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Conspiracy Drug Charges in Florida: Penalties for Agreeing to Traffic, Sell, Manufacture
Conspiracy Drug Charges in Florida: Penalties for Agreeing to Traffic, Sell, Manufacture
Being charged with a drug crime in Florida can be scary. But when the charge involves “conspiracy,” things get even more complicated. Conspiracy basically means you agreed with someone else to commit a crime. Even if you didn’t actually commit the crime yourself, just conspiring or planning to do it can get you in big trouble.
This article will explain what conspiracy drug charges are, what penalties you can face, and some defenses that might help. We’ll also look at some real cases of conspiracy charges in Florida to see how it works. Our goal is to help you understand these complex laws better.
What is Conspiracy Under Florida Law?
Florida law defines criminal conspiracy in Statute 777.04. It says that conspiracy happens when two or more people work together to commit a crime. They might plan out all the details, or make preparations, or just agree to do it. The key is they are conspiring or working together to break the law.
For drug charges, common conspiracies include:
- Agreeing to sell drugs
- Planning to traffic drugs into Florida
- Making plans to manufacture illegal drugs
With conspiracy, you don’t have to actually commit the crime to be charged. Just planning it with someone else is enough. The other person doesn’t even have to be caught or charged.
Penalties for Conspiracy Drug Charges in Florida
The penalties for conspiracy drug charges depend on three main factors:
- The type and amount of drug involved
- Your criminal history
- Whether there are enhancements or mandatory minimums
In general, punishment for conspiracy is one step below the actual crime. For example, conspiracy to traffic cocaine over 400 grams is a first-degree felony. But the actual trafficking charge would be a life felony.
Still, these charges are taken very seriously. Even lower-level conspiracies like planning to sell marijuana can mean years in prison. Enhancements for guns, gangs, or other factors can ratchet up the penalties too.
Real Case Examples
Looking at real cases can help explain how these charges work:
- Two men were charged with conspiracy to traffic oxycodone and conspiracy to sell alprazolam. They faced up to 30 years just for planning to sell pills illegally.
- A woman faced life in prison for conspiracy to traffic cocaine. She connected a seller with an undercover officer but never handled any drugs herself.
- Three people were charged with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. They bought supplies but were arrested before making any drugs. Still, they faced decades behind bars.
As you can see, conspiracy charges can lead to severe penalties even if you weren’t caught with drugs or money. The planning is enough.
Defenses Against Conspiracy Charges
Fighting conspiracy charges in Florida takes experience and creativity. Some potential defenses include:
- No actual agreement – If the prosecutors can’t prove you actually agreed with someone to commit a crime, the conspiracy charge won’t stick.
- Entrapment – If police pressured you into committing a crime you wouldn’t otherwise do, you may have been entrapped.
- Misidentification – Mistaken identity is common in drug stings. You can’t conspire with an undercover officer.
- Lack of criminal intent – Conspiracy requires intent to break the law. If you didn’t realize your actions were illegal, you may have a defense.
An experienced criminal defense lawyer can evaluate the details of your case to craft the best defense strategy. Don’t go it alone against complex conspiracy charges.
Get Help Fighting Conspiracy Charges from a Florida Drug Crimes Lawyer
As you can see, being charged with conspiracy related to Florida drug crimes is extremely serious. Even if you weren’t caught with drugs or money, just being part of the planning can lead to decades behind bars.
Don’t take these charges lightly. Get an experienced Florida drug crimes defense attorney on your side immediately. An attorney can evaluate your case, advise you on the best defense strategy, and fight to protect your freedom.
Every case is different, but an aggressive lawyer may be able to get charges reduced or even dismissed. Don’t wait to get help. Call a qualified drug crimes attorney today.
With an experienced lawyer guiding you, you can get through this. There are defenses available, and hope for a better outcome. Take the first step now by contacting a lawyer to discuss your case confidentiality.