Drug Crimes

Westchester County Drug Crime Attorney

Drug Charges in New York?

In New York, the penalties for drug possession and for drug trafficking are harsh. The level of the charges brought, whether a misdemeanor or felony, will depend on:

The quantity of drugs involved
The nature of the drugs involved
The circumstances surrounding the charge (sometimes only possession is alleged, and in other circumstances, a drug sale is alleged)

A resulting conviction can carry a long prison term and life-long consequences associated with a record of conviction. It is critical that you hire an attorney who has experience handling drug cases in Westchester County and throughout the New York metropolitan area.

If you were charged with a drug offense in Westchester County or the Metropolitan Area, contact an experienced White Plains drug crime attorney today at (914) 996-4511.

Drug Possession Charges in New York

The possession of illegal substances, whether marijuana, a controlled substance such as cocaine or heroin, or certain other drugs, can subject a person to arrest and serious penalties. In some cases, the quantity possessed alone can subject the accused to prosecution for intent to sell.

It is also the case, in many instances, that individuals who do not possess drugs on their person are charged with possession on a constructive possession theory. This means that even though you may not have the drugs on your physical person, the possession is imputed to you due to the circumstances surrounding the arrest, including your proximity to the drugs. It is critical that you have an experienced Westchester County drug lawyer at your side.

Under New York State Law, the penalties for a first time drug possession charge includes:

5^th degree possession – A non-violent felony, individuals can serve 2.5 years in jail.
4^th degree possession – A non-violent C felony, those charged can serve 5.5 years in jail.
3^rd degree possession – A non-violent B felony, a person can serve up to 9 years in prison.
2^nd degree possession – An A2 felony, a person charged can potentially serve 10 years in jail.
1^st degree possession – An A1 felony, those convicted can serve up to 20 years in prison.

New York Drug Possession Defense Strategies

John Raimondo is not only intimately familiar with the technical defenses available, including the constitutional rights relating to improper search and seizure, but also with various drug related Court programs which can, in many instances, result in more lenient resolutions of drug cases in favor of the accused.

Often times the police investigating a drug crime make mistakes in the investigation of the crime, the use of informants and the seizure of drugs. Understanding these police errors and knowing how to take advantage of these mistakes is critical to defending a drug charge; it can make all the difference in the outcome of a case.

Common Drug Possession Defenses Include:

The drugs do not belong to the defendant
The drugs were found during an unlawful search and seizure
The substance found was not actually an illicit drug
The drugs were planted by law enforcement

It takes an experienced Westchester County drug crime lawyer with broad exposure to know what to look for and how to make the arguments to impact the outcome, whether in the context of plea discussions or at trial.

Drug Distribution Charges in New York

Drug distribution charges are generally more serious than simple possession charges. New York State Law §220.31 defines drug distribution as the intentional and unlawful sale of a controlled substance.

Drug distribution charges range from non-violent class D felonies to A1 felonies. Depending on the conviction and the particular background of the accused, individuals can face up to, and in some cases more than, 20 years in jail.

Committed To Advocating For Our Clients

The Law Offices of John Raimondo, P.C. is committed to advocating for people charged with drug crimes. Our Westchester County drug attorney understands that a defendant in a drug related crime may have an addiction issue themselves, or simply found themselves in the wrong circumstances due to an unfortunate stroke of luck.

Why Attorney Raimondo?

John Raimondo is meticulous in getting to know each one of his clients and the details surrounding their case. Some reasons to hire Attorney Raimondo include:

Readily available to answer your questions
Zealous and experienced advocate with proven results
More than a thousand cases competently and aggressively handled in the New York Metro area

If you were arrested in connection with a drug related crime, contact our experienced Westchester County drug lawyer. You can reach John Raimondo at (914) 996-4511.

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"Straight to the point, no run-around, & aggressive stand-up guy with the ultimate integrity."
From day 1 John Raimondo was sympathetic and gave nothing but great advice this was my first time being in trouble with the law/DV case and he put my mind at ease. Ultimately John was able to get me an adjournment of contemplation of dismissal during only my 2nd court appearance I recommend John to anybody in need of help during a difficult situation of any magnitude.

- M.C.

Mahopac, NY
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John Raimondo is exactly the type of attorney you would want in your corner. He is extremely capable of representing any situation and aggressively encouraged by a challenge. Having used John more than once, I am confident that his representation is 5-star quality with explanations throughout the entire process. I completely trust John to represent myself and my family. Job well done!

- J.B.
"The best example of a truly skilled lawyer with the highest level of integrity."
My family and I were involved in a highly complex commercial litigation involving an asset worth in excess of 20 million dollars. I myself have been admitted to practice law for almost 15 years and while I know John to be primarily a criminal defense attorney, I also knew that his extensive experience in litigating both criminal and civil matters would prove invaluable to us. Over the course of several years, the exchange of tens of thousands of documents and ultimately a several week jury trial, John demonstrated his exemplary skill, both in and out of the court room. John welcomed the challenge of litigating our case against several nationally recognized law firms and did a tremendous job on our behalf, that I will never forget. He is true professional, who not only exemplifies what it means to be an advocate, but who also combines with his advocacy, the highest level of personal integrity.

- Joseph S. (attorney admitted to the practice of law)
"As a former prosecutor and a seasoned defense attorney, when I needed to build the right team to try a high stakes felony case, I turned to John."
I am a former prosecutor in New York City and have been a defense lawyer for almost 15 years. Some years ago, I was involved in defending a felony DWI case on behalf of a client. Knowing the high stakes involved in the case, I turned to John Raimondo not only as a pre-trial, consultant but also to try the case with me. I knew that Mr. Raimondo would make an invaluable member of the defense team. John exceeded my expectations and exemplified the skill and integrity that every client should want in their attorney.

- Andrew B. (admitted member of the bar)
"I recommend Mr. Raimondo to anyone I know who needs an excellent lawyer who is compassionate and truly cares about his clients."
Over the last several years, I turned to John to represent me in several cases. One case was originally charged as a felony DWI and John was able to fight to get me a reduction to a misdemeanor. I know it is very rare for a felony DWI charge to get reduced to a misdemeanor and I know it was John’s dedication that led to that result. I have repeatedly recommended John to members of my family and anyone who has requested my reference to an attorney. I can not say enough about John; he is the one lawyer who I trust is always on my side.

- K.P.
"I was found not guilty after trial with a blood alcohol reading two times the legal limit."
I was charged with a DWI with a blood alcohol reading which was two times the legal limit in the Town of Mamaroneck. John tried to do everything to resolve the case before trial. The prosecution would not compromise and so Mr. Raimondo requested a jury trial on my behalf. From the beginning it was apparent that Mr. Raimondo had a strategy to win my case and even though the reading was so high; that is what happened. After several days of trial, the jury found me not guilty of all DWI charges. I never really believed that there was anyway he would be able to get me off of these charges, but he did it”

- K.B.

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