Drug Crimes
Los Angeles Drug Crime Attorney
Los Angeles Drug Crime Lawyers
One moment, your life is moving forward as usual, and the next, you’re facing serious drug charges that could derail your future. You never expected to find yourself here, staring at such an intimidating and uncertain road.
Whether it was a misunderstanding, a lapse in judgment, or an outright wrongful accusation, the reality is clear: you need an experienced Los Angeles drug crime lawyer to fight for your rights, freedom, and future.
Why You Need a Skilled Los Angeles Drug Crime Lawyer
Facing drug charges in California? These charges can significantly disrupt your life, potentially leading to jail time, hefty fines, and lasting damage to your reputation and career. Law enforcement aggressively pursues drug-related offenses, and without a competent and aggressive defense, you could face the full weight of the legal system.
At Esfandi Law Group, we understand the complexities of California’s drug laws because we have been helping people climb out from under these accusations for years. We know the stakes because we’ve seen firsthand how drug charges can derail people’s lives. Trust us to craft strategic defenses tailored to your case.
Overview of California Drug Laws
California has strict drug laws that cover possession, trafficking, and distribution. Prosecutors categorize these offenses based on the type and quantity of the substance, prior criminal history, and intent. Let’s look at some of the most commonly filed drug-related charges.
Drug Possession
Possession of a controlled substance can be classified as either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances. If you are found with an illegal drug such as cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine, you could face penalties, including up to one year in county jail and fines. However, a Los Angeles drug possession lawyer may be able to negotiate alternative sentencing options, such as diversion programs.
Alternative Sentencing for Drug Possession
In California, first-time drug offenders may qualify for programs that allow them to avoid jail time. These include:
- Drug diversion programs. Successful completion of a court-approved program may result in your case being dismissed.
- Proposition 36 sentencing. Non-violent drug offenders can receive treatment instead of incarceration.
- Deferred entry of judgment (DEJ). Successful completion of court-mandated rehabilitation could result in case dismissal.
These alternative sentencing options aim to address the root causes of drug addiction, offering individuals a chance to rehabilitate and focus on recovery while avoiding long-term legal consequences.
Possession with Intent to Sell
This charge is more severe than simple possession. Prosecutors use evidence like packaging materials, large quantities of drugs, or large amounts of cash to prove intent to distribute. Convictions can lead to substantial prison sentences, asset forfeiture, and a felony record that follows you for life.
What’s the Difference Between Possession and Possession with Intent to Sell?
Simple possession means you possessed the drugs for personal use. Possession with intent to sell implies you planned to distribute or sell them. This difference is critical because possession with intent to sell carries significantly harsher penalties, including longer prison sentences and substantial fines.
Marijuana-Related Offenses
While recreational marijuana is legal, strict regulations govern its use. Unlawful possession, sale, or cultivation outside state guidelines can lead to criminal charges. This includes having more than the allowed amount in your possession, selling without a license, or growing more plants than are legally permitted. Even with legal recreational use, public consumption or driving under the influence of marijuana can result in citations or arrests.
Drug Trafficking & Distribution
Drug trafficking charges apply when you are accused of transporting, selling, or distributing controlled substances. These offenses are felonies and can result in:
- Three to nine years in prison, depending on the type and quantity of the drug;
- Significant fines reaching thousands of dollars;
- Enhanced penalties for trafficking near schools or involving minors; and
- Potential federal charges, which carry even harsher penalties.
A skilled Los Angeles drug trafficking lawyer can challenge the prosecution’s evidence, negotiate plea deals, and advocate for reduced sentencing based on mitigating factors.
The Long-Term Consequences of a Drug Conviction
A conviction for a drug-related offense doesn’t just result in immediate penalties. The accusation and conviction can follow you for years. Some of the most significant consequences include:
- Difficulty finding employment. Many employers conduct background checks and may hesitate to hire someone with a criminal record.
- Loss of professional licenses. Certain careers, including those in healthcare and law, require clean criminal records for licensure.
- Immigration consequences. Non-citizens convicted of drug offenses may face deportation or be denied citizenship.
- Inability to secure housing. Landlords often conduct background checks, and a criminal record may impact your ability to rent an apartment.
- Loss of firearm rights. Felony drug convictions can result in losing the legal right to own or carry a firearm.
Understanding these risks makes working with an attorney who can fight to minimize or dismiss your charges even more crucial.
Effective Defense Strategies
A Los Angeles drug trafficking defense lawyer can explore various defense strategies, including:
- Illegal search and seizure. We can move the court to suppress evidence if law enforcement violated your Fourth Amendment rights during the investigation or arrest.
- Lack of knowledge. If you were unaware of the drugs in your possession, you may have grounds for dismissal.
- Entrapment. If you were coerced into committing a drug crime by law enforcement, a successful defense could lead to the dismissal of your charges.
- Lab analysis discrepancies. Drug testing errors or chain-of-custody issues could result in the judge excluding the questionable evidence. If enough critical evidence gets excluded, it can severely undermine the prosecution’s case.
