Riverside Drug Trafficking Lawyer

Strong Defense for California Drug Trafficking Allegations

Prosecutors often treat drug trafficking cases as open-and-shut. They rarely are. I’ve spent over two decades defending clients in Riverside County who have been accused of moving or selling controlled substances, and I know how often investigations rely on weak evidence or law enforcement overreach.

My focus is on challenging every assumption the prosecution makes, from how the search was conducted to how the drugs were tested. As an experienced Riverside drug trafficking lawyer, I work to expose those flaws before they define someone’s future.

What Drug Trafficking Charges Mean in California

California law defines drug trafficking as the transport, sale, or distribution of a controlled substance. Under Health and Safety Code §11352 (narcotics) and §11379 (methamphetamine and related substances), these offenses are charged as serious felonies that come with severe penalties.

Trafficking doesn’t require proof of an actual sale. Simply moving drugs between cities, storing them for someone else, or taking part in a larger operation can lead to prosecution.

These cases are treated as major felonies and are often built on the testimony of confidential informants, surveillance, and electronic evidence. As a drug trafficking and drug crimes attorney, I look for every opportunity to challenge how such evidence is obtained and uncover where the investigation went wrong.

The Drug Trafficking Cases I Handle

I represent clients across Riverside County and the Inland Empire in cases involving:

• Cocaine trafficking
• Methamphetamine trafficking
• Heroin trafficking
• Fentanyl trafficking
• Prescription drug trafficking
• Marijuana trafficking or cultivation
• Cross-county or interstate drug transport
• Conspiracy and multi-defendant trafficking
• Firearm-related drug trafficking charges
• Gang-linked trafficking allegations

These prosecutions move quickly and often involve aggressive investigation tactics. I move just as fast, securing discovery evidence, analyzing how the case was built, and pushing back before the prosecution has a chance to control the narrative.

What to Do After a Drug Trafficking Arrest in Riverside

Once you’re booked on trafficking charges, the clock starts ticking. Law enforcement will gather evidence, prosecutors will review reports, and every move you make will be watched and scrutinized. The only advantage you have is hiring a criminal defense attorney who knows how to take control of the situation.

Here are a few important things to keep in mind in the aftermath of an arrest for drug trafficking.

Do:

• Stay calm and avoid explaining yourself to the police.
• Ask for a lawyer immediately and say nothing else.
• Contact my office as soon as possible so I can intervene before the case builds momentum.
• Keep track of everything that happens during and after the arrest, as it may become part of your defense.

Don’t:

• Try to “clear things up” with investigators on your own.
• Post about the case or your arrest online.
• Discuss the situation with anyone other than your attorney.
• Assume that cooperating automatically helps your case — it often doesn’t.

The moment you call me, I’ll take over all communication with law enforcement, protect your rights, and take steps to stop the case from progressing.

Drug Trafficking Penalties and Possible Outcomes in California

Drug trafficking carries some of the harshest penalties in California’s criminal justice system. Sentences depend on the type of drug involved, the overall weight, and whether prior convictions or weapons use are a factor. A conviction can bring:

• Three to nine years in state prison
• Fines reaching tens of thousands of dollars
• Probation or community service
• Added time for firearm or prior felony enhancements
• Longer sentences for trafficking near schools or involving minors

I’ve secured dismissals, reduced charges, and achieved non-custodial outcomes for clients even in the toughest situations. The earlier you bring me into your case, the better the results will likely be.

How I Defend Drug Trafficking Cases

Drug trafficking cases are built on layers of evidence, including searches, surveillance, phone data, and witness statements. My job is to test every one of them until something breaks.

My defense strategy usually focuses on the following elements:

• Challenging the search: I analyze how key evidence was obtained. If the search that yielded it was illegal, I move to have it thrown out.
• Breaking the chain of custody: Lab handling errors can invalidate even the strongest evidence. I review every link in that chain to look for weak links.
• Attacking witness credibility: Informants and cooperating witnesses often have motives that make their testimony unreliable.
• Exposing questionable lab testing: False positives, contamination, and procedural shortcuts are all more common than prosecutors like to admit.
• Targeting overcharges: I look for ways to reduce trafficking allegations to possession or lesser offenses that carry less exposure.

As a Riverside drug trafficking attorney with deep trial experience, I don’t build defenses around legal theory — I build them around facts, timing, and the realities of the courtroom.