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3 reasons to have representation when facing federal drug charges

On Behalf of | Sep 21, 2017 | federal criminal charges | 0 comments

If you have recently been accused of a crime, you are in a very difficult position. This is especially true if you are facing federal charges. You need to take your situation seriously and act fast to protect yourself and your rights.

Of course, you are innocent until proven guilty, but if you are accused of a federal crime like drug trafficking, you have to be aggressive in your defense. As we explain below, certain elements of federal charges make them particularly complicated and intimidating.

  1. Federal resources are much more substantial than state or local resources. Federal government agencies like the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have more money, agents and investigative tools at their disposal than state government agencies have.
  2. The success rate of federal prosecutions is incredibly high. According to this annual report on federal criminal cases, roughly 97 percent of offenders pleaded guilty. And in most cases, offenders received an imprisonment sentence.
  3. The sentences are harsher. According to that same report, the average length of imprisonment ranged from 28 months for a marijuana-related offense to 90 months for methamphetamine-related offenses. Oftentimes, sentences will be tougher in for federal crimes, especially in cases like drug offenses where the crimes overlap between the state and federal system.

For these reasons, it is crucial that you have someone by your side who can navigate the system, capitalize on weak points in case against you and fight to protect your rights.

Drug offenses including trafficking and manufacture are the most common federal crimes and make up more than 30 percent of the offenses reported to the United States Sentencing Commission. However, you are not just a number or a statistic. You have a future and rights worth protecting, and you can do this with the help of an experienced criminal defense attorney.