An investigation that involved the FBI Miami Field Office resulted in cocaine trafficking charges against a 40-year-old local man and a 44-year-old Haitian national. According to the federal criminal complaint, the men had conspired since at least February 2016 to bring at least 5 kilograms of cocaine into the state and distribute the drugs in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. The charges were announced by the FBI on July 30.
The investigation involved a collaboration of federal, state and local law enforcement agents. According to evidence cited in the indictment, authorities allege that the men possessed and intended to distribute 500 or more grams of cocaine in November 2016. Authorities succeeded in extraditing the Haitian from his home country for his arraignment.
The conspiracy charges against the men carry minimum penalties of 10 years in prison, but a court could impose life sentences. The trafficking charges related to the 500 grams of cocaine also require minimum five-year sentences upon conviction.
The representation of an attorney might be helpful for a defendant facing drug charges associated with long prison sentences. An attorney could form a defense by attacking evidence, especially if it came from a questionable informant or resulted from an unlawful search and seizure. Efforts like this might remove evidence from a case and achieve a case dismissal or at least a reduction of charges. Otherwise, a lawyer could fight for an acquittal at trial. If going to trial does not appear desirable, then an attorney could strive to broker a plea deal that limits penalties.
