Drug Crimes in San Fernando Valley
Los Angeles County, particularly the San Fernando Valley, is a hotbed for drug crimes, with the Gang and Narcotics Division of the Los Angeles Police Department leading the charge. The Sheriff's Department also plays a significant role in patrolling the Valley and making drug-related arrests.
Much of the information they gather to investigate, get search warrants, and make arrests comes from people arrested for drug crimes in the Valley. They cooperate with the police and give the police a lot of information. I often see the police arrest somebody for possession of sales or drugs (CALCRIM 2302), especially if they view that person as a small-time player.
California Health and Safety Code 11351 defines possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell. They will arrest that person, threaten that person, tell them that they're looking at a lot of time in custody, and try to get that person to give them information about other drug crimes that are taking place in the San Fernando Valley.
That's one situation where the police investigate and prosecute drug crimes, sales, possession for sales, drug trafficking, and manufacturing (CALCRIM 2330) of any type of drug in the Valley. California Health and Safety Code 11379.6 defines manufacturing as a controlled substance.
Negotiation with Prosecutor and Law Enforcement
It's interesting because, on the other hand, you have a scenario where the prosecutors in cases in the San Fernando Valley or Los Angeles aren't highly involved in cooperation agreements.
It takes an act of Congress on a drug crime case to get the prosecutors to agree to give a person a better sentence if a person cooperates, or they'll dismiss the case.
So, you have to get a letter from a Captain saying that the person cooperated and requesting that the prosecutors give credit for that cooperation. Then that letter goes to downtown Los Angeles, and they have a specific group of individuals who deal with cooperation cases, but it's scarce to see that.
At the police level, various cooperation-type activities are in play. They might refrain from prosecuting an individual if they cooperate. However, it's important to note that in significant drug cases, the police might not always fulfill their promises, leaving the individual with no recourse. This underscores the need for caution and the involvement of an attorney when dealing with the police.
Criminal Investigation of Drug-Related Cases
Drugs in the San Fernando Valley have been going on for the last 26 years that I've been practicing, and I'm sure before that. The courts — San Fernando and Van Nuys — handle them very seriously, and the penalties can be severe.
This is especially true if gang affiliation is related to the drug trade, the person is selling drugs, or if any weapons are found. Those seem to be the main areas where they come down hard when someone's got a gun when gangs are involved.
Also, when you're talking about large amounts — major narcotics will usually get involved — and it's unlikely one of the Valley courts would handle it. It will probably be moved to downtown Los Angeles. Or, if it's on a big enough scale, the feds will get involved and be prosecuted in the Central District here in California.
When facing a drug case, it's crucial to seek legal representation from an attorney who understands the court system and has experience with the prosecutors in that court system. A skilled attorney can present all the mitigating evidence related to you, addressing the concerns of protecting the public from drug overdose and violence during drug transactions.
They are notorious for trying to get people they arrest to cooperate with them and give them information about other people. I mean, to the point where they will say to somebody — especially somebody they view as a user — listen, if you tell us where you got this from, who you got it from — give us some information — we'll let you go, and they'll do it. They're not kidding about that.
But if you're a little more involved and you're selling it, and they're trying to go up the chain, and they say to you in a drug case, the Valley narcotics detectives — if you tell us who gave this to you, we'll get rid of your case.
I would be slightly cautious because they're often not truthful about that. You always want to get an attorney involved, especially when you're facing potential charges when talking to the police, because the police will be a lot more evil than the prosecutors.
The prosecutors are lawyers. They know they have to be careful about what they say and do. So, they're not going to make any representations that aren't true.
So, if they tell you something, it's typically good, accurate information that you can take to the bank. If you have a drug case pending or you're getting arrested for a drug case, and the detectives or police are telling you something, I would scratch my head on that one.
What are the Defenses for Drug Cases?
Make sure you consult an attorney before you decide to take any deal in which the police are making representations.
If you find yourself in a drug case, it's essential to carefully consider your options before making any decisions. While many cases that previously led to prison time now result in county jail sentences due to jail overcrowding, the consequences are still significant.
You also impact programs like Prop 57, Prop 47, and others that have made drug cases straight misdemeanors where they used to be felonies. So, many good things are going on from a defense standpoint related to drugs in the San Fernando Valley and the courthouses. However, prosecutors and judges are still the same. They still believe that drugs are very harmful to society.
Some victims overdose, so they're looking — if they get an opportunity — to send