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Maine Federal Drug Trafficking Attorneys
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Federal Drug Trafficking Lawyer in Maine
Any drug trafficking charge is a serious matter but most people know that if the federal government presses charges, it’s taken to another level.
Federal drug trafficking charges are among the most serious you can face. A felony conviction can land you in prison for a very long time.
Even drugs like marijuana that may be legalized at a state level (as in Maine) can be subject to federal prosecution under certain circumstances and for certain amounts.
It’s important to know what to do if you’re being investigated for or charged with drug trafficking by a federal agency, such as the DEA.
Federal investigators and prosecutors are aggressive as they look to “clean up the streets”. Though many prosecutions are pursued incorrectly, you’ll need an aggressive defense to avoid life-changing penalties if you’re charged.
How to get your federal drug trafficking charges dismissed?
For a federal drug trafficking prosecution to be successful, federal prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused knowingly possessed a controlled substance with the intent to sell.
To get the charges dismissed, your federal drug trafficking lawyer could challenge the facts of the case, evidence/testimony or question the procedural processes that brought the charges against you.
As such, the defense may be based on one of the following arguments:
Illegal search and seizure
Regardless of what a criminal suspect is accused of doing, he/she has certain rights enshrined in law under the U.S. constitution (“Fourth Amendment rights”).
An illegal search and seizure during the investigation process by federal officials would violate these rights. Vital evidence could then be inadmissible in court.
For instance, if a criminal defense lawyer can prove that the police forced open the trunk of a car without the proper legal authority, it could mean that the drugs found could become inadmissible. This would severely jeopardize the prosecution’s case and charges could be dismissed — even if a large quantity of illegal drugs were discovered.
Lack of ownership
A common defense against federal drug charges is a lack of ownership of the trafficked drugs by the defendant.
The onus is on the prosecutor to prove that the accused had possession and control of the illegal substances to achieve a conviction. If that cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, the case could be dismissed.
Missing drugs
The prosecutor must be able to present the drugs that the defendant is accused of trafficking.
Failure to produce the drugs (which pass through many hands before reaching the court as evidence) could result in the dismissal of federal drug trafficking charges.
Planted drugs
This defense is a challenge in most cases, as it must bring into question the sworn testimony of a law enforcement officer, which is regarded highly by the courts.
Claiming that the drugs were planted on the suspect is difficult to prove but if successful can result in the dismissal of charges.
Entrapment
Entrapment is another challenging defense for federal drug charges.
For this to be successful, your criminal defense lawyer will need to introduce enough doubt that a law enforcement officer pressurized or convinced you to commit a crime (i.e., sell an illegal drug to a third party) that you would not have committed in any other circumstance.
If the illegal drugs are provided by the state, entrapment could also be claimed and charges potentially dismissed.
What types of federal drug charges are there?
Drug trafficking (or “drug distribution” as it may be termed) is just one of many federal drug charges.
Trafficking relates to illegally selling, transporting or importing any controlled substance, including cocaine, heroin, marijuana, methamphetamines or any other drugs that are illegal at a federal level.
Simply being in possession of drugs could result in a felony charge of drug trafficking if you intended to sell them (i.e., you were found with a sufficient quantity in your possession).
Other federal drug charges include:
- Possession: the knowing illegal possession of a controlled substance or a legally controlled substance without a prescription (painkillers, sleeping pills, etc.).
- Possession with intent to distribute: a form of drug trafficking when a person is found with a large quantity of an illegal drug that was not just for personal use.
- Cultivation or manufacture: such as growing marijuana, making meth, processing cocaine or heroin or purchasing ingredients or equipment to cultivate or manufacture it.
- Continuing criminal enterprise: involvement in a large-scale drug operation, such as a drug cartel.
- Conspiracy: illegal activities that support drug trafficking, such as transporting drug money.
When could you be charged with a federal drug trafficking offense?
The volume of drugs in your possession is one of the key factors involved in the decision of whether federal investigators and prosecutors will be involved — but it’s not the only factor.
Other factors include:
Did you cross state lines?
All crimes that occur when crossing state lines may be removed from the individual states’ jurisdictions and charged as federal offenses.
So, a federal drug trafficking charge could result if law enforcement officers catch you in possession of a controlled substance while crossing state borders.
Were you on national land?
If your alleged drug crime occurred in any of the following locations, it is considered “national land” and may be subject to federal charges:
- National parks
- National wildlife refuges
- Military reservations
- Public-domain land
Is a federal agency involved?
If a federal agency, such as the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), investigates your alleged drug trafficking offense, federal charges may follow. This is often the case if you are suspected of growing, manufacturing, distributing or importing drugs.
Punishments for federal drug crimes
As mentioned, penalties for federal drug charges are severe – and drug trafficking is associated with some of the harshest penalties.
Penalties do vary widely, depending on the amount and classification of drugs involved, whether they were intended for distribution, whether or not children were involved, whether a firearm was used in the commission of the crime, whether or not anybody was injured or died and the defendant’s prior criminal history.
