Anyone who, in any way, knowingly helps facilitate or furthers the criminal sale, distribution or trafficking of controlled substances or narcotics can be charged with Drug Conspiracy.  A conspirator never has to actually come into contact with the actual narcotics. It is simply enough to make phone calls, set up buys, and sells drugs.

In certain jurisdictions and circumstances, you can be charged with drug conspiracy if you are just aware there is narcotics activity and you help facilitate it by allowing it to continue and do nothing to stop it. Very often, the police or federal agents will arrest people for drug conspiracy in order to get their cooperation with the prosecution of a larger target.

What is Conspiracy

Conspiracy is a federal crime that is related to another crime but is also an independent basis for criminal liability.  A conspiracy forms when certain criteria are met: – there is an agreement between two or more people to commit a criminal act and/or at least one conspirator commits an overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy.

It is important to note that the “overt act” need not itself be illegal. For instance, if two people start a meth lab and one begins to acquire some of the necessary equipment, they have already entered a federal drug conspiracy, even if they purchased the equipment and supplies legally. This can potentially expose suppliers, property owners and other indirectly involved individuals to significant criminal liability if investigators and prosecutors believe they knew of the criminal conspiracy and agreed to participate in it.

Drug conspiracies are typically prosecuted in Federal Court.  Using the vast resources of the Justice Department, DEA, ICE, ATF, and FBI, frequently in conjunction with local police, massive resources are used to ensnare entire criminal organizations.  Utilizing sophisticated surveillance technologies, including wiretaps, these investigations cast a wide net and frequently snare the innocent.  As one Federal Agent famously testified in Federal Court 30 years ago, the Federal Government would frequently arrest everyone they believed was criminally associated with the drug organization, and let a jury sort out the guilty from the innocent.  Sometimes, these drug organizations have access to firearms to support and protect their drug distribution operations.  The presence of firearms, and the crimes of violence that result from their use, can be made part of an individual’s liability under conspiracy law even if that person did not possess firearms nor commit any acts of violence himself.

Federal drug conspiracy laws can be applied to people who do not reside, or in some instances, have never been in the United States.  Conspiracy to import cocaine and marijuana from South America through Central America and Mexico are frequently prosecuted in the Federal Courts in South Florida and elsewhere.  These cases require expertise in international extradition procedures and law.

Anyone implicated in a Federal distribution conspiracy needs aggressive, knowledgeable and effective representation. Charles G. White is knowledgeable and experienced in all aspects of defending against Federal drug conspiracy charges.

Consequences for Involvement in a Conspiracy

Just being accused of a federal drug conspiracy has significant ramifications.  Members of a conspiracy are subject to the same criminal penalties that apply to the crime they intended to commit, even if they did not actually complete the crime.

Current members of a conspiracy may also be responsible for the criminal acts of other conspiracy members if they were foreseeable and done in furtherance of the conspiracy. Property used in any aspect of the conspiracy may be subject to asset forfeiture upon conviction. Participants in large or lengthy conspiracies may also be subject to enhanced penalties as part of a continuing criminal enterprise.

Obtain Legal Assistance

If you or your business has been implicated in a drug trafficking or manufacturing operation, even in a minor role, it is important to contact the federal drug conspiracy lawyer, Charles G. White, immediately.  Charles has over 34 years of experience with these types of cases and will defend you and your rights.