In Florida, drug offenses are treated harshly when they involve allegations of trafficking. A drug trafficking conviction can result in years in prison, heavy fines, and a driver’s license suspension. A recent Saint Lucie County drug arrest illustrates how seriously the police treat these types of offenses. Saint Lucie County criminal attorney Jonathan Jay Kirschner, Esq. defends people who are accused of serious drug crimes, including trafficking offenses.
Saint Lucie County Drug Arrest
Following an investigation that lasted for a month, deputies with the Saint Lucie County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant at the Americas Best Value Inn located between interstate 95 and Florida’s Turnpike just off of Okeechobee Road. The warrant was executed on two rooms that had both been rented by a 42-year-old man who had been released from prison in January after a previous drug conviction.
Deputies reportedly seized multiple drugs in the two rooms, including more than two kilograms of MDMA, which is commonly known as “molly.” The deputies also reported they found a pound of marijuana and small amounts of cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamines. The police stated that dealers mix MDMA with fentanyl and sell the mixture on the street as heroin since MDMA is a cheaper street drug. Fentanyl is up to 100 times stronger than heroin and can result in overdoses.
The man is facing multiple felony drug charges, including trafficking of MDMA and heroin and possession of cocaine and a controlled substance without a valid prescription. The sheriff’s office stated that it was the largest seizure of MDMA in more than two decades. The man was taken into custody and transported to the Saint Lucie County Jail with a bond set at $317,500.
Under §893.135(1)(k)(1), Fla. Stat. (2020), people can be charged with trafficking of MDMA or phenylethylamine when they have 10 or more grams in their possession. The penalties that someone might face depend on the person’s criminal record and various threshold amounts. Since the man was allegedly found to have more than two kilograms of MDMA, he could face between 15 and 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000. He could also face penalties for the other drugs that were reportedly found in the two hotel rooms.
Get Help from a Saint Lucie County Criminal Attorney
Drug trafficking charges are serious. If you or a loved one is facing this type of charge, you should get help from an experienced drug defense attorney as soon as possible. Call Jonathan Jay Kirschner, Esq., & Associates, LLC at (772) 489-8501 to request a consultation and learn more about your legal options and rights.
