DC Federal Drug Conspiracy Lawyer

If you are facing a federal drug offense in Washington, DC it is important you have someone who will fight for you and protect your rights. Call a DC federal drug conspiracy lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your case and begin taking the necessary steps toward building a strong defense. A federal drug lawyer in DC can help you navigate through the investigation process while ensuring that your rights are never violated. To learn more, call and schedule a free consultation today.

Benefit of Legal Counsel

Federal charges are underpinned by investigations conducted by law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and DEA. It can be intimidating to face the US government, but it helps to know you have strong legal counsel on your side.

If you are charged with conspiring to manufacture, distribute, or sell a controlled substance, a DC federal drug conspiracy attorney can be your counselor and advocate before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

Whether zealously challenging evidence and defending you at trial or negotiating a plea agreement that will result in minimal consequences, a drug conspiracy lawyer can prepare you for court appearances, keep you advised about the progress of your case, and offer solutions that are tailored to the unique details of your case.

Federal Drug Conspiracy Laws

The United States government allows for the prosecution of a conspiracy to commit a crime, even if the underlying crime never actually takes place.

Under 18 United States Code § 371, it is a felony for two or more people to conspire to commit a crime. Therefore, a conspiracy consists of an agreement between two or more people to commit a crime; there must also be an overt act undertaken in furtherance of the conspiracy. Those allegedly involved in a conspiracy may be criminally charged in federal court even if the alleged offense never reaches fruition. Under this statute, conspiracy is punishable by a maximum of 5 years in prison.

However, federal law also contains a statute specifically regarding drug conspiracy, and this law carries much more serious consequences. According to 18 United States Code § 846, anyone convicted of conspiracy to commit a drug crime—including drug manufacturing, distribution, and trafficking—faces the same penalties that he or she would receive if convicted of actually committing the crime.

This means a person charged under federal drug conspiracy laws faces potential mandatory minimum and lengthy prison sentences, and may also be subject to seizure of assets if the federal government determines that those assets are drug proceeds or were used in the commission of a drug crime. For this reason, it is important that those charged get in contact with a federal drug conspiracy attorney as soon as possible so they can go over their case and what steps can be taken to mitigate the harm.

Difference Between Drug Conspiracy and Other Conspiracy Charges

The difference between drug conspiracy and other conspiracy charges is that a conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance (or possess that substance with intent to distribute it) does not require the government to prove that an overt act occurred.

Drug conspiracies do not require the overt act, but the government is required to prove intent to actually participate in the conspiracy. Some judges interpret that to mean that at least some sort of action is required, but the statute does not require it on its face. That is the biggest distinction between the drug conspiracies and other conspiracy statutes.

Call our Law Offices Today

A federal drug conspiracy lawyer in DC can challenge any evidence of your involvement or knowledge in a drug conspiracy case, and can work to suppress evidence obtained in an illegal search and seizure. Call now to learn more or to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced federal defense attorneys.