Drug Crime Defense Lawyers for Gainesville and North Florida
Gainesville Florida drug crime defense lawyers will fight your drug crime charges. Call (904) 721-7575 for a free consultation.
Gainesville, Florida Controlled Drug Crime Defense Attorneys
Are you facing Federal drug crime charges for the sale of controlled drugs or prescription fraud in Gainesville, Starke, Lawtey or Middleburg?  Call the experienced drug crime defense attorneys of the Law Offices of Ron Sholes, P.A. at (904) 721-7575. We defend clients charged with the illegal trafficking and sale of controlled substances such as Oxycontin, Vicodin and other Schedule I and Schedule II drugs.

What are CONTROLLED DRUGS?


A controlled (scheduled) drug is one whose use and distribution is tightly controlled because of its abuse potential or risk. Controlled drugs are rated in the order of their abuse risk and placed in Schedules by the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The drugs with the highest abuse potential are placed in Schedule I, and those with the lowest abuse potential are in Schedule V. These schedules are commonly shown as C-I, C-II, C-III, C-IV, and C-V. Some examples of drugs in these Schedules are as follows:

  • Schedule I — Drugs with a high abuse risk. These drugs have NO safe, accepted medical use in the United States. Some examples are heroin, marijuana, LSD, PCP, and crack cocaine.
  • Schedule II — Drugs with a high abuse risk, but also have safe and accepted medical uses in the United States. These drugs can cause severe psychological or physical dependence. Schedule II drugs include certain narcotic, stimulant, and depressant drugs. Some examples are morphine, cocaine, oxycodone (Percodan®), methylphenidate (Ritalin®), and dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine®).
  • Schedule III, IV, or V — Drugs with an abuse risk less than Schedule II. These drugs also have safe and accepted medical uses in the United States. Schedule III, IV, or V drugs include those containing smaller amounts of certain narcotic and non-narcotic drugs, anti-anxiety drugs, tranquilizers, sedatives, stimulants, and non-narcotic analgesics. Some examples are acetaminophen with codeine (Tylenol® No.3), paregoric, hydrocodone with acetaminophen (Vicodin®), diazepam (Valium®), alprazolam (Xanax®), propoxyphene (Darvon®), and pentazocine (Talwin®).

Possession of Controlled Substances

Controlled substances possession charges can vary depending on the specific controlled substance involved, but one commonality is that if you are convicted of possession of a significant amount of any illegal substance, you will face stiff penalties and prison time.

As has been mentioned, the Florida legislature has enacted a stringent statute regarding possession of a controlled

 

substance, and the relevant text of this statute is detailed below.

Florida Statute

It is unlawful for any person to knowingly or intentionally:

  • Possess a listed chemical with the intent to unlawfully manufacture a controlled substance;
  • Possess or distribute a listed chemical knowing, or having reasonable cause to believe, that the listed chemical will be used to unlawfully manufacture a controlled substance;

Any person who violates this section is guilty of a Felony of the Second Degree. A conviction for a second-degree felony carries a potential prison term of up to 15 years.

Sales and Delivery

Drug sales and delivery is also known as "intent to distribute," which is also a serious offense. Generally speaking, any finding of an intention to sell or deliver controlled substances is treated more seriously than simple possession in terms of prison term. Conviction for these types of charges is considered a first-degree felony, depending on the amount of the controlled substance in question. A first-degree felony carries a potential prison term of 30 years.

Trafficking

Drug trafficking is considered a more serious charge than sales and delivery, as this law is meant to deal with those parties who take part in a larger-scale criminal enterprise. As such, the statute regarding trafficking is clear and comes with severe punishment.

Florida statutes define drug trafficking as:

Any person who knowingly sells, purchases, manufactures, delivers, or brings into this state, or who is knowingly in actual or constructive possession of (a controlled substance). These are felonies in nature, and they carry significant prison terms as consequences. In certain cases, a convicted defendant could face life in prison.

Overall, being charged with a drug-related crime in Florida is a serious legal problem. The best way to handle any legal problem is by acting quickly and calling Ron Sholes, P.A. at (904) 721-7575 for a free initial consultation. You have a guaranteed right to build a strong defense, so act now to get the process of protecting your rights started.

 
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LOCATIONS

RON SHOLES, P. A.

4981 Atlantic Boulevard
Jacksonville FL 32207
(Next to Colonial Point Apts.,
8/10th mile west of
University Blvd. intersection
)
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Toll Free: 800-384-7575
Phone: 904-721-7575
Fax: 904-721-7474


486 North Temple Ave.
Starke, FL 32091
(Across the street from
Bradford High School
)
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Phone: 904-964-4055
Fax: 904-964-4755



637 Blanding Blvd., Ste. 4
Orange Park FL 32073
(Next door to Fiore Chiropractic,
across from Starbucks Coffee.
)
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Phone: 904-269-7573
Fax: 904-721-7474

Are you facing Federal drug crime charges for the sale of controlled drugs or prescription fraud in Gainesville, Starke, Lawtey or Middleburg?  Call the experienced drug crime defense attorneys of the Law Offices of Ron Sholes, P.A. at (904) 721-7575. We defend clients charged with the illegal trafficking and sale of controlled substances such as Oxycontin, Vicodin and other Schedule I and Schedule II drugs.
© 2009 - LAW OFFICES OF RON SHOLES, P.A.
The Law Firm of Ronald E. Sholes, P.A. is based in Jacksonville, FL, with offices in Orange Park, Palatka and Starke.
We represent clients in Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Orange Park, Argyle Forest, St. Augustine,
Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Fruit Cove, Fleming Island, Doctors Inlet, Amelia Island, Fernandina Beach, Callahan, Palatka,
Fernandina Beach, Yulee, Hilliard, Melrose, Lake Butler, Kingsley Lake, Ponte Vedra, Starke, Lawtey, MacClenny, Lake City,
Ocala, Gainesville, Waldo, High Springs, Keystone Heights, Hampton, Palm Coast, Glen St. Marys, Baldwin, Port Orange,
Ormond Beach, Flagler Beach, Brooksville, Mayport Naval Station, NAS Jacksonville, New Smyrna Beach, DeLand, Orlando,
Altamonte Springs, Winter Park, Orange City, Kissimmee, Tallahassee, and San Marco.   Counties that we have represented
clients in include Duval County, Clay County, Nassau County, St. Johns County, Bradford County, Union County, Columbia County,
Putnam County, Suwannee County, Alachua County, Orange County, Flagler County, Citrus County, Marion County, Lafayette County, Levy County,
Osceola County, and Gilchrist County.   Our attorneys are licensed to practice throughout the State of Florida.