{"id":921,"date":"2023-12-28T12:40:13","date_gmt":"2023-12-28T17:40:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tampacriminallawyer.net\/?p=921"},"modified":"2026-01-08T10:54:26","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T15:54:26","slug":"florida-court-explains-serious-drug-offenses-under-federal-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.criminalattorneytampa.net\/blog\/florida-court-explains-serious-drug-offenses-under-federal-law\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida Court Explains Serious Drug Offenses Under Federal Law"},"content":{"rendered":"

Federal sentencing statutes allow the courts to impose increased penalties for each subsequent conviction for a serious drug offense. It may not always be clear what constitutes a serious drug crime, however. In a recent Florida opinion<\/a> issued in a drug offense case, the court discussed what constitutes a serious offense before affirming the defendant\u2019s sentence. If you are accused of drug trafficking, it is imperative to meet with a Tampa drug crime defense lawyer as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

Factual and Procedural Setting <\/strong><\/h2>\n

It is reported that the defendant entered guilty pleas to charges of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and other offenses. The trial court sentenced the defendant to ninety months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release. The court, in determining the defendant was an armed career criminal, relied on three prior state law convictions for “serious drug offenses.” Specifically, it looked at his convictions for delivery of cocaine, possession or cocaine with intent to sell or deliver, and conspiracy to traffic cocaine. The defendant appealed.<\/p>\n

Serious Drug Offenses Under Federal Law<\/strong><\/h2>\n

On appeal, the defendant contested the classification of his conviction for conspiracy under state law as a “serious drug offense,” arguing three points challenging the nature of the offense and its federal implications. Continue Reading \u203a<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Federal sentencing statutes allow the courts to impose increased penalties for each subsequent conviction for a serious drug offense. It may not always be clear what constitutes a serious drug crime, however. In a recent Florida opinion issued in a drug offense case, the court discussed what constitutes a serious offense before affirming the defendant\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1710,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-921","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drug-crimes"],"yoast_head":"\nSerious Federal Drug Offenses: Florida Court Explains<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Facing federal drug charges in Florida? 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