patgitre@patriciagitre.com

Defending Arizona and Federal Drug Offenses

We specialize in defending both Arizona and Federal drug related offenses.

The Law Office of Patricia A. Gitre specializes in defending drug offenses in the State of Arizona.

Whether you are charged in Arizona state court or Federal Court, our office has over thirty years of criminal defense experience.

We also network with Arizona certified criminal specialists who are familiar with Arizona medical marijuana, drugged driving, trafficking, and possession offenses.

Sedona Narcotics Trafficking

Interstate 40 is a frequently traveled highway for people passing through Arizona as well as people traveling to a wide variety of locations throughout the state. This is also a frequent target by law enforcement when it comes to profiling and arresting people for drug distribution crimes. If this has happened to you, you should seek out a criminal defense attorney who is familiar with the area, the law and these types of cases.

Know Your Rights: Drug Distribution Profiling

In Arizona, the police and the department of public safety have created a profile they use when determining who to pull over in the hopes of finding evidence of illegal transportation of drugs from Mexico or to other states. This drug courier profile targets single men who are driving alone in rental cars. The police will pull the car over for a traffic violation, and while one officer questions the driver, another officer with a drug-sniffing dog will walk around the car searching for evidence of drugs, such as methamphetamine, marijuana or possession of any other drugs that will be used for sale.

This tactic is in violation of your Fourth Amendment right to be free of unreasonable searches and seizures. Attorney Thomas Gorman will be able to show that this profiling took place and move for any evidence obtained in the traffic stop to be suppressed. If the motion is successful, the charges against you may be reduced or even dismissed.

Helping People Nationwide Who Are Charged in Arizona

If you are arrested and charged with drug distribution or any other drug charge as a result of this scenario in Arizona, but reside elsewhere, attorney Gorman can represent you in the appropriate court, including Coconino, Mohave or Maricopa superior courts. He has had substantial success with suppression motions and hearings as well as having charges dismissed, obtaining not-guilty verdicts at trial and having convictions overturned on appeal.

Offense Penalty Incarceration   Max. Fine

Possession
Less than 2 lbs Felony 4 months - 2 years $ 150,000
2 - less than 4 lbs Felony 6 months - 2.5 years $ 150,000
4 lbs or more Felony 1 - 3.75 years $ 150,000

Sale
Less than 2 lbs Felony 1 - 3.75 years $ 150,000
2 - 4 lbs Felony 2 - 8.75 years $ 150,000
More than 4 lbs Felony 3 - 12.5 years $ 150,000

Manufacture/Cultivation
Less than 2 lbs Felony 6 months - 2.5 years $ 150,000
2 - 4 lbs Felony 1 - 3.75 years $ 150,000
More than 4 lbs Felony 2 - 8.75 years $ 150,000

Trafficking
Less than 2 lbs Felony 2 - 8.75 years $ 150,000
2 lbs or more Felony 3 - 12.5 years $ 150,000

Hash & Concentrates
Possession or Use Felony 1 - 3.75 years $ 150,000
Manufacture, Sale, or Trafficking Felony 3 - 12.5 years $ 150,000

Paraphernalia
Possession or advertising of paraphernalia Felony 4 months - 2 years $ 150,000

Miscellaneous
Employing a minor in the commission of a drug offense, being convicted of a prior felony, or committing a drug offense in a school zone, lead to an increased sentence.

Penalty Details

Possession

Possession for personal use of less than 2 pounds of marijuana is a Class 6 felony, punishable by a minimum sentence of 4 months, a maximum sentence of 2 years, and a minimum fine of $1000 or a fine to exhaust the proceeds of the drug offense. If probation is granted after conviction for this offense, the offender will face a mandatory sentence of 24 hours of community service.

Possession for personal use of 2-4 pounds of marijuana is a Class 5 felony, punishable by a minimum sentence of 6 months, a maximum sentence of 2.5 years, and a minimum fine of $1000 or a fine to exhaust the proceeds of the drug offense. If probation is granted after conviction for this offense, the offender will face a mandatory sentence of 24 hours of community service.

Possession for personal use of more than 4 pounds of marijuana is a Class 4 felony, punishable by a minimum sentence of 1 year, a maximum sentence of 3.75 years, and a minimum fine of $1000 or a fine to exhaust the proceeds of the drug offense. If probation is granted after conviction for this offense, the offender will face a mandatory sentence of 24 hours of community service.

