On Nov. 2, Florida authorities arrested a Sweetwater City Commission candidate on suspicion of trafficking drugs. He was taken into custody at his home in Sweetwater.
According to media reports, a confidential source told agents from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement that the candidate, age 29, may be involved in a cocaine trafficking ring. During the ensuing investigation, authorities also linked two other male defendants, ages 24 and 60, to the ring.
The 24-year-old defendant has been charged with two counts of cocaine trafficking, and the 60-year-old defendant has been charged with one count of cocaine trafficking. Meanwhile, the 29-year-old political candidate is facing three counts of cocaine trafficking. In 2017, he was also arrested for marijuana possession in Collier County. Five years ago, he arrested on the same charge in Miami-Dade County. The FDLE was assisted in the investigation by members of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and the Sweetwater Police Department.
Defendants charged with drug crimes may feel overwhelmed. However, no defendant has to face the criminal justice system alone. A defense attorney could stand by a defendant’s side and protect his or her rights and interests throughout all legal proceedings. The attorney could also investigate the case and work to develop a strong defense to the accusations. In some cases, a defense could lead to the charges being dropped. In others, it could be used as leverage to negotiate a plea deal that reduces the charges and penalties. In some circumstances, it may be possible for a defendant to be sentenced to a drug diversion program instead of going to jail.