Possession with intent to sell cocaine is a second-degree felony punishable by a maximum of 15 years in state prison. It is treated as a serious felony offense in Miami and Broward, requiring the services of a skilled criminal attorney who can exploit the weaknesses in the prosecution’s case.
Possession with intent to sell cocaine is usually filed as a result of sting operations, where undercover police officers pretend to be cocaine buyers. The Miami-Dade Police Department’s Tactical Narcotics Team (TNT) routinely does these stings thoughout Miami-Dade County. In Broward, the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) is known to do these as well.
Florida law creates an exception if the sale of cocaine is conducted within 1000 feet of a school or childcare center. If so (and the State must prove the distance), the crime because a first-degree felony punishable by 30 years in prison, with a 3-year mandatory minimum term.
These charges are taken seriously by prosecutors, and plea offers of prison time are not uncommon. Call a Miami criminal lawyer, or Broward criminal lawyer who handles cocaine sale cases for a free consultation.