Sale

The sale, or possessing for sale, of less than 2 pounds of marijuana is a Class 4 felony, punishable by a minimum sentence of 1 year, a maximum sentence of 3.75 years, and a minimum fine of $1000 or a fine to exhaust the proceeds of the drug offense. If probation is granted after conviction for this offense, the offender will face a mandatory sentence of 240 hours of community service.

The sale, or possessing for sale, of between 2-4 pounds of marijuana is a Class 3 felony, punishable by a minimum sentence of 2 years, a maximum sentence of 8.75 years, and a minimum fine of $1000 or a fine to exhaust the proceeds of the drug offense.

The sale, or possessing for sale, of more than 4 pounds of marijuana is a Class 2 felony, punishable by a minimum sentence of 2 years, a maximum sentence of 12.5 years, and a minimum fine of $1000 or a fine to exhaust the proceeds of the drug offense.

Manufacture/Cultivation

Producing less than 2 pounds of marijuana is a Class 5 felony, punishable by a minimum sentence of 6 months, a maximum sentence of 2.5 years, and a minimum fine of $1000 or a fine to exhaust the proceeds of the drug offense. If probation is granted after conviction for this offense, the offender will face a mandatory sentence of 240 hours of community service.

Producing between 2-4 pounds of marijuana is a Class 4 felony, punishable by a minimum sentence of 1 year, a maximum sentence of 3.75 years, and a minimum fine of $1000 or a fine to exhaust the proceeds of the drug offense.

Producing more than 4 pounds of marijuana is a Class 3 felony, punishable by a minimum sentence of 2 years, a maximum sentence of 8.75 years, and a minimum fine of $1000 or a fine to exhaust the proceeds of the drug offense.

Trafficking

Bringing less than 2 pounds of marijuana into AZ is a Class 3 felony, punishable by a minimum sentence of 2 years, a maximum sentence of 8.75 years, and a minimum fine of $1000 or a fine to exhaust the proceeds of the drug offense. If probation is granted after conviction for this offense, the offender will face a mandatory sentence of 24 hours of community service.

Bringing 2 pounds or more of marijuana into AZ is a Class 2 felony, punishable by a minimum sentence of 2 years, a maximum sentence of 12.5 years, and a minimum fine of $1000 or a fine to exhaust the proceeds of the drug offense.

Hash & Concentrates

In Arizona, hashish and concentrates are Schedule I narcotic drugs listed as "Cannabis." "Cannabis" is classified in Arizona as "The resin extracted from any part of a plant of the genus cannabis, and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture or preparation of such plant, its seeds or its resin ... and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture or preparation of such resin or tetrahydrocannabinol."

Knowingly possessing or using a narcotic drug is a class 4 felony, punishable by a minimum of 1 year imprisonment, a maximum of 3 years in prison, and a maximum fine of not less than two thousand dollars or three times the value as determined by the court of the narcotic drugs involved in or giving rise to the charge, whichever is greater.

Knowingly possessing a narcotic drug for sale is a class 2 felony, punishable by a minimum of 3 years imprisonment, a maximum of 10 years imprisonment, and a maximum fine of not less than two thousand dollars or three times the value as determined by the court of the narcotic drugs involved in or giving rise to the charge, whichever is greater.

Knowingly possessing the equipment or chemicals, or both, for the purpose of manufacturing a narcotic drug is a class 3 felony, punishable by a minimum of 2 years imprisonment, a maximum of 7 years imprisonment, and a maximum fine of not less than two thousand dollars or three times the value as determined by the court of the narcotic drugs involved in or giving rise to the charge, whichever is greater.

Manufacturing a narcotic drug is a class 2 felony, punishable by a minimum of 3 years imprisonment, a maximum of 10 years imprisonment, and a maximum fine of not less than two thousand dollars or three times the value as determined by the court of the narcotic drugs involved in or giving rise to the charge, whichever is greater.

Transporting a narcotic drug into the state is a class 2 felony, punishable by a minimum of 3 years imprisonment, a maximum of 10 years imprisonment, and a maximum fine of not less than two thousand dollars or three times the value as determined by the court of the narcotic drugs involved in or giving rise to the charge, whichever is greater.

Paraphernalia

Any possession of drug paraphernalia, as well as advertising for the sale of drug paraphernalia, is a Class 6 felony, punishable by a minimum sentence of 4 months, a maximum sentence of 2 years, and a minimum fine of $1000 or a fine to exhaust the proceeds of the drug offense.

Miscellaneous

Employing a minor in the commission of a drug offense, being convicted of a prior felony, or committing a drug offense in a school zone, lead to an increased sentence.

Where you can find us

If you wish to visit us directly, we can offer free counseling