- Insufficient evidence. The prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you committed the crime. If the evidence is not enough to prove guilt, your case may be dismissed or the jury could return a not guilty verdict at trial.
- Planted evidence. In rare cases, evidence may be manipulated or mishandled. A skilled attorney can investigate whether law enforcement followed proper procedures in handling and documenting evidence.
- Medical necessity. If you were in possession of a controlled substance for a legitimate medical purpose, this could serve as a valid defense.
- Violation of Miranda Rights. If you were not adequately informed of your rights during the arrest, key evidence might be deemed inadmissible in court.
To build a strong defense against drug charges, you need an experienced attorney who understands the law and can effectively challenge the prosecution’s case.
California Controlled Substances Act: Drug Classifications and Legal Impact
The California Uniform Controlled Substances Act (Health & Safety Code §§11000 et seq.) governs how drugs are classified and regulated within the state. This act mirrors the federal Controlled Substances Act and organizes substances into five schedules based on their potential for abuse and accepted medical use.
Schedule I: High potential for abuse, no accepted medical use (e.g., heroin, LSD, MDMA)
Schedule II: High potential for abuse, but with restricted medical use (e.g., cocaine, methamphetamine, oxycodone)
Schedule III–V: Gradually decreasing in abuse potential, often including prescription medications (e.g., anabolic steroids, Xanax, Valium)
The schedule of a drug directly influences the severity of the charges a defendant may face. Possession, distribution, manufacturing, or trafficking of Schedule I or II substances typically carries harsher penalties than lower-schedule drugs.
A skilled Los Angeles drug crime attorney can often challenge the classification relevance in context, particularly in cases involving misidentified substances, trace amounts, or prescription drug defenses.
The Impact of Proposition 47 on Drug Crime Sentencing
Passed in 2014, Proposition 47 significantly reshaped California’s criminal justice landscape by reclassifying certain nonviolent drug and theft offenses from felonies to misdemeanors. This reform aimed to reduce the state’s prison population and prioritize rehabilitation over incarceration.
Under Prop 47, offenses such as:
Simple possession of controlled substances
Possession of concentrated cannabis
Possession of methamphetamine or cocaine
…are generally charged as misdemeanors, provided the accused does not have prior serious or violent felonies or sex offense convictions on their record.
This legislation also allows those previously convicted of qualifying felonies to petition the court for resentencing or record reclassification.
However, it’s important to note that Prop 47 does not affect charges for drug sales, manufacturing, or trafficking, which are still felonies.
An experienced drug crime lawyer in Los Angeles can assess eligibility for Prop 47 relief and guide clients through the resentencing process, significantly reducing long-term consequences.
Investigative Resources and Forensic Tools in Drug Crime Defense
In drug crime cases, the strength of the defense often depends on more than just legal arguments—it requires scientific and investigative rigor. A strategic Los Angeles drug crime attorney will utilize a network of expert resources to challenge the prosecution’s claims.
Key investigative and forensic tools may include:
Independent chemical testing of alleged substances
Chain-of-custody reviews to identify evidence handling errors
Digital forensic analysis in cases involving online transactions or communications
Private investigators to uncover witness inconsistencies or alibi evidence
Toxicology experts who can testify about drug interactions or false positives
These resources can be pivotal in cases where law enforcement relied on field tests, flawed lab work, or questionable testimony. By proactively uncovering weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, a skilled defense team can seek dismissal, reduced charges, or acquittal.
Why Choose Esfandi Law Group?
You need an attorney with experience, skill, and dedication. Esfandi Law Group offers:
- Over 23 years of experience handling drug crime cases in California,
- Proven results defending clients against severe charges,
- Bilingual legal services for Spanish-speaking clients,
- Personalized defense strategies tailored to your situation, and
- Aggressive advocacy to fight for your rights in court.
We’re here to protect your rights and help ensure you get the best possible outcome.
Seppi Esfandi: Your Los Angeles Drug Crime Attorney
When facing drug charges, the prosecution wastes no time building its case against you. But with Esfandi Law Group on your side, you don’t have to fight alone.
Attorney Seppi Esfandi has a proven track record of winning tough cases, from dismissals of felony drug charges to reducing serious offenses to non-criminal violations. His strategic approach has helped countless clients walk free when the odds seem stacked against them.
We focus on challenging unlawful searches and seizures, exposing weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, and negotiating reduced charges or outright dismissals.
From trafficking and possession with intent to sell to simple drug possession, we know how to fight and win. Recent victories include dismissing felony drug cases before trial, reducing trafficking charges, and dropping possession charges due to procedural violations. Prosecutors build their cases aggressively, but we fight back even harder to protect your rights and future.
Contact us today for a confidential consultation and take the first step toward securing your freedom. Time is critical. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can start dismantling the case against you.
Resources:
- California Health and Safety Code (CHS) § 11351, link
- CHS §11378, link
- CHS § 11352, link
- CHS § 11379, link
- CHS § 11377, link
- Drug Court Program. LA County Probation Information Center, link
- Drug Overview. California Department of Health Care Services, link
- Deferred Entry of Judgment. Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento, link
