Practice
Drug charges
Possession, possession with intent and distribution charges turn on two questions: how the police found the drugs, and what shows they were yours.
What we look at first
- The search: a warrant, consent, or neither
- Whether the drugs were in your hands, your car or a shared space
- The lab report, and who handled the evidence before it
- What the weight and packaging do and don't show
State and federal cases
Some drug cases are charged in federal court, where the rules and the sentences are different. Daniel Osei handles our federal matters. If federal agents have contacted you, call us before you answer them.
Clearing the record afterward
Many drug charges that end in a dismissal or a lesser outcome can later be removed from public records. We tell you whether yours can, and when.
Sample matters
Where drug cases turn
Dismissed
A search needs a warrant, or a reason.
Possession with intent. The car was searched without consent or a warrant, and the case was dropped after the ruling.
Dismissed
Nearby is not possession.
Possession, shared apartment. Nothing tied the drugs to our client's room.
Sample matters, shown as illustrations. Every case is different, and past results don't guarantee a similar outcome.
Questions about drug charges
The police searched my car without asking. Does that matter?
It can. A search without a warrant or consent needs a legal reason, and evidence from an unlawful search can be kept out of the case.
Is a federal drug case different?
Yes. Federal cases move on their own schedule, with their own sentencing rules. Tell us at once if the charge or the investigation is federal.
Can a drug charge be expunged?
Often, once the case is over and any waiting period has passed. It depends on the outcome and your record.