Drug Trafficking Attorney in Brooksville

Former Prosecutor. Insider Knowledge of How Hernando County Trafficking Cases Are Built.

Drug trafficking is one of the most aggressively prosecuted charges in Florida, and the State Attorney’s Office for the Fifth Judicial Circuit treats it accordingly. I’m Michael Conageski, a Brooksville criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor with more than a decade of criminal law experience. That background means I understand how trafficking cases are built on the prosecution side, which is where a meaningful defense starts. I live and practice in Hernando County, and I know how these cases move through the local system.

If you or someone you know is facing a drug trafficking charge in Hernando County, contact Conageski Law today for a free consultation. Payment plans are available. Call (352) 292-0822 now.

How Florida Law Defines Drug Trafficking

Florida Statute 893.135 defines drug trafficking based on weight, not intent. If a person knowingly sells, purchases, manufactures, delivers, brings into Florida, or possesses a controlled substance at or above a specified threshold, they can be charged with trafficking regardless of whether they intended to sell anything. The weight alone triggers the charge.

The thresholds that most frequently come up in Hernando County prosecutions include:

• Cocaine: 28 grams or more
• Cannabis: More than 25 pounds or 300 or more plants
• Methamphetamine: 14 grams or more
• Opiates: Thresholds vary by substance: as low as 4 grams for morphine, opium, hydromorphone, and heroin; 7 grams or more for oxycodone; and 28 grams or more for hydrocodone. A relatively small number of pills can meet the threshold depending on the substance involved.

All drug trafficking offenses are generally charged as first-degree felonies. Possession of prescription opioids without a valid prescription, even in amounts that look personal, can reach the trafficking threshold under state law.

Mandatory Minimum Sentences Under Florida Law

Florida’s trafficking statutes remove a judge’s ability to reduce sentences based on mitigating circumstances unless specific statutory exceptions apply. If convicted, the sentence is determined by the substance and the weight. These are what the law imposes:

• Cocaine: 28 to 200 grams: 3 years in prison, $50,000 fine
• Cocaine: 200 to 400 grams: 7 years in prison, $100,000 fine
• Cocaine: 400 grams to 150 kilograms: 15 years in prison, $250,000 fine
• Opiates: 4 to 14 grams: 3 years in prison, $50,000 fine
• Opiates: 14 to 28 grams: 15 years in prison, $100,000 fine
• Opiates: 28 grams to 30 kilograms: 25 years in prison, $500,000 fine
• Methamphetamine: 14 to 28 grams: 3 years in prison, $50,000 fine
• Methamphetamine: 28 to 200 grams: 7 years in prison, $100,000 fine
• Methamphetamine: 200 grams or more: 15 years in prison, $250,000 fine

Beyond incarceration, a felony trafficking conviction can affect civil rights, eligibility for professional licenses, access to federal financial aid for education, and employment and housing opportunities on a permanent basis. Prior felony convictions may also trigger enhanced sentencing under Florida’s Criminal Punishment Code.

Defense Strategies in Hernando County Trafficking Cases

A trafficking charge isn’t a conviction. The State must prove every element of its case, and there are recognized points of challenge in most trafficking prosecutions. My time as a prosecutor gives me a clear picture of where those cases are strongest and where they can be contested.

Fourth Amendment Suppression

Many Hernando County trafficking arrests begin with traffic stops on U.S. 19, State Road 50, or the Suncoast Parkway. A stop requires reasonable articulable suspicion. Extending a stop beyond what is needed to address the original violation, without independent justification for the additional detention, can constitute a Fourth Amendment violation under the standard set in Rodriguez v. United States. Florida law also protects a driver’s right to refuse consent to a vehicle search, and that refusal alone can’t justify arrest. Evidence obtained through an unlawful stop or search can be suppressed and generally can’t be used at trial, which can lead to a reduction or dismissal of charges depending on the circumstances.

Constructive Possession Disputes

When a substance is found in a shared vehicle or residence, the prosecution must prove the defendant knew it was present and had the ability to exercise dominion and control over it. In multi-occupant situations, that burden can be harder to meet than the initial arrest suggests.

Weight & Lab Analysis Challenges

Because weight determines both the charge and the mandatory minimum, the reliability of the lab analysis and the integrity of the chain of custody are critical. Discrepancies in how evidence was handled or tested can directly affect whether the weight threshold is met.

Entrapment and lack of knowledge of a substance’s presence are also recognized defenses under Florida trafficking law. My experience on the prosecution side tells me where to look, and my established relationships with local judges and prosecutors in the Fifth Judicial Circuit shape how I approach each case from day one.

How Drug Trafficking Cases Move Through Hernando County Courts

Hernando County felony cases are handled by the Fifth Judicial Circuit, with the criminal courthouse located in Brooksville. Within 24 hours of arrest, a first appearance hearing takes place where a judge sets conditions of release and bond. Having counsel before that hearing can expand the options available to you.

The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office Vice and Narcotics Unit conducts undercover operations that frequently generate trafficking arrests in this area. Hernando County Drug Court is generally not available to defendants charged with trafficking, which raises the stakes at every stage. The period right after an arrest is when evidence is freshest and pretrial options are broadest. Waiting can narrow what can be done.

What to Expect Working with Me

From the first conversation, I work to make sure you understand what the charge means, what the Hernando County criminal process looks like, and what realistic options exist. I emphasize your right to remain silent early, because how you respond in the hours after an arrest can shape the entire case. You should have counsel before making any statements.

I handle trafficking defense personally. That means direct communication, an honest assessment of your situation, and a defense strategy built on what I know about how the State Attorney’s Office approaches these cases. A trafficking charge doesn’t automatically result in conviction. The State has to prove its case, and I’m prepared to challenge the evidence at every stage.

Contact a Drug Trafficking Attorney in Brooksville Today

If you’re facing a drug trafficking charge in Hernando County, the time to act is now. I offer a free consultation to review your situation and explain your options. Payment plans are available to make representation accessible. Call Conageski Law at (352) 292-0822 to get started.