a) of this section, or attempts to do so, and knowingly or intentionally uses a poison, chemical, or other hazardous substance on Federal land, and, by such use -
(A) creates a serious hazard to humans, wildlife, or domestic animals,
(B) degrades or harms the environment or natural resources, or
(C) pollutes an aquifer, spring, stream, river, or body of water, shall be fined in accordance with title 18 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
(7) Penalties for distribution. -
(A) In general. - Whoever, with intent to commit a crime of violence, as defined in section 16 of title 18 (including rape), against an individual, violates subsection (a) of this section by distributing a controlled substance or controlled substance analogue to that individual without that individual's knowledge, shall be imprisoned not more than 20 years and fined in
accordance with title 18.
(B) Definition. - For purposes of this paragraph, the term "without that individual's knowledge" means that the individual is unaware that a substance with the ability to alter that individual's ability to appraise conduct or to decline participation in or communicate unwillingness to participate in
conduct is administered to the individual.
(c) Offenses involving listed chemicals
Any person who knowingly or intentionally -
(1) possesses a listed chemical with intent to manufacture a controlled substance except as authorized by this subchapter;
(2) possesses or distributes a listed chemical knowing, or having reasonable cause to believe, that the listed chemical will be used to manufacture a controlled substance except as authorized by this subchapter; or
(3) with the intent of causing the evasion of the recordkeeping or reporting requirements of section 830 of this title, or the regulations issued under that section, receives or distributes a reportable amount of any listed chemical in units small enough so that the making of records or filing of reports under that section is not required; shall be fined in accordance with title 18 or imprisoned not more than 20 years in the case of a violation of paragraph (1) or (2) involving a list I chemical or not more than 10 years in the case
of a violation of this subsection other than a violation of paragraph (1) or (2) involving a list I chemical, or both.
(d) Boobytraps on Federal property; penalties; "boobytrap" defined
(1) Any person who assembles, maintains, places, or causes to be
placed a boobytrap on Federal property where a controlled substance
is being manufactured, distributed, or dispensed shall be sentenced
to a term of imprisonment for not more than 10 years or fined under
title 18, or both.
(2) If any person commits such a violation after 1 or more prior convictions for an offense punishable under this subsection, such person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not more than 20 years or fined under title 18, or both.
(3) For the purposes of this subsection, the term "boobytrap" means any concealed or camouflaged device designed to cause bodily injury when triggered by any action of any unsuspecting person making contact with the device. Such term includes guns, ammunition, or explosive devices attached to trip wires or other triggering mechanisms, sharpened stakes, and lines or wires with hooks attached.
(e) Ten-year injunction as additional penalty
In addition to any other applicable penalty, any person convicted of a felony violation of this section relating to the receipt, distribution, manufacture, exportation, or importation of a listed chemical may be enjoined from engaging in any transaction involving a listed chemical for not more than ten years.
(f) Wrongful distribution or possession of listed chemicals
(1) Whoever knowingly distributes a listed chemical in violation of this subchapter (other than in violation of a recordkeeping or reporting requirement of section 830 of this title) shall, except to the extent that paragraph (12), (13), or (14) of section 842(a) of this title applies, be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
(2) Whoever possesses any listed chemical, with knowledge that the recordkeeping or reporting requirements of section 830 of this title have not been adhered to, if, after such knowledge is acquired, such person does not take immediate steps to remedy the violation shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
(g) Internet sales of date rape drugs
(1) Whoever knowingly uses the Internet to distribute a date rape drug to any person, knowing or with reasonable cause to believe that -
(A) the drug would be used in the commission of criminal sexual conduct; or
(B) the person is not an authorized purchaser; shall be fined under this subchapter or imprisoned not more than 20
years, or both.
(2) As used in this subsection:
(A) The term "date rape drug" means -
(i) gamma hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) or any controlled
substance analogue of GHB, including gamma butyrolactone (GBL)
or 1,4-butanediol;
(ii) ketamine;
(iii) flunitrazepam; or
(iv) any substance which the Attorney General designates, pursuant to the rulemaking procedures prescribed by section 553 of title 5, to be used in committing rape or sexual assault.

The Attorney General is authorized to remove any substance from the list of date rape drugs pursuant to the same rulemaking authority.
(B) The term "authorized purchaser" means any of the following persons, provided such person has acquired the controlled substance in accordance with this chapter:
(i) A person with a valid prescription that is issued for a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of professional practice that is based upon a qualifying medical relationship by a practitioner registered by the Attorney General. A "qualifying medical relationship" means a medical relationship
that exists when the practitioner has conducted at least 1 medical evaluation with the authorized purchaser in the physical presence of the practitioner, without regard to whether portions of the evaluation are conducted by other heath
(!1) professionals. The preceding sentence shall not be construed to imply that 1 medical evaluation demonstrates that a prescription has been issued for a legitimate medical purpose within the usual course of professional practice.

