Philadelphia Drug Crime Attorney

Drug-Related Offenses

Are you or a loved one facing conviction for a drug crime? Such crimes are not taken lightly by state or federal investigators and prosecutors and should be treated with the utmost gravity. When in the wake of such a charge, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible so your case can be evaluated and the optimum strategy created to tackle the legal opposition you are facing.

Drug cases have the potential to be highly complex and to present numerous severe penalties if the defendant is convicted. My goal as a criminal defense lawyer is to provide the level of representation that my clients need to reach the best possible outcomes to their drug cases. With my experience in law enforcement and as a trial attorney, I understand both sides of these cases and can provide more effective counsel when it matters most. I stand ready to discuss your particular charges to determine what you are up against and how I can help you face these head on to limit their ability to negatively impact various areas of your life: your career, your financial stability, your family and your freedom.

A drug crime may be described as any state or federal crime that is committed involving a controlled substance, a substance that is regulated by the government. This includes illegal narcotics and street drugs such as ecstasy and crystal meth as well as prescription drugs. With the recent crackdown on drug crimes and toughened prosecution of offenders, it is absolutely imperative that you do everything you can to put forth your best effort to defending your future and protecting your rights.

Whether facing charges for drug possession, manufacturing, trafficking, transportation, cultivation, or prescription fraud, it is vital that you contact an attorney as soon as possible to begin discussing the details of your case. My firm takes on all types of drug charges related to heroin, marijuana, cocaine, and any other type of illegal street drug or prescription drug. I use my experience to develop creative defense strategies based upon extensive investigations into every aspect of my clients' cases, including looking at search and seizure violations, procedural or evidentiary mistakes and any constitutional rights that may have been broken.

Possession of Substances

When a person is found with drugs or drug paraphernalia in their possession, an officer of the law may jump to the conclusion that the items belong to this individual and that it is either being used or sold to another person. While the law allows this to happen, not all arrests involving drug possession occur lawfully. An example of an unlawful arrest includes the event that a police officer violates a person's rights during a search and seizure. This can happen in a variety of ways, including due to taking in evidence without reasonable belief that the person has done anything wrong. It is important to retain the services of a drug crime lawyer when facing charges of this intensity, especially because possessing drugs is a federal crime as well. While federal agencies such as the DEA rarely get involved in minor possession cases, they may make an exception.

Perhaps the most common type of drug crime is drug possession. Not only is this the most common type of drug crime committed, but it can be charged in various different ways. A defendant may face simple possession charges for having a controlled substance on his or her person, property, etc. A defendant may also face "possession with intent" charges if enough of the substance is discovered, often along with circumstantial evidence, that would indicate an intent to sell or distribute the product. Depending on the amount and type of drug involved, possession may be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony and a defendant may face anything from a fine and no imprisonment to years or decades in prison if convicted.

Qualified Legal Defense Against Drug Charges

If you are currently at risk of facing criminal conviction, I, John P. Rutkowski, will do everything I can to help you avoid overly harsh punishments such as extended imprisonment, heavy fines, community service and probation. Considering the severity of punishments, a drug crime charge is no laughing matter. Delaying contacting a skilled drug crimes attorney could be detrimental in the long run and should be avoided at all costs. By getting me involved at the onset, you are ensuring that you are bringing a heavyweight to your side to help defend your future in every way possible.

I consider it my duty to protect your rights, and you can rest assured that I am completely and totally dedicated to the success of your case. When your future hangs in the balance, you need an aggressive and tenacious criminal defense lawyer at your side to begin combing over the evidence and protecting your rights. With over a decade defending similar charges and 12 years as deputy sheriff, you can rest assured that I have a thorough and intimate knowledge of the law you are facing. With my years of experience in the criminal justice system and my thorough knowledge of the twisting complexity of the law, you can be confident that your future is in completely trustworthy hands.