Dallas Drug Conspiracy Defense Lawyer

Drug conspiracy charges are serious, whether they’re prosecuted at the state or federal level. You could face years, or even a lifetime, in prison, along with tens of thousands of dollars in fines. The stakes are too high to wait to get legal help. A Dallas drug conspiracy lawyer can investigate your drug charges, identify possible defenses to challenge the government’s allegations, and provide tailored advice throughout your case.

Contact Broden & Mickelsen, LLP for a free legal consultation with a Dallas drug crime defense lawyer to learn how our firm will fight to protect your interests and seek the best possible outcome based on the circumstances of your case.

How Broden & Mickelsen, LLP Defends Dallas Drug Conspiracy Cases

If you get charged as a member of a drug conspiracy, the legal team at Broden & Mickelsen, LLP can help you build a robust defense against the government’s case by:

• Explaining your charges and the possible outcomes so you can decide how to move forward
• Recovering evidence through an independent investigation and reviewing the prosecution’s case file
• Identifying potential defense strategies based on the facts and circumstances of the case
• Pursuing every avenue to challenge the government’s case

Our attorneys have an established record of success in federal drug conspiracy cases. In one federal criminal appeal, we successfully challenged a sentencing enhancement for our client’s leadership role in a drug conspiracy, reducing their sentence by seven years. We also secured a not-guilty verdict for a client charged with marijuana distribution in federal court in Dallas and an acquittal in another drug case in Midland, Texas, where our client faced a possible career criminal sentence. While no lawyer can ethically guarantee a favorable outcome in your case, our results demonstrate our commitment to fighting aggressively for the best possible outcomes for our clients.

Here’s what past client T.S. had to say about their experience with Broden Mickelsen:

“Being accused of a crime that I didn’t commit was one of the worst things to ever happen to me. Once accused of something, you literally have to prove yourself innocent. Without a good lawyer like Mr. Mickelsen, I would probably be on some type of probation. Mr. Mickelsen got my charges dismissed. I feel so vindicated. I can’t describe how happy I am with the outcome. Thank you so very much!!!”

Our firm has extensive trial, appellate, and post-conviction litigation experience in state and federal criminal courts. We can provide the comprehensive legal advocacy you need when facing drug conspiracy charges in Dallas.

What Makes a Drug Case a Conspiracy Case?

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, generally handles federal drug prosecutions in Dallas. Most federal drug prosecutions arise from law enforcement investigations conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), or by joint task forces involving federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

Under 21 U.S.C. § 846, a drug conspiracy generally involves an agreement between two or more people to commit a drug offense, along with the required intent to participate in that agreement. Drug conspiracies frequently span across state lines or national borders, meaning that federal prosecutors typically take the lead in prosecuting conspiracies under federal criminal law. However, drug conspiracies that occur entirely within Texas can result in charges under state criminal law.

What Evidence Do Prosecutors Use in Drug Conspiracy Cases?

Prosecutors pursuing drug conspiracy cases must prove every element of a charge beyond a reasonable doubt. They may rely on various kinds of evidence to prove the existence of a conspiracy and a defendant’s participation, including:

• Eyewitness testimony
• Testimony from confidential informants or co-conspirators
• Police testimony about surveillance operations
• Text messages, emails, and other electronic communications
• Wiretap intercepts
• Seized drugs and drug paraphernalia

Our Dallas drug crime attorneys conduct a comprehensive review of the prosecution’s evidence and conduct independent investigations to identify weaknesses in the case and build a strong defense.

How Can the Defense Challenge a Drug Conspiracy Charge?

A defendant charged with participating in a drug conspiracy in Dallas may have certain defenses available to fight the prosecution’s case. Examples of a drug trafficking conspiracy defense include:

• No agreement: Defendants may challenge conspiracy charges by arguing they did not agree with another person to commit a specific federal drug crime.
• Lack of participation: A defendant may argue that the evidence fails to prove that they knowingly or willingly participated in the conspiracy by committing an alleged act to further its purpose. Under federal drug conspiracy law, prosecutors generally do not have to prove that the defendant committed any overt separate act to further the conspiracy (United States v. Shabani, 513 U.S. 10 (1994).
• Abandonment/withdrawal: A defendant may argue that they withdrew from a conspiracy by taking affirmative steps to end their involvement. Simply stopping participation is generally not enough, and withdrawal does not erase responsibility for the conspiracy itself. An experienced drug conspiracy lawyer can explain whether this is a viable defense based on the facts of your case.
• Unlawfully obtained evidence: A defendant may seek to exclude evidence from the prosecution’s case by filing motions alleging that law enforcement investigators obtained the evidence through unlawful searches, wiretaps, or interrogations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I be charged with drug conspiracy if I never touched the drugs?

Yes. Prosecutors can prove a drug conspiracy case against you, even if you never touched drugs, by showing that you agreed to act with one or more people to break drug laws and that you took some act to further the conspiracy’s goal of committing a drug crime.

What is the difference between drug possession and drug conspiracy?

A person can face a drug possession charge if they had actual or constructive possession of the drugs, regardless of whether other people knew about the drugs. However, a drug conspiracy requires two or more people to agree to work together to commit a drug crime and that the defendant knowingly and willingly joined the agreement.

Can informants or co-defendants testify in a drug conspiracy case?

Prosecutors frequently have confidential informants or co-defendants testify against individuals charged with drug conspiracy offenses. Informants can link two or more people together in a drug conspiracy. Prosecutors may also offer plea deals or other leniency to co-defendants who agree to testify and implicate other members of the conspiracy.

Can a drug conspiracy sentence depend on the drug amount?

Yes. Under federal drug laws, sentences for drug conspiracy convictions can depend on the quantity and type of drugs involved in the conspiracy. Federal law sets mandatory minimum sentences for certain amounts. Furthermore, the law allows courts to impute the total amount of drugs handled by the conspiracy to each member, even if a specific member did not handle certain amounts of drugs.

Contact a Dallas Drug Conspiracy Lawyer Today

When you’re facing drug conspiracy charges, you need a Dallas drug crime lawyer with extensive experience handling federal and Texas federal drug cases. At Broden & Mickelsen, LLP, both Clint Broden and Mick Mickelsen are board-certified specialists in criminal law and criminal appellate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. With over 70 years of combined legal experience, we approach every case individually and stay available to our clients at every stage of the legal process. Contact us today for a free consultation with a Dallas federal drug conspiracy attorney.