Manufacturing Controlled Substances

If you have been charged with manufacturing controlled substances in Florida you have been charged with a felony offense. Under Florida law, manufacturing drugs refers to the “production, preparation, propagation, compounding, cultivation, growing, conversion, or processing of a controlled substance, either directly or indirectly, by extraction from substances of natural origin, or independently by means of chemical synthesis, or by a combination of extraction and chemical synthesis, and includes any packaging of the substance or labeling or relabeling of its container.”

Drug crimes in Florida provoke harsh penalties even when small amounts of controlled substances are in question. Oftentimes, prosecutors paint those accused as a threat to the community at large. Defendants face long prison sentences and thousands of dollars in fines if convicted. These charges are not charges you should face alone; a determined criminal defense attorney is of the utmost importance to combat opportunistic prosecutors.

Whether you were arrested in West Palm Beach for manufacturing controlled substances or believe that you may be part of an investigation for drug crimes, it is important that you seek professional legal counsel at this time. Brian Gabriel at The Law Office of Gabriel & Gabriel has worked diligently to serve the criminally accused of Palm Beach County for more than 30 years.

Penalties for Drug Manufacturing

The penalties for felony crimes have the potential to do considerable harm to your present state and your future. You will be torn from your family, your way of life, and your freedom for many years if you are convicted. You can also be stripped of your earnings for which you’ve worked hard all your life as fines usually accompany lengthy prison sentences.

Unless you are a pharmacist or are authorized by the state in some way to create controlled substances, you will face felony charges if you are accused of drug manufacturing. The details of the charges and potential penalties depend on the type of drug involved, the quantity you are accused of manufacturing, and the location in which the offense took place.

While there is no minimum quantity for an alleged drug manufacturing offense, certain thresholds are prosecuted as more severe trafficking crimes. Regular drug manufacturing is a third degree felony that can result in up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.

Penalties can escalate to the next level if the alleged drug manufacturing offense occurs within certain parameters. A third-degree felony manufacturing charge can become a second degree manufacturing charge; and a second degree manufacturing charge can rise to a first degree felony for which you could face a 30 year prison sentence if the crime is committed within 1000 feet of:

– A child care facility
– A public or private elementary, middle, or high school/ secondary school
– A state, county, or municipal park
– A community center for the provision of recreational, social, or educational services
– A publicly-owned recreational facility
– A public or private institution of higher learning, such as a college or university
– A place of worship
– A convenience store, or place of business open between 11pm and 5am
– A public housing facility
– An assisted living facility

For a strong and thorough defense, speak with attorney Brian Gabriel of The Law Office of Gabriel & Gabriel to discuss your drug manufacturing case. Mr. Gabriel has dedicated more than the past 30 years of his career to defending individuals like you from serious felony charges throughout South Florida. Call 561-622-5575 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.