Are you facing a Federal criminal investigation, have you received a “target letter” from an Assistant United States Attorney or a Federal Grand Jury Subpoena, had a Federal Search Warrant executed at your work or home, or actually been arrested by Federal authorities? In Federal Drug cases, mandatory minimum sentences may apply and the Sentencing Guidelines can call for harsh sentences. Conspiracy is commonly charged in Federal cases, especially in Narcotic and Drug cases in order to accuse all participants in a crime or criminal enterprise who the Government believes were involved in the offense or enterprise.
At Houlon Berman, we have over 50 years of experience representing clients in narcotics and drugs criminal matters in Maryland and the District of Columbia. We take pride in the results we get for our clients.
Our Managing Partner, Richard A. Finci, has many years of experience defending Federal criminal cases and is well-known for defending clients before the United States District Court in Greenbelt, Baltimore and the District of Columbia.
Every criminal charge has elements which the Government must prove to the jury beyond a reasonable doubt. The jury must reach a unanimous decision, and the jurors must presume that you are innocent unless proven guilty.
If you are charged with a Drug Conspiracy the elements, all of which the Government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt are:
- That there was an agreement between two or more persons to engage in conduct that violates a federal drug law
- That the Defendant knew of the Conspiracy
- That the Defendant knowingly and voluntarily became a part of the Conspiracy
- That there is at least a slight connection between the Defendant and the conspiracy to support conviction
If you are charged with a mandatory minimum amount of drugs, then the Government must also prove beyond a reasonable doubt that at least that amount of drugs is directly attributable to you.
At Houlon Berman, we focus on establishing your defense by attacking each element of the offense, by investigating and attacking the credibility of the witness and the evidence against you and by investigating and proving any affirmative defenses that may be available to you. Additionally, these cases often include the seizure of evidence which may have been in violation of the 4th Amendment. We are experts in 4th Amendment law. Here are some samples of some written arguments we have made in the past: DC Appeal, Maryland Appeal.
Of course, it is well known that many cases end in plea agreements. If your cases is one in which a plea agreement is desirable or otherwise offers you real options that cannot be ignored, at Houlon Berman, we will fight to obtain the best possible plea agreement for you, explain everything that goes into obtaining such an agreement, and make sure that you are fully comfortable with the decisions you will need to make.
United States Sentencing Guidelines
Expertise in and understanding of the United States Sentencing Guidelines is critically important in the defense of any Federal Criminal narcotics and drugs charge. Richard Finci has been a member of the Maryland Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy appointed by the Governor of Maryland since 2004 (which focuses on State Law), has attended many seminars on the Federal Sentencing Guidelines and is an expert in the analysis and application of those Sentencing Guidelines as well as in the tactics and strategy to reduce the sentencing guidelines which you face in your case. In drug cases, the drug quantity calculation for guideline purposes must include all “relevant conduct” and therefore the amount of drugs involved, the length of any conspiracy and possibly other aggravating factors. We have the expertise in the Guidelines to fight to lower your guidelines.
