New Jersey Drug Conspiracy Lawyers
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When you think of drug conspiracies, your thoughts turn to drug lords, organized crime, and other similar situations. However, you may be surprised that people can be charged with drug conspiracy for doing far less than any of these ned above.
You don’t even have to sell the drugs yourself to be charged with drug conspiracy. As a result, you may assume that the less involved you were with selling the drugs, the lighter sentence you would receive if convicted. However, that is rarely the case. Due to the war on drugs constantly being an issue in the news today, prosecutors and other law enforcement officials will always try to get harsh convictions against those involved with drugs.
If you now face drug conspiracy charges in New Jersey, take them very seriously and immediately consult a knowledgeable lawyer who can put their expertise to work for you and your case.
Defining Conspiracy
While New Jersey does not have specific drug conspiracy laws, it does have conspiracy laws that can be used in drug cases. As for the legal definition of conspiracy in New Jersey, it is when one person reaches an agreement with another person to either engage in criminal conduct or assist in the planning or commissioning a crime. For example, if you decide to work with another person to sell marijuana, you could be charged with drug conspiracy if caught by police.
To make matters worse, these charges could be levied against you even if you never sold marijuana to anyone. Instead, police could arrest and charge you with conspiracy even if you only bought packing materials and wrapped the drugs for resale. Since police, prosecutors, and judges will have no sympathy for you in these situations, turn to a New Jersey drug conspiracy lawyer who understands the nuances of these cases and can work hard to get the charges against you reduced or dropped.
What if a Crime Never Takes Place?
If you think you won’t be charged with drug conspiracy even if a crime never actually occurs, think again. For example, even if your partner in a marijuana drug business never sells the drugs you packaged for resale, you can be charged with drug conspiracy. In these cases, prosecutors will defend the filing of conspiracy charges against you based on the definition of conspiracy, which partly includes the attempt to commit a crime. Ultimately, if you are found to be involved in any way with a drug operation, expect to be charged with conspiracy if caught by authorities.
Are There Conspiracy Defenses?
- Yes. Once you have hired an experienced New Jersey drug conspiracy lawyer to handle your case, they will immediately examine the evidence against you and plan a legal defense known as a renunciation of purpose.
- When using this defense as it pertains to your case, your lawyer will argue you should be allowed to escape being convicted because you are acting in some way to prevent a crime from occurring.
- As an example, if you contact the police before your partner selling any drugs, your lawyer can point to this and say you took the necessary steps to stop the criminal activity.
- Though prosecutors will work hard to prove otherwise, having a skilled attorney on your side may get you a not-guilty verdict.
- Since you may face many years in prison if this does not happen, never trust your case to an attorney who does not handle drug conspiracy cases regularly.
- Instead, hire a New Jersey drug conspiracy lawyer with a reputation for helping clients avoid guilty convictions.
Don’t Let Yourself be Confused
Since New Jersey’s conspiracy laws can be confusing, don’t allow yourself to be intimidated and confused by law enforcement officials and prosecutors once you are arrested. Due to the nature of your alleged crime, authorities will be putting tremendous pressure on you to tell them every detail of the drug operation you were allegedly involved with at the time of your arrest.
Since you will continually be threatened with long prison sentences and other penalties, you may let your fear and confusion force you into making crucial mistakes regarding what you say while under arrest. However, remember the Miranda rights that were read to you upon your arrest. While police may use things you say against you, always keep in mind you also have the right to an attorney and for that attorney to be present during any questioning.
Thus, to protect your rights, say nothing until you consult with and hire the best possible New Jersey drug conspiracy lawyer available to handle your case.
Conviction on Drug Distribution Charge
A conviction on a drug distribution charge will wreak lasting, perhaps even catastrophic, effects on the life of any defendant. In addition to the prospect of long-term incarceration, exorbitant monetary fines, and ongoing terms of probation, such individuals may face extreme difficulty when resuming anything close to a positive, productive life once they have served their sentence. The stigma of a severe criminal record is something with which no one wants to contend, and if you are facing allegations of dealing in illegal substances in this state, New Jersey drug distribution lawyers stand ready to help.
Severe Nature of Drug Distribution Penalties
Both the selling and distribution of illegal substances are prohibited by federal and state law, and as such, the potential implications for defendants can be profound. While legislators in New Jersey have imposed their penalties for these offenses, there are times when federal authorities will also intervene to pursue even more severe punishments for those implicated in such crimes.
New Jersey Drug Distribution Sentences
According to New Jersey statutes, it is illegal for anyone to knowingly or deliberately distribute or possess with an intent to distribute a controlled substance, an analog of the same, or a counterfeit version of such a substance. Penalties imposed following conviction of this type of offense depend on a series of factors, including the drug and amount at issue. Cases of this nature are highly fact-specific and require the careful investigation a skilled drug possession attorney can provide.
Drug Distribution Conspiracy Charges
It is important to note that in New Jersey, there are additional sanctions for anyone convicted of leading a drug trafficking or distribution network together with two or more other individuals. The punishments possible in such scenarios are severe, with those found guilty facing a life sentence in which parole is not feasible for the first 25 years. Also, offenders convicted of this type of offense are vulnerable to massive financial fines, which can be virtually impossible to recover.
Ongoing Impact of Drug Distribution Charges
Drug distribution charges that end in conviction are likely to bring about consequences that are difficult, if not impossible, for offenders ever to overcome. Long-lasting prison terms and financially ruinous fines are but the start of the effects sure to haunt individuals for the rest of their lives, even after they have paid their debt to society. Anyone with an offense of this sort on their record will undoubtedly find it challenging to obtain employment, pursue higher education, maintain healthy relationships with family members, or perhaps even remain in this country if they are not citizens at the time of the offense.
The Critical Importance of an Aggressive Drug Crime Defense Attorney
The stakes for anyone accused of a drug distribution offense in New Jersey could not be higher. Because the ramifications of conviction are so profound, there is no time to waste when it comes to assisting in constructing a sound legal defense. A zealous defense attorney will immediately begin examining the facts of each case, identifying flaws in the prosecution’s evidence and arguments, and endeavoring to secure a dismissal of each charge or, at the very least, seek to minimize the impact at sentencing. If you are facing a distribution charge and are ready to mount a vigorous defense, contact a New Jersey drug crimes attorney today.
