Taking down a massive drug ring with a wide distribution network takes the cooperation of multiple law enforcement agencies across many miles, possibly states. When the arrests finally occur, authorities may round up tens of suspected criminals, or even hundreds depending on the size of the distribution ring. Before indictments come down, many of those arrested will have their charges reduced, or dropped by the state altogether. This can occur for a number of different reasons, which can discourage the public that potentially “guilty” people may go free to commit additional crimes down the road. Is a massive drug bust really a catch-and-release program? Yes, and most definitely not. Our Bucks County drug lawyers explain:

Lack of Evidence To Net a Probable Conviction

It might be a simple case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time that leads to someone being swept up in a large-scale police operation. An experienced legal defense team can point out weak points in police evidence that can lead to charges being dropped by the District Attorneys’ Office or significantly reduced. This isn’t magic, just keen-eyed counselors doing their job to see that those who’ve committed no crimes don’t suffer the consequences because they were arrested while police were in a frenzy to seize as many suspects as possible during their drug bust.

Going after the Big Fish 

Snapping the neck of a drug ring, especially a large one, is about finding those responsible for running the network, and holding them accountable. Lower-level personnel are often offered plea agreements that lead to dropped charges or reduced penalties in exchange for testimony in open court against those more prominent personnel. Negotiating such a plea agreement is delicate and carries its own risks. Consulting with our drug arrest lawyers in Philadelphia can help you understand your options in light of your arrest, and how to uphold your rights.

Too Much Evidence is Also a Problem

Large quantities of evidence in drug-related arrests can cost the state tens of thousands of additional dollars to preserve. Not wanting to bear the financial burden of its cost, a judge could dismiss drug charges rather than rack up charges that state taxpayers must pay. The same thing happened in 2012 in an Iowa court when a judge dropped multiple charges against a doctor who ran an illegal pharmacy because the cost of maintaining the evidence was simply too high for the state to bear, according to the American Bar Association (ABA) Journal.

 Inadmissible Evidence Used in the Original Arrest

For a prosecutor to use evidence against you at trial, the court has to deem that evidence admissible, meaning the state can present it to the jury. An improper search of your property during the drug bust could rule any evidence uncovered by police as inadmissible. Police must also maintain a proper chain of custody during the collection and storage process. Any break in that chain could result in the items being inadmissible. If that evidence was the only thing police used to charge you, there could be little ammunition for the prosecutor to pursue you, and dropped charges might soon follow. Our criminal defense lawyers can review legal documents, including search warrants, to determine if police stayed within the written boundaries of their arrest/search powers. If there’s a discrepancy, we’ll pursue it aggressively.

Criminal charges in connection with a large-scale drug bust could have your name in the news and your reputation in question. You need experienced, proven legal representatives fighting for your rights to see that these charges don’t derail your life any more than they already have. Call our law office today to get started reclaiming your good name and beating these false accusations.