Massachusetts Drug Crimes Defense

A drug charge in Massachusetts can bring serious legal consequences, including jail time, a permanent criminal record, and a license suspension, even for a first offense. Attorney Michael DelSignore represents individuals throughout Massachusetts facing drug charges ranging from simple possession to large-scale trafficking, and works to identify every available defense before a case moves forward.

• Possession of a controlled substance
• Possession with intent to distribute
• Distribution or sale of narcotics, including cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and marijuana
• Trafficking in narcotics
• Drug arrests involving multiple defendants (joint venture)
• Conspiracy to distribute or traffic narcotics
• Drug offenses involving forfeiture of property or money

Massachusetts drug charges generally fall into three categories, each carrying different potential penalties:

• Possession: simple possession of a controlled substance. A conviction results in a mandatory license suspension under Massachusetts law, even when no jail time is imposed.
• Possession with Intent to Distribute: typically involves a larger quantity of narcotics along with other evidence suggesting distribution, such as scales, packaging materials, large amounts of cash, or multiple cell phones.
• Trafficking: involves a large quantity of narcotics and is based on the type and weight of the substance involved. Trafficking charges carry substantial mandatory minimum sentences and are heard in Massachusetts Superior Court.

Massachusetts previously imposed enhanced penalties for drug offenses occurring within 1,000 feet of a school. Under current law, that zone has been reduced to 300 feet, and individuals convicted of a school zone violation are now eligible for parole. These changes can affect both new and pending cases, so it is worth discussing with an attorney how a recent change in the law may apply to a specific charge.

An effective defense in a drug case often begins with a close review of how the evidence was obtained. Many drug cases are resolved through challenges to the search that led to the discovery of narcotics, while others are best addressed through thorough trial preparation. In some cases, drug treatment programs or a drug court placement may offer a path to resolving a case without a criminal conviction or jail time.

• Challenging the legality of the search or stop that led to the discovery of narcotics
• Challenging whether the substance was accurately identified and tested
• Challenging possession when narcotics are found in a shared space, such as a vehicle or apartment with multiple occupants
• Pursuing treatment-based alternatives to incarceration where appropriate

Drug cases range enormously in complexity, from a straightforward possession charge to a multi-defendant trafficking indictment in Superior Court. Attorney DelSignore has been quoted by the Brockton Enterprise and the Patriot Ledger on Massachusetts drug case law, and brings the same trial-tested approach to drug defense that has defined his broader criminal defense practice for over 20 years.

• Drug Possession Defense
• Defending a Drug Distribution or Trafficking Charge
• Defenses to Drug Crimes in Massachusetts
• Search and Seizure in Drug Cases
• License Suspension for Drug Offenses
• Joint Venture in Massachusetts Drug Arrests
• Massachusetts Drug Conspiracy
• Marijuana Drug Trafficking
• Cocaine Drug Trafficking
• Opiates Drug Trafficking
• Fentanyl Drug Trafficking