Freehold NJ Leader of a Drug Trafficking Network Lawyers
With the penalties being in line with that of a homicide charge, it is safe to say that being charged with leading a drug trafficking network is not something to take lightly. It is well known by now that New Jersey as a whole has been battling the “war on drugs” for more than a decade now. First it started as prescription drug epidemic and now it is the heroin epidemic. Regardless of the specific drug, New Jersey is aggressively seeking out and prosecuting anyone and everyone that is accused of distributing drugs. One of the best weapons in the prosecutions arsenal is the criminal offense of being a leader of a drug trafficking network. As you will see below, anyone convicted of this offense must be sentenced to life in prison. Furthermore, anyone accused of being a leader of a drug trafficking network will most likely be facing the possibility of being detained in the Monmouth County Jail, without bail, pending trial. However, before that can occur, the prosecution must file for be successful at a Detention Hearing. For more information on detention hearings, please feel free to contact one of our Monmouth County criminal defense attorneys at 732-858-6959.
The criminal defense attorneys at Keith Oliver Criminal Law defend clients accused of crimes like being the leader of a drug trafficking network, distributing heroin, possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute, possessing cocaine and distributing MDMA in courts throughout Monmouth County. At Keith Oliver Criminal Law, we are well aware of what is on the line when someone is accused of a crime like this. We serve all of Monmouth County including towns like Long Branch, Neptune, Asbury Park, Freehold, Keansburg, Union Beach, Keyport, Middletown, Manalapan, Howell and Hazlet. If you would like to set up an initial consultation with Mr. Oliver or one of the other criminal defense attorneys on staff, then please contact us at 732.858.6959. We can go over the specifics of your case and formulate a game plan to defend the charges. As always, our initial consultations are free of costs, so if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Asbury Park Leader of Drug Trafficking Network Attorney
The crime of being a leader of a drug trafficking network was created for the sole purpose of being able to able to get to the source of the drug trafficking network. In other words, the prosecution was getting frustrated with the fact that they could never get the “main guy” behind the network. Most high ranking drug dealers will insulate themselves and keep their distance from the actual dealing of the drugs. In doing so, they make it extremely difficult, if not impossible at times, to be prosecuted. So, in order to combat that problem, the prosecutors use this statute. Being the leader of a drug trafficking network is governed by NJSA 2C:35-3. The statute states in pertinent part:
- A person is a leader of a narcotics trafficking network if he conspires with others as an organizer, supervisor, financier or manager, to engage for profit in a scheme or course of conduct to unlawfully manufacture, distribute, dispense, bring into, or transport in this State methamphetamine, lysergic acid diethylamide, phencyclidine, or any controlled dangerous substance classified in Schedule I or II or any controlled substance analog1 thereof.”
In order to be convicted of this offense, the prosecution must prove:
- That the Defendant conspired with two or more persons;
- The conspiracy was based on manufacturing, distributing, dispensing, bring into, or transporting into this State a controlled dangerous substance;
- The Defendant was an:
- Organizer,
- Supervisor,
- Financier or
- Manager in such a conspiracy.
- That the Defendant occupied a high level position in the conspiracy; &
- The Defendant engaged in the conspiracy for profit.
It is important to note here that it is not required that the conspiracy be this elaborate enterprise. Furthermore, unlike all other drug distribution charges, there is not a specific quantity of drugs required in order to be convicted of this statute as well.
Pursuant to NJSA 2C:35-3, an organizer is anyone who “arranges, devises, or plans a drug trafficking conspiracy”. A supervisor, is one who oversees the operation of a drug trafficking conspiracy. A financier “is one who is responsible for providing funds or resources necessary to operate a drug trafficking conspiracy”. A manager “is one who directs the operations of a drug trafficking conspiracy”. With that being said, there can be multiple organizer’s, supervisor’s, financier’s or manager’s.
How Much Jail Time for Being a Leader of Drug Network in NJ?
As touched upon earlier, anyone convicted of being a leader of a drug trafficking network will be facing a mandatory life in prison sentence, during which the Defendant must serve at least twenty-five years before they could possible become eligible for parole. In addition, they will be fined up to $750,000 as well.
Experienced Monmouth County Drug Distribution Attorneys
If you have been accused of distributing cocaine, possessing prescription drugs, possessing crystal meth, possessing marijuana or being the leader of a drug trafficking network in Monmouth County, we can help. These are extremely serious charges and should not be taken lightly. Throughout his career, Mr. Oliver has successfully represented clients accused of being the leader of a drug trafficking network. If you would like to come into our Middletown office and speak one on one with Mr. Oliver or one of our other Monmouth County criminal defense attorneys, then please contact us at (732)858-6959. We serve all of Monmouth County, including Neptune, West Long Branch, Holmdel, Colts Neck, Wall Township, Asbury Park, Marlboro, Freehold and Belmar.