Defense of Federal Criminal Fentanyl Drug Cases
Learn the best defenses for federal criminal Fentanyl cases under drug trafficking 21 U.S. Code § 841 and drug importation 21 U.S. Code § 952.
One of the big ticket items for federal prosecutors nationwide is these federal drug Fentanyl cases. Fentanyl is an opioid, but it's a potent synthetic opioid that people are ingesting and dying in record numbers.
When you compare it to an opioid like Oxycodone, which is not nearly as powerful, Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more powerful sometimes. Many people are overdosing on it and being killed. It's highly addictive, and it's causing havoc throughout America.
Having done federal criminal defense in these significant drug crime cases for the last 26 years, I'm seeing prosecutors and federal agents — the DEA, ICE, and all the federal agencies — really targeting these Fentanyl cases — trying to find these people who are selling Fentanyl.
Federal Law Enforcement Targeting Fentanyl Cases
Interestingly, many of these drug dealers claim that they're selling Oxycodone, but they're selling Fentanyl. I think because it's probably less expensive and easier to get. Also, it's highly addictive, and they can make a lot of money.
They don't realize that it is so powerful that many customers are killing themselves with the Fentanyl. The government has taken strides in trying to stop the distribution and movement of these Fentanyl drugs.
Anytime I see them getting wind that somebody's involved with Fentanyl, they will prosecute the person and try to put them in federal prison for a long time.
When they talk to people who are cooperators, they're trying to convince those people to give them information about people who are moving Fentanyl throughout the United States.
Whether in Los Angeles, California, where my main office is based, or any of the states in the nation, if they see that it's coming in internationally, they will put resources, time, money, and manpower into stamping it out. The federal crime of Continuing Criminal Enterprise (CCE) primarily targets large-scale drug traffickers participating in extensive drug conspiracies.
Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Federal Drug Cases
They will track down who is involved in the movement of Fentanyl, who's involved in the manufacturing, and who's involved in the sale. They will come after them and try to put these people away for 10, 15, or 20 years on some mandatory minimum sentences that are available to federal prosecutors.
So, if you or a loved one is charged with distribution, sale, or trafficking of Fentanyl, pick up the phone. Make the call. Ask to speak to Ron Hedding. Sometimes the feds don't have it right.
Sometimes they look at the person being charged very seriously when they should be looking at other people who might be involved.
Perhaps they've got the wrong idea about the person they are targeting, and the defense attorney needs to put things in perspective.
They can show the prosecutors what it takes to properly defend a drug case when somebody is being wrongly accused or viewed by the government in the wrong light.
Defense Strategies for Federal Fentanyl Cases
Currently, the feds prosecute many drug cases, and one of the most prominent drugs on their radar today – because it's killing so many people – is fentanyl.
For those people who are involved in fentanyl cases and they are selling, and death occurs, there are certain charges that the federal government can file against you where you can face many years in federal prison.
It is one of the most prominent drugs they prosecute now in federal court, and you need an attorney with much experience and knowledge of these cases.
Initial Meeting and Review of the Evidence
The first thing we'll do is have you come into my office and sit down with me. Or, if it's your loved one and they are in custody, I'll visit them once you retain me, and I go through all of the discovery in the case to see what evidence there is.
We'll go over the case piece by piece, see exactly what evidence they have and decide whether or not:
- It's the type of case we need to fight, or
- If it's the type of case we must resolve through a plea agreement and negotiation with the federal prosecutors.
Ultimately, in any federal case involving fentanyl, the judge will have the final say on the sentence. However, a good defense attorney can certainly negotiate a deal and do things that benefit the client so the client is in the best position when sentencing comes up.
The problem with these fentanyl cases is that fentanyl is so deadly that it's being laced with other drugs, like Oxycontin. So people are taking the drugs.
They don't realize that there's fentanyl, and the next thing you know, we've got someone who has passed away. If they get involved, the feds will track the supplier and anybody involved in the supply chain and prosecute everybody involved in a particular case.
When Will Feds Get Involved?
I don't usually see the feds getting involved in these fentanyl cases unless it's a severe case and unless somehow they have investigative responsibility.
Sometimes, other crimes are going on that fall within federal jurisdiction and come upon the fentanyl case. Other times, they're given information by an informant, and it's one of their federal informants.
They end up arresting somebody with drugs, including fentanyl and guns, so they prosecute whomever they arrest based on their investigation. Other times I see the feds involved with fentanyl cases in these multi-task force cases where the feds and local authorities executed search warrants at people's homes.
They find drugs, including fentanyl, and end up prosecuting the person because it falls within the 10-year mandatory minimum and because there's a large amount of drugs. So they feel that stamping out this type of activity is part of their policy.
If you need the best, you've come to the right place. Pick up the phone now. Ask for a meeting with Ron Hedding. Let my 30 years of experience work for you. Hedding Law Firm is a criminal defense law firm located at 16000 Ventura Blvd #1208 Encino, CA 91436. Contact our firm for a free case evaluation at (213) 542-0994.
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