Florida police took a 26-year-old Key West woman into custody on Dec. 19, 2017, for selling drugs. She faces three counts of using a two-way device to facilitate a felony and three felony counts of dealing opium. A 32-year-old man was also arrested in connection with the woman. He faces charges of selling opium within 1,000 feet of a school, using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony, drug equipment possession, cocaine possession and selling opium.
Police had been working on the case for months. In late April, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office had an informant arrange an oxycodone deal with the woman using Facebook messenger. The woman allegedly sold the informant four pills. She also allegedly sold more pills at another location in May.
The man allegedly sold drugs in two incidents in May and June. One was outside his home and the other was outside a Quik Mart. The woman was held on a $185,000 bond while the man’s bond was set at $145,000.
Whether an offender is charged with selling or simple possession, penalties for drug crimes can be serious. In addition to the legal ramifications, these types of charges can affect a person’s job or a student’s access to scholarships and loans. While some offenders may be mainly concerned with reducing penalties, others may want to try to have charges dismissed entirely. In the former case, some people might be able to work out a plea bargain in which they plead guilty in exchange for reduced charges. In the latter case, an attorney might want to look at the quality of the evidence and circumstances around the person’s detention. For example, if there was an illegal search and seizure, the charges could be dismissed.