Federal drug trafficking sentences range from a mandatory minimum of five years up to a maximum of life imprisonment. Additionally, fines of up to two million dollars can be imposed.
Where mandatory minimums apply, as with many federal drug crimes, the only way judges can sentence below that minimum is if the prosecutors specifically request it through a process referred to as a 5.k.1.1 reduction.
If you need help defending against federal drug trafficking charges, call The Maine Criminal Defense Group at 207-571-8146 for an initial case evaluation.
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I highly recommend The Maine Criminal Defense Group. All the staff are very polite, compassionate and informative. They answered all my questions and came to the best solution for my situation. I appreciate their guidance through this tough period. Many thanks to Nathan Hitchcock, Bill Bly and the team.
Oustanding
Mr. Bill Bly and his team have been nothing short of phenomenal. They resolved my case with breakneck expertise. Would have liked to thank them in person. I am so thankful and fortunate I chose their firm. Highly recommend Bill Bly and the Maine Criminal Defense Group.
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Bill Bly did an excellent job of listening and addressing our concerns. He answered all of our questions in a timely manner and got results. I highly recommend his services!!!
A TRULY EXCELLENT ATTORNEY
I have had the honor and privilege of working with Mr. Bly who was extremely knowledgeable and thorough and whose expertise in all legal matters was truly outstanding. Mr. Bly was kind, and helpful every step of the way. I would highly recommend Mr. Bly. There can be no attorney…
William is salt of the earth
I’ve gotten to know William through numerous legal conferences and have been incredibly impressed with how serious he cares about his clients and how he is a true human who wants to take care of your future. I will always refer my clients to his firm whenever I can.
A Great Firm!
This is THE premier criminal defense firm in Maine! If any family member or friend of mine needed representation in Maine, I would have them call the Maine Criminal Defense Group! Lawyer Bill Bly and his associates are awesome. Plus Bill Bly trained at Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College. That…
David W.
Changed My Opinion on Lawyers I called Bill and had a consultation. He listened intently to my case and laid out our pathway. He was straight forward, real and didn't toss me a bunch of crap. I fully expected him to fluff up the case and try to convince me…
Robert H.
THANK YOU FOR THE EXCELLENT WORK DONE ON MY CLIENT'S BEHALF Thank you very much for the excellent work performed on behalf of my client on her Maine criminal case. I appreciate the attentive service, the quality of the work and the reasonableness of your fees. As you know, part…
Ryan M.
THANK YOU ATTORNEY BLY! I WOULD TRUST ATTY BLY W/ MY LIFE ... IN FACT, I DID! There is very little in this world that scares me more than the jail cell bars being locked and knowing that I am trapped behind bars in prison. However, after a "Hit &…
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RECOMMEND YOU TO ANYONE I want to thank you for all your help. I was in a bad place when I first came to you. You really helped me through a terrible time. I would definitely recommend you to anyone that needs help. I just wanted to say thank you…
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I RECOMMEND WILLIAM BLY We're glad we chose Bill for our legal needs. We found Bill to be knowledgeable, clear, and diligent. He actively managed my case and the overall outcome was the best that we could have hoped for. We would recommend Bill to others in a similar situation…
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PHENOMENAL LAWYER The Maine Criminal Defense Group is hard working, knowledgeable, and determined when working on cases. He was pleasant and helpful throughout the entire process by answering any and all questions I may have had. His diligent work on my case, personal connections in the court systems, and professionalism…
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VERY HELPFUL - THANKS BILL! Bill Bly did a magnificent job collecting evidence and building leverage with the DA's office that allowed us to plead an OUI down to a lesser charge. Not only was he very knowledgeable about Maine law, but he also understood the personalities of both the…
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PHD DOCTORAL CANDIDATE, WADE CHARNOCK Mr. Bly is a superb lawyer! He is without a doubt one of the finest criminal defense lawyers in the state of Maine. He handled my son's case with sincerity and professionalism, and the results, "All Charges Dismissed!" If you need a defense attorney, he…
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BOTTOM LINE RESULTS As an attorney it was clear to me that achieving a favorable disposition of an OUI charge with a difficult fact pattern would require specialized representation. Bill quickly proved this instinct correct and his nuanced and detailed understanding of and experience with the intricacies of the arrest…
John S.
MR OUT OF STATE OUI I went to Maine on a weekend vacation trip and got a little reckless. I ended up driving the wrong way on a one way street and received an oui. Now I was up against loosing my cdl, my job, and my new home I…
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OUI DISMISSED Feeling helpless? Bill is the person you need to contact. Never being on the other side of the law, I contacted Bill in a panic. He sensed this and actually agreed to meet me on a Saturday. Bill was extremely personable and gave me the facts that appeared…
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Definitely Recommend My fiancé and I were visiting Kennebunk over the summer when I was stopped and arrested for OUI. I couldn't believe that this was happening. Once I got over the shock and humiliation of the arrest, my fiancé and I began searching for an attorney in southern Maine.…
Frank S.
