Florida authorities took four Port St. Lucie residents into custody April 12 on a variety of drug charges. Three of the individuals taken into custody were charged with possession of heroin, sale of heroin and drug possession without a prescription. The fourth person, a 62-year-old man, was also charged with trafficking heroin and possession of ammunition as a convicted felon.
Two of the defendants were under investigation by police after they had previously sold heroin to an undercover police officer. Authorities believed that the pair worked together on drug deals. After a traffic stop led to authorities finding roughly 300 capsules of heroin weighing 52 grams, a search warrant was executed on each man’s home. During these searches, officers found heroin, drug paraphernalia and packing materials.
They also found ammunition and four handguns in addition to a substance known as clonazepam. After being taken into custody, the four defendants were booked into St. Lucie County Jail. They were given bail amounts ranging from $15,375 to $256,875. Police say that they are still investigating, and it is possible that more people will be taken into custody as a result.
Those who are charged with drug crimes may wish to talk with an attorney. Legal counsel may be able to create a defense to the charges in order to obtain an acquittal or plea bargain in the case. A plea bargain may reduce or eliminate penalties such as jail or prison time, fines and probation. Possible defenses include arguing that an individual didn’t know what he or she was in possession of or arguing that a person was coerced into possessing, using or selling a controlled substance.
