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Drug conspiracy charges can be extremely complex, from long term investigations with wire taps and eavesdropping warrants, to unusual and complicated evidentiary issues and motions to be made that do not come up in most other types of criminal cases. These conspiracy cases differ from other kinds of charges in so many ways, not least of which because they don’t require a person to ever actually handle illegal drugs or money or anything at all. In fact, the level of involvement required to be charged in a criminal conspiracy can be shockingly minimal to many. For example, simply agreeing to commit an illegal act with another person and taking some relatively minor step toward that end can get a person charged with drug conspiracy that could leave them facing many years in state prison. If one of the people in the conspiracy took some significant steps towards actually putting the conspiracy’s plan into action, they can be found guilty and sent to prison.
Drug conspiracy charges are incredibly serious, complex, and difficult to defend effectively. If you have been charged with such a crime, reach out to a New York drug conspiracy lawyer today. A qualified drug attorney can build a solid defense for you, and ensure that the many rights implicated by conspiracy prosecutions are protected along the way.
Federal law allows prosecutors to pursue charges against those who conspire to commit a crime, even if they did not go through with the crime. That means a phone call or simple conversation could land a person in prison. When it comes to drug trafficking conspiracy, the law allows the convicted persons to not only face penalties that would have applied even if they completed the crime, but even further punishment given that they can be held accountable for the actions of other people in the conspiracy, including the weight of all the drugs sold by every other member of the conspiracy. This could, for example, lead a person who sold a few grams of cocaine themselves to staring down the possibility of 30+ years in federal prison when the drugs sold by everyone else in the conspiracy are also taken into account.
Many people will be shocked by the severity with which many of these drug trafficking conspiracies are dealt, especially in federal court and when comparing similar conduct charged in state court not in a conspiracy context. Put simply, conspiracy charges allow prosecutors to essentially hold those convicted of conspiring responsible for future crimes not yet committed, and even future crimes that other people planned on committing. Given all of this, having a knowledgeable drug conspiracy lawyer representing you is invaluable.
Police can and will use any tool at their disposal to investigate drug conspiracy crimes. Confidential informants, undercover detectives and surveillance are all used to expose such crimes. Drug conspiracies are also frequently discovered through the financial side of the crime. Suspicious bank activity can alert police to criminal behaviors. Efforts to launder money are often a red flag for banks and credit unions, who report such concerns to the authorities. This combination of evidence can lead to cases that are difficult to defend as the evidence is coming from multiple angles, and also extremely complex from a legal point of view.
Those convicted of drug conspiracy can be sentenced to many years in a federal prison. Of course, because a person convicted of drug conspiracy can also be held responsible for the future crimes they intended to commit, they can face other charges, such as possession of a gun that they never actually physically possessed, which can lead to mandatory consecutive prison sentences. In addition, a person’s property can be seized by the government if it was used in connection with their crime, or if it constitutes proceeds of the conspiracy.
People convicted of drug conspiracy charges can and do find themselves behind bars. In addition, those convicted of drug conspiracy often face difficulty getting and keeping jobs once released. Even the simple loss of their driver’s license and a strike on their record can have long lasting impacts. To prevent this from happening, individuals accused of drug conspiracy should reach out to a drug conspiracy lawyer to begin establishing a defense.
Drug conspiracy cases can be incredibly complex, requiring the assistance of a knowledgeable attorney who can aggressively defend the accused. Navigating the murky legal waters surrounding drug conspiracy can be a challenge. That is why you should reach out to a drug conspiracy lawyer that can work tirelessly to defend you. If you have been charged with drug conspiracy in New York, an attorney as soon as possible. They can thoroughly investigate your case and work vigorously to defend your rights.
Call the criminal defense attorneys and former Manhattan prosecutors at (212) 312-7129 or contact us online today.