HAPPY CLIENT I met with Bill back in June of this year for an OUI charge. When I met with Bill, he sat down with me and explained the entire court process and what to expect going forward. He didn't try and "sell me" on hiring him or make promises…
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Max C.
THANK YOU MR. BLY Mr. Bly assisted me with a case where I was charged with assaulting my girlfriend and my brother as well as some other people. After reading the police reports, I felt that the case was hopeless. Mr. Bly negotiated and outcome that prevented me from a…
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THANKS FOR YOUR EXCELLENT WORK Attorney Bly defended me on charges of theft and secured a not guilty after trial. Thank you for all of your hard work.
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VERY DEDICATED ATTORNEY Bill was very dedicated to my issue and worked with me to get me the best possible outcome. Bill and his law office kept me well informed on developments on the situation and was very upfront with me, gaining my trust and confidence in his skills helping…
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Thank you for a job well done Attorney Bly handled a sensitive domestic violence charge for me in a VERY favorable fashion. Ultimately, he got the charges thrown out. I'm grateful to him and his staff for all their hard work. Ann is especially helpful and was always available to…
Ned B.
Bly- A True Professional Committed to Client Satisfaction Two years ago I was involved in a high publicity case that involved significant legal implications. This uncharacteristic life event left me overwhelmed by emotional distress and not knowing where to turn next. Through thorough research and high esteem recommendations, I contacted…
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THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS! My OUI and criminal speeding charges brought a great deal of stress and hardship to not only myself but my entire family. Having both of the charges against me dismissed was an absolute godsend. Once dropped, it felt as though a dark cloud…
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PROFESSIONAL, HONEST, AND QUICK TO REPLY Working with Attorney Bly was a pleasure - given the circumstances. He acknowledged my novelty to the courtroom and was sensitive to my case by guiding me through the process, step by step. Especially when I seemed overwhelmed and confused, anxious and uneasy, Bill…
Betty C.
SUPPORTIVE AND RESOURCEFUL It was an absolute pleasure to work with The Maine Criminal Defense Group. At the eleventh hour, I contacted him for help with a legal matter. What I originally thought would be a quick and easy case, turned into a more challenging matter. Nonetheless, given his knowledge…
Rosalinda E.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND ATTORNEY WILLIAM BLY I am delighted to write this recommendation for Attorney William Bly. Before hiring The Maine Criminal Defense Group to represent me I had worked with another lawyer which resulted in a warrant out for my arrest. Being out of state I had to thoroughly research…
Jason S.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND I found myself searching the internet hoping to find an attorney who I could trust and wouldn't just tell me what I wanted to hear. I was visiting from out of state when I was charged with an OUI as well as a refusal. I contacted Mr. Bly…
Erica L.
THANKS FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN MY SON'S LIFE Bill, Thank you very much for getting back to me. My son and I want to thank you very much for the finalizing of this hard lesson learned in life's journey. I knew from the beginning that not only are you…
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SINCEREST GRATITUDE Mrs. Ann, I want to say thank you again to yourself and Bill again for OUTSTANDING work!! Please pass my regards to Bill. With sincere gratitude.
James C.
JC Recommends The Maine Criminal Defense Group I am very pleased with the representation I received from The Maine Criminal Defense Group. After having been charged with a very serious crime, his thoughtful and prudent strategy and diligent execution resulted in a better than expected outcome. The original charge was…
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TIRELESS AND KNOWLEDGEABLE Bill Bly saved my career in the Navy. He worked on my case for almost six months before he was able to negotiate a positive outcome. His persistence and efforts with the DA were the only things that kept my case from going to trial. He was…
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Dismissal of Driving on Suspended - Please read if you are unsure if W. Bly is the right attorney! After looking at reviews online and a brief conversation with Mr. Bly, I decided to retain him. I was charged with Driving on an out of State VA Drivers license. On…
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DCS Recommends The Maine Criminal Defense Group Two years ago our family began living a nightmare that we could never have imagined possible. Our 18-year-old son was arrested for a serious offense he committed with a "friend." Our family was in a tailspin and we did not know where to…
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If you are facing criminal charges in Maine, the attorneys at The Maine Criminal Defense Group are here to help. Call our office to speak with
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Attorney Advertising. This information is designed for general information only. The information presented should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relation-
ship. Past results and testimonials are not a guarantee, warranty, or prediction of the outcome of your case, and should not be construed as such. Past results cannot guarantee future performance. Any result in a single case is not meant to create an expectation of similar results in future matters because each case involves many different factors; therefore, results will differ on a case-by-case basis. By providing certain contact information herein, you are expressly authorizing the recipient of this message to contact you via the methods of communication provided.
* Our quoted fees include trial fees for misdemeanor charges only, unless otherwise agreed upon.
All felony charges are billed out on an hourly basis and require a retainer, unless otherwise agreed upon.
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