Defense of Federal Drug Charges in New Jersey
If you're now facing drug charges under a federal indictment, or if you have reason to believe that you're under investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office and federal law enforcement agencies, the sooner you call a lawyer the better off you're likely to be. Contact a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney at the Law Offices of John F. Marshall in Shrewsbury and four other New Jersey locations.
Get an early start on your federal defense — the earlier the better
Although it's not as common in drug cases as it is in other federal investigations, the chance to involve an attorney in your defense prior to formal charges is a valuable one. Serious federal crimes are charged by grand jury indictment. This means that the U.S. Attorney's Office presents incriminating information to a grand jury over a period of weeks or months, then asks the grand jury to return specific criminal charges against one or more defendants.
There is no right to cross-examination or other direct participation by defense counsel during the grand jury phase of a federal investigation. There are many other opportunities, however, to benefit from the help of defense counsel, who can:
- Monitor the investigation and the grand jury testimony to get an idea of the evidence against you
- Work with the prosecution to clarify your status as a witness, target, subject or other person of interest in the investigation
- Perform an independent investigation of the facts and potential charges
- Advise you about your own testimony or cooperation with investigators if you have received a subpoena or a visit from federal agents
The effective advice and representation of an experienced lawyer prior to indictment can go a long way toward protecting you from the most severe potential federal drug charges.
Even if you're indicted, you have many chances to defend yourself
Serious federal drug charges usually reflect evidence gathered against many individuals over the course of a long and expensive investigation. Although the federal government is a powerful adversary in court, there are many ways to confront and defeat the charges against you.
In some cases, you will be able to attack the charges on the basis of flawed testimony from an alleged coconspirator or undercover agent. Sometimes, we can even give the government a choice between dropping the charges and revealing the names of confidential informants against you. In other cases, mistakes in the issuance or execution of a search warrant will keep the evidence of drugs or cash found in your possession out of court — that also usually means dismissal.
When it serves your interests best, we can present your strongest defense at trial, and let the jury decide whether the government has proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Whether your federal drug case involves charges of cocaine trafficking, money laundering, meth lab crimes, or an international smuggling conspiracy, we know how to sort through the evidence and protect your interests. Contact John Marshall in Shrewsbury or any of our other New Jersey offices for a free initial consultation about your case.
