Oxycodone Trafficking

Oxycodone is a drug prescribed to provide pain relief alone and in combination with other substances under the names of Oxycontin, Percodan, OxyIR, and Oxy Fast. Oxycodone is partly synthesized by chemically modifying opioid precursor molecules from opium poppies. People addicted to prescription opiates like oxycodone are 40 times more likely to develop a heroin abuse problem. If you are accused of oxycodone trafficking, a Bradenton oxycodone trafficking lawyer at Hanlon Law may be able to help.

Oxycodone is synthesized through the chemical modification of opioid precursor molecules from an opium poppy. Oxycodone has powerful effects similar to those of other illegal opioids. All that you need to be charged with oxycodone trafficking is 7 grams of oxycodone. This is not a huge amount, and the 7 grams need not be pure oxycodone but can instead be an oxycodone-containing mixture.

You can be charged with oxycodone trafficking if you have a minimum of 7 grams of oxycodone or a mixture that contains oxycodone. What matters is the overall weight of the mixture, rather than just the weight of the pure oxycodone. If you have the threshold amount or more, you face the possibility of being sentenced to a mandatory minimum. When a mandatory minimum is prescribed for a particular offense, the judge does not have discretion except in extremely limited circumstances to depart downward from that sentence. This makes it essential to consult an oxycodone trafficking attorney in Bradenton who can fight the charge head-on.

However, the prosecution needs to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that you were knowingly in actual or constructive possession of at least 7 grams of oxycodone or any salt of it, or that you knowingly sold, made, bought, delivered, or carried into Florida this amount. If you are caught with 7-14 grams, you may face a mandatory minimum sentence of 3 years’ imprisonment and a $50,000 fine. If you are caught with 14-25 grams, you may face a mandatory minimum sentence of 7 years and a $100,000 fine. If you are caught with 25-100 grams of oxycodone, you may face a mandatory minimum prison term of 15 years and a $500,000 fine. If you are caught with 100 grams to 30 kg. of oxycodone, you may face a mandatory minimum of 25 years’ imprisonment and a $750,000 fine. A Bradenton oxycodone trafficking attorney can explain other potential consequences, such as the suspension or loss of a professional license and the stigma that comes from having a criminal record.

Someone who is knowingly in actual or constructive possession of oxycodone, or who sells, buys, makes, delivers, or carries into the state 30 kg. or more of oxycodone (or a mixture containing it) faces the possibility of being charged with a first-degree felony. This charge is punished by life imprisonment, in which you are ineligible for any kind of discretionary early release. When someone knowingly brings into Florida 60 kg. or more of oxycodone or a mixture including oxycodone that weighs this amount, and they know that the probable result of doing this is the death of somebody, the defendant can be charged with capital importation of illegal drugs, which is a capital felony.

There are a number of different defenses that may be available, depending on the circumstances. These include Fourth Amendment violations, such as a lack of probable cause to stop you during a detention in which the drugs were found, an illegal search and seizure of a home or car, and having no valid warrant prior to the search that resulted in the threshold amount of oxycodone being found. When a defendant's constitutional rights are violated in the course of obtaining evidence, it may be possible to win a motion to suppress the evidence. Without the crucial evidence of a threshold amount of oxycodone, the prosecutor may not be able to prove their case. In other cases, it may be possible to secure a dismissal of the charges based on a valid prescription.

Oxycodone trafficking is taken seriously and punished harshly in Florida, similar to trafficking in morphine, meth, or other narcotics. If you have been investigated for or charged with oxycodone trafficking in Bradenton, you should retain a skillful criminal defense attorney. Our law firm's founder, Will Hanlon, has represented people accused of drug crimes since 1994. Contact Hanlon Law at 941.253.0254 or via our online form.