Camden County NJ Drug Charges Lawyer

Defense Attorney For People Charged With Possession and Distribution of CDS

New Jersey strictly regulates and enforces laws about controlled dangerous substances (CDS). The New Jersey Drug Schedules classifies controlled dangerous substances on a Schedule of I through V, with specific criteria associated with each category. The Schedules include substances such as marijuana, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and a wide variety of prescription medications. Drug charges can stem from the unlawful possession, sale and distribution, manufacture and production, and possession of these substances with intent to distribute. The penalties for these violations can be severe and life-altering, including significant fines, charges on your criminal record, and time in prison. In order to protect yourself from the potential consequences of a conviction, it is critical to mount a compelling defense.

William Fay is an experienced criminal defense attorney who has been successfully defending clients charged with drug crimes ranging from possession of drug paraphernalia to first degree heroin distribution. Mr. Fay handles cases in Winslow, Lindenwold, Gloucester, Cherry Hill, Voorhees, Pennsauken, Haddonfield and Berlin. Mr. Fay has built a reputation on delivering superior results and fighting tirelessly on behalf of his clients, including those charged with disorderly persons offenses and indictable crimes. If you have been charged with a drug offense, he will thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your case and use his prior experience at the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office to determine the best approach to fighting your charges. By building the most effective defense, Mr. Fay is able to position his clients to achieve the best possible outcomes. To discuss your drug charges and potential defense options with a Camden County drug crime defense lawyer today, contact our offices at 609-832-3202 for a free consultation.

Drug Crimes our Firm can Help You Defend Against in Camden, NJ

Drug charges vary in terms of severity based on a number of factors, including: the specific drug involved, the amount/weight of the drug, the nature of the crime and the location (i.e. a school zone, vehicle, etc.). Depending on the offense of which you are accused, you may face a criminal indictment in Superior Court on first, second, third, or fourth degree charges, or face prosecution at the local municipal court for a disorderly persons offense. Mr. Fay aggressively defends clients charged with a vast array of drug crimes at both the Superior and Municipal court level. Some of the cases that he often handles involve charges for:

• Possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS)
• Possession of marijuana
• Marijuana distribution and possession with intent to distribute
• Cocaine possession and distribution
• Heroin possession and distribution
• Possession and distribution of Oxycontin
• Possession and distribution of methamphetamine
• Possession and distribution of MDMA (Ecstacy, Molly)
• Intent to distribute CDS and distribution
• Synthetic marijuana possession and distribution
• Prescription drug offenses
• Possession of CDS in a motor vehicle
• Possession of drug paraphernalia
• School Zone drug distribution and intent to distribute
• Possession of a hypodermic needle or syringe
• Obtaining CDS by fraud

Are you a first-time drug offender in New Jersey? Learn about the options you may have to get your charges dismissed.

What Are the Penalties from Drug Possession in New Jersey?

Drug charges entail significant consequences for those convicted in New Jersey. The specific penalties are determined by the controlled dangerous substance that leads to the charges, how much of the CDS is involved, and the alleged actions of the defendant. For instance, drug possession charges have distinct punishments when compared with drug paraphernalia and charges for drug distribution. Nevertheless, being charged with drug possession or distribution can result in you paying hefty fines, spending time in jail or prison, your license being suspended, and having to deal with a criminal record. According to New Jersey law, the penalties for drug charges can include: 

• Disorderly persons offenses: commonly involving drug paraphernalia and use or being under the influence of CDS; potential penalties include up to 6 months in county jail and fines up to $1,000.
• Fourth degree crimes: sentences can include up to 18 months in state prison and thousands in fines.
• Third degree crimes: applies to most drug possession charges, including those for cocaine, heroin, Ecstasy, and many prescription drug possession offense; those convicted may be sentenced to imprisonment for up to 5 years and fines amounting to $35,000.
• Second and first degree crimes: charges often filed for possession of CDS with intent to distribute and drug distribution, as well as maintaining a drug production facility. First degree drug offenses are the most serious, carrying up to 20 years in prison. Second degree crimes for drugs entail a maximum prison sentence up to 10 years.

When these offenses occur in school zones and near school property, or certain other property such as public housing facilities and government buildings, the consequences are compounded. If you have been charged with any type of crime involving possession or distribution in New Jersey, the matter must be aggressively defend to protect your rights, your reputation, and the rest of your life. Make sure you have a drug offense attorney who regularly handles these cases in Camden County providing the strategic defense and knowledgeable legal counsel you need now. Our experienced lawyers have what it takes to successfully work on your behalf.

How Can I Fight New Jersey Drug Charges?

Being charged with a drug crime can make you feel hopeless, like you have no options to successfully mount a defense. This is untrue. With help from our knowledgeable criminal defense lawyers, we can defend against all manner of controlled dangerous substance charges that you may face. With a thorough investigation of the facts and circumstances of your arrest, analysis of the evidence, and review of all available alternatives to a conviction, we will walk with you and keep you informed every step of the way. Each time someone is charged with a drug crime, or a crime of any kind for that matter, the specific defense approach should be based on the totality of the situation and nuances of the individual’s case. Nevertheless, drug charges often provide viable defense options involving:

• The reason for you being stopped in the first place when your charges arise after being pulled over. If the police did not have a valid, justifiable reason to conduct a traffic stop, any drugs recovered thereafter cannot be used to prosecute you.
• The constitutionality, or lack thereof, of the search that led to seizure of the drugs in question. Lack of probable cause for a search can often be used to have any evidence obtained deemed inadmissible. This means that the actual CDS cannot be submitted as evidence in your case.
• Issues with the lab report and testing of the drugs. These cases generally involve a report generated by a state lab that tests the substance and identifies it. However, if the lab test was conducted improperly or we can cast doubt on the results, this can go a long way toward getting the charges dismissed.
• Challenging possession. This can be done by demonstrating your lack of knowledge or ability to control the drug or drugs that you were arrested for.
• Taking issue with alleged intent to distribute or sell. Often, police will charge you with distribution based solely on the amount of the drugs involved. If possible, we can have the charge lessened from a more serious crime of distribution, to a less serious crime of possession. This can take you out of a mandatory sentencing range or open the door for alternatives like probation.

Lawyers Who Handle Drug Charges in Pennsauken

Drug crimes are taken very seriously by New Jersey police, prosecutors, and judges. If you have been charged with a drug offense, you should not expect the authorities to go easy on you. Moreover, the penalties for many drug crimes in New Jersey involve significant prison time, and a conviction will leave you with a permanent record that could affect you for the rest of your life. Whether you’ve been accused of trafficking heroin or unlawfully possessing a single prescription pill, the best move you can make right now is to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney who can help you navigate the criminal justice system. If you or someone you love has been arrested and charged with a drug crime in Camden County towns like Bellmawr, Pennsauken, Runnemede, Voorhees or elsewhere in New Jersey, it is critical to begin building your defense strategy as soon as possible. Contact our firm at 609-832-3202 for additional information and a cost-free consultation.