Criminal Defense · Jeff T. Gorman Law Offices

Florida Drug Crimes Defense
From Possession to Trafficking —
We Fight Every Charge.

Florida’s drug laws are among the harshest in the nation. Trafficking thresholds are triggered by quantity alone — not intent to sell. Mandatory minimum sentences can impose decades in prison. Jeff Gorman interned with the U.S. Department of Justice Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Section and prosecuted drug cases in the 19th Circuit. He knows exactly how these cases are built — and how to dismantle them.

Free Consultation Call (772) 888-8888
Drug Trafficking Carries Mandatory Minimums — Call Before You Say Anything to Investigators
Jeff T. Gorman
Jeff T. Gorman
Founding Attorney · FL Bar #538183
100+
Felony Jury Trials
19th
Circuit Former Prosecutor
4.9★
Google Rating · 260+ Reviews
“I prosecuted more felony jury trials than any other attorney in the 19th Circuit. I know exactly how the State builds its case — and exactly how to take it apart.”
What the State Has Working Against You
●Laboratory analysis confirming the substance and quantity — the foundation of every drug case
●Officer testimony about where and how drugs were found, framed to suggest knowledge and control
●Confidential informant testimony, which may be unreliable and motivated by the informant’s own legal exposure
●Electronic surveillance, phone records, and financial records in larger investigations
●Mandatory minimum sentencing laws that remove the judge’s ability to show leniency at sentencing

What the Evidence Shows —
and Where It Can Be Challenged

Drug charges in Florida range from simple possession — a misdemeanor for small amounts of cannabis — to trafficking with mandatory decades-long prison sentences. The critical variables are substance type, quantity, and whether the State can prove you knew about and controlled the drugs. Each variable creates defense opportunities that a skilled attorney exploits from the moment of arrest.

Jeff Gorman’s background is genuinely distinctive: he interned with the U.S. Department of Justice Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Section while in law school, then prosecuted drug cases as an ASA in the 19th Judicial Circuit. He has seen drug investigations from the inside — how they are assembled, where the evidence is gathered, and where investigators cut corners. That knowledge is now your defense.

⚖️ Florida Drug Law — Charges and Consequences
Florida Statute §893.13 governs drug possession and sale. Florida Statute §893.135 governs drug trafficking with mandatory minimum sentences. Simple possession is typically a third-degree felony or misdemeanor depending on substance and amount. Possession with intent requires proof of intent to sell, deliver, or manufacture. Trafficking is quantity-based only — no intent to sell is required. Florida also imposes enhanced penalties for drug offenses within 1,000 feet of a school, church, or park.
Florida Statute §893.13 (Drug Abuse Prevention) · Florida Statute §893.135 (Drug Trafficking Mandatory Minimums) · Florida Statute §893.101 (Knowledge of Controlled Substance)

How We Fight This Charge

Illegal Search & Seizure
The 4th Amendment is the most powerful defense tool in drug cases. We scrutinize every search — traffic stops, consent searches, warrant applications — for constitutional violations that can suppress all resulting evidence.
Constructive Possession
When drugs are found in a shared space, the State must prove you knew they were there and exercised control over them. This is often difficult to prove beyond a reasonable doubt.
Chain of Custody
Drug evidence must be properly collected, documented, stored, and tested. We challenge the integrity of the evidence at every step from seizure to laboratory to courtroom.
Quantity Disputes
Laboratory weight calculations determine which charge applies and what mandatory minimum triggers. We scrutinize lab procedures and retain independent experts when appropriate.
Entrapment
Government agents cannot induce someone to commit a crime they would not have otherwise committed. Undercover and CI-led investigations frequently raise entrapment questions.
Substantial Assistance
In trafficking cases with mandatory minimums, cooperation with law enforcement may be the only path to sentence reduction. We advise on this option strategically — never impulsively.
Notable Results
DISMISSED
Felony Drug Charges · Illegal Search · Pre-Trial Motion
ACQUITTED
Drug Trafficking · Constructive Possession · Jury Trial
REDUCED
Trafficking to Possession · Quantity Successfully Disputed

Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Case details available upon request.

Common Questions

Drug Crimes Defense Attorney FAQ

What is the difference between drug possession and drug trafficking in Florida? +
Drug trafficking in Florida is defined by quantity, not intent to sell. If you possess more than a statutory threshold amount of a controlled substance (for example, 28 grams of cocaine or 25 pounds of cannabis), you can be charged with trafficking regardless of intent. Trafficking carries mandatory minimum sentences, which is why the quantity of drugs found is one of the first facts an attorney must analyze.
What are the mandatory minimum sentences for drug trafficking in Florida? +
Florida drug trafficking mandatory minimums vary by substance and quantity. For cocaine: 28+ grams = 3 years minimum; 200+ grams = 7 years; 400+ grams = 15 years. For heroin or fentanyl: 4+ grams = 3 years; 14+ grams = 15 years; 28+ grams = 25 years. These sentences cannot be reduced by the judge without a substantial assistance motion.
Can drug charges be dismissed for an illegal search in Florida? +
Yes. If police searched your vehicle, home, or person without a valid warrant, your consent, or a recognized exception to the warrant requirement, the resulting evidence may be suppressed. Without that evidence, the State often cannot proceed and charges are dismissed. This is one of the most powerful defenses in drug cases.
What is constructive possession in a Florida drug case? +
Constructive possession means the drugs were not found on your person but in a location you controlled. To prove it, the State must show you knew the drugs were there and had the ability to exercise control over them. In cases involving multiple occupants of a vehicle or home, this is often a powerful defense.
Related Practice Areas
Federal Criminal Defense
Federal drug conspiracy and trafficking charges carry steeper sentences and different rules.
DUI Defense
Drug DUI charges often arise from the same traffic stop as drug possession charges.
Felony Defense
Most drug trafficking and distribution charges are felonies with serious prison exposure.
Free Consultation · 24/7

Drug Charges in Florida
Require an Attorney Who Knows
How the Case Was Built.

Jeff Gorman worked inside federal drug prosecution at the DOJ and prosecuted drug cases in the 19th Circuit. That institutional knowledge defends you now. Call (772) 888-8888 before you say anything to investigators.

(772) 888-8888 PSL: (772) 236-5203 Free Online Consultation

Free initial consultation does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Florida Bar Rules 4-7.1 through 4-7.20 apply.