(ii) Any practitioner or other registrant who is otherwise authorized by their registration to dispense, procure, purchase, manufacture, transfer, distribute, import, or export the substance under this chapter.
(iii) A person or entity providing documentation that establishes the name, address, and business of the person or entity and which provides a legitimate purpose for using any "date rape drug" for which a prescription is not required.

(3) The Attorney General is authorized to promulgate regulations for record-keeping and reporting by persons handling 1,4-butanediol in order to implement and enforce the provisions of this section. Any record or report required by such regulations shall be considered a record or report required under this chapter.

-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 91-513, title II, Sec. 401, Oct. 27, 1970, 84 Stat. 1260;
Pub. L. 95-633, title II, Sec. 201, Nov. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 3774;
Pub. L. 96-359, Sec. 8(c), Sept. 26, 1980, 94 Stat. 1194; Pub. L.
98-473, title II, Secs. 224(a), 502, 503(b)(1), (2), Oct. 12, 1984,
98 Stat. 2030, 2068, 2070; Pub. L. 99-570, title I, Secs. 1002,
1003(a), 1004(a), 1005(a), 1103, title XV, Sec. 15005, Oct. 27,
1986, 100 Stat. 3207-2, 3207-5, 3207-6, 3207-11, 3702-192; Pub. L.
100-690, title VI, Secs. 6055, 6254(h), 6452(a), 6470(g), (h),
6479, Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4318, 4367, 4371, 4378, 4381; Pub.
L. 101-647, title X, Sec. 1002(e), title XII, Sec. 1202, title
XXXV, Sec. 3599K, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4828, 4830, 4932; Pub.
L. 103-322, title IX, Sec. 90105(a), (c), title XVIII, Sec.
180201(b)(2)(A), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 1987, 1988, 2047; Pub.
L. 104-237, title II, Sec. 206(a), title III, Sec. 302(a), Oct. 3,
1996, 110 Stat. 3103, 3105; Pub. L. 104-305, Sec. 2(a), (b)(1),
Oct. 13, 1996, 110 Stat. 3807; Pub. L. 105-277, div. E, Sec. 2(a),
Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681-759; Pub. L. 106-172, Secs. 3(b)(1),
5(b), 9, Feb. 18, 2000, 114 Stat. 9, 10, 13; Pub. L. 107-273, div.
B, title III, Sec. 3005(a), title IV, Sec. 4002(d)(2)(A), Nov. 2,
2002, 116 Stat. 1805, 1809; Pub. L. 109-177, title VII, Secs.
711(f)(1)(B), 732, Mar. 9, 2006, 120 Stat. 262, 270; Pub. L. 109-
248, title II, Sec. 201, July 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 611.)

Drug-Related Crimes

Drug offenses, such as  drug trafficking, carry harsh penalties, particularly under the federal law. The federal sentencing guidelines may be summarized as follow: the higher the offense level, the harsher the sentence. The base offense level under the federal guidelines differs for different drugs and for different amounts of the same drug. It is essential for an accused to be represented by attorneys who have experience navigating these sentencing issues.

Sentencing guidelines are constantly being revamped.

Drug Trafficking

Drug trafficking is the illegal transportation and distribution of drugs into or within the United States. Click here for penalties for drug trafficking.

Searches & Seizure

The Florida police may legitimately search persons and property, and seize both persons and property, either with or without a warrant if the circumstances justify their actions. If they act without probable cause, however, or exceed constitutional limitations on their actions, both searches and seizures may be deemed invalid and any resulting evidence may be tainted and thus inadmissible. If you have been charged with a drug-related crime and have questions about whether the police may have violated your search and seizure rights, contact a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney at Joffe Law now.

Grand Juries and Drug Cases

The Fifth Amendment mandates that charges for all capital and "infamous" crimes be brought by an indictment returned by a grand jury. A grand jury determines whether enough evidence exists to bring drug charges against one or more individuals, but they can also refuse to indict someone if they do not believe there is sufficient evidence to charge him or her with a crime.

Although criminal defense attorneys are not present in the grand jury room, they still serve the essential role of advising both witnesses and those persons whose actions are the subject of the grand jury proceedings.

Grand jury proceedings are not open to the public. The person charged does not have the right to attend the proceeding or to present evidence. Grand jurors and witnesses are sworn not to reveal what happened in the proceedings. A witness in a grand jury proceeding is not entitled to have his or her attorney present in the grand jury room while testifying. However, the attorney may wait outside the room and the witness may ask to leave the grand jury room to consult with his or her attorney.

To learn more about the functions of grand juries go to http://www.abanet.org/media/faqjury.asp.