Drug Racketeering Lawyer Case Results in Mesa, Arizona

Client Charged With A Drug Racketeering Crime in Mesa, Arizona

REDUCED SENTENCE & CHARGES DISMISSED

In Mesa, Arizona, drug racketeering is a grievous offense. Drug racketeering charges are complex, and the consequences of a conviction are far-reaching. As a result, it is necessary to retain an attorney well-versed in accusations of racketeering and any underlying offenses.

Our client Mrs. K was accused of crimes related to drug racketeering. The charges carry a stacked maximum of 27 years in prison. However, hiring proficient legal counsel helped her get an unbelievable favorable outcome for her case. First, how does the law in Arizona view drug racketeering?

Laws on Drug Racketeering Crimes in Mesa, Arizona

According to Arizona law, drug racketeering is any activity involving illegal drugs for financial gain. Such action is chargeable or indicted under state law and is subject to a sentence of more than one year in jail. A group conducting a racket or an organized crime ring that traffics illegal substances are examples of racketeering (illegal business).

To use a company or other group of persons to commit drug offenses is therefore illegal in Arizona. Even murder, prostitution, kidnapping, robbery, and the trafficking of weapons may qualify as racketeering if they are carried out to make money.

If a defendant commits any of the following offenses, they may be charged with racketeering:

• Running or participating in a racketeering operation
• Taking part in or continuing to have an interest in a racket.
• Investing money earned from criminal activity

In addition, racketeering rarely involves a single offense. Instead, the criminal behavior usually has supporting charges that are present. As a result, you can be charged with drug-related racketeering, conspiracy, or other felonies, including money laundering. Racketeering accusations might therefore have severe repercussions and be challenging to contest.

It's critical to remember that charges may also be brought against the members of a drug racketeering group. In reality, the law extends to anybody who participates in the enterprise, directly or indirectly—those who run their business in a way that resembles racketeering or has knowledge of racketeering operations. If firm employees knew about the racketeering acts, they would be included in the prosecution.

Penalties For Drug Racketeering Crimes in Mesa, Arizona

In Mesa, Arizona, you can be charged with a class 3 felony if you were detained for a drug racketeering offense or illegal control of an enterprise. The sentence range for a Class 3 felony is 2 to 8.75 years in prison.

Additionally, the number of prior convictions you have will typically affect how long your sentence will be. Therefore, the penalty gets longer, the more past convictions there are. Additionally, you risk receiving a harsher punishment if the racketeering occurred while you were on probation or in jail.

If this is your first offense, you might be sentenced to probation and up to a year in jail, alternatively, a maximum of 8.75 years in prison. You could be sentenced to 16.25 years in prison if you've been convicted once before. You might spend up to 25 years in jail if you have two previous convictions.

If you are associated with or employed by a company that engages in racketeering activities in the course of conducting business, or if you are aware of the company's drug crimes, you may be convicted of a racketeering drug crime.

Money Laundering Laws in Mesa, Arizona

The act of moving money that has been gained unlawfully between several locations to obscure its true source is known as money laundering. Most people who desire to conceal their illegal sources of income are almost certainly engaging in money laundering. Money laundering frequently entails several complex transactions or enterprises. The result is that the money appears to have been earned honestly.

The offense of money laundering is complex. Most of the time, those accused of money laundering also have additional criminal accusations for other illegal behavior. For instance, if the prosecutor thinks that the individual charged with money laundering received money through the illicit sale and transportation of drugs, they may also be prosecuted with drug trafficking.

All forms of laundering are viewed as crimes. Even if your involvement in masking the identity of individuals or transactions was minimal and you were just aware of a laundering plan, you could still face charges.

Money laundering consists of three steps:

• The launderer obtains the money through unlawful means.
• The launderer puts the money through a process to cover up a crime.
• The launderer receives their money back.

Depending on the facts relevant to the case, the prosecution must establish different aspects for a defendant to be found guilty. However, the state must typically establish the following three elements:

• You were involved in illegal activity
• You were aware that the funds came from illicit activity.
• You deliberately intended to conceal the money gained unlawfully.

Money laundering is one of the most severe white-collar crimes. It is charged with three levels of seriousness, each group carrying a different punishment. Arizona Revised Statutes distinguishes between first-degree, second-degree, and third-degree money laundering offenses.

An individual is accused of deliberately starting, organizing, managing, or directing the scheme if they are charged with money laundering in the first degree. Such a person is the leader or the brains behind the criminal act. For first-time offenders, this class two felony carries a 12.5-year jail sentence.

When accused of the crime in the second degree, a person is charged with keeping a stake in, transferring money, making the property available, and lying to the authorities. As a result, first-time offenders face a class three felony punishment of 8.75 years in jail.

If suspected of third-degree money laundering, one is charged with aiding in the transfer of funds for the scam. The maximum sentence for first-time offenders for this class six felony is six years in jail.

You will also be punished three times the amount of money involved if evidence exists that you "laundered" $100,000 or more in one year.

Case of the Client Charged With A Drug Racketeering Crime in Mesa, Arizona

Ms. K, one of our clients, committed a conspiracy to launder money for drug activities. Several calls between our client and a co-defendant that investigators intercepted revealed that they discussed an ongoing delivery. Ms. K made a second cash delivery after dropping off "some documents" at the Arizona Market. For the majority of these deliveries, her car was under surveillance. She was accused of the following crimes:

• Conspiracy (Class 2 Felony)
• Illegally conducting an enterprise (Class 3 Felony)
• Money Laundering (Class 2 Felony)

The maximum prison time for these offenses is 27 years.

We maintained frequent contact with Ms. K from the outset of the case. We uncovered numerous flaws in the prosecution's arguments when we examined her case and the evidence used against her. Also, we could change the original story to present Ms. K in the most favorable light.

Finally, we secured an extraordinary plea thanks to our strong engagement with the prosecution. Our client expressed relief and appreciation for our tenacious representation and legal support. The outcome of Ms. K's plea bargaining was amazing.

Outcome

The other counts were dismissed, and the allegation of money laundering was changed from a class 2 felony to a class 6 offense. Ms. K was spared jail time in favor of a minor fine and probation that allowed her to leave the country.

Conclusion

You should contact a criminal defense attorney immediately for assistance if you have been charged with illegal control of a business in addition to other felonies related to drugs.

A knowledgeable Mesa drug offense attorney can evaluate the circumstances of your case, put up a compelling defense, and attempt to have the charges against you reduced or possibly dropped entirely.

WE HELP GET YOUR DRUG CHARGES AND PENALTIES REDUCED OR DROPPED.

The drug crime lawyers at Mesa Drug Lawyer have over 35 combined years of experience defending clients in the Mesa, Arizona area. We’ve helped clients receive reduced penalties, dismissed charges and flexible legal results that make it easier to move on after your case. View our recent case results to get a better idea of how our criminal defense drug crime attorneys provide first-class service to their clients.