On Oct. 17, Florida authorities arrested 24 people who were allegedly running a drug ring. The arrests were the culmination of a two-month investigation into suspected drug activities by the group.
According to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, the defendants were primarily dealing powdered cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin. Apparently, they were bringing in and distributing approximately half a kilogram of cocaine every week. One kilogram of cocaine has an estimated street value of over $20,000.
The defendants have been charged with a variety of drug-related crimes. These crimes include conspiracy to possess cocaine, conspiracy to possess heroin, solicitation to possess cocaine, solicitation to posses heroin, conspiracy to traffic cocaine, conspiracy to traffic heroin, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, and racketeer influenced and corrupt organization, or RICO, activities. They are each being held on bonds between $12,000 and $452,000. While 24 individuals were arrested on Oct. 17, over 30 people have been charged in connection with the case. The defendants hail from several communities, including Cape Canaveral, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, Merritt Island and Titusville.
Drug charges, including drug possession, drug conspiracy and drug trafficking, carry serious consequences in Florida. It is possible for those who are convicted to be sentenced to decades in prison and assessed thousands of dollars in fines. However, a criminal defense attorney could represent a defendant in court and work to get the charges reduced or dismissed. For example, an attorney might find holes in the prosecution’s case and successfully challenge the evidence, causing the case to be dropped. Another possibility might be for the attorney to negotiate a plea bargain that reduces the charges in exchange for the defendant’s guilty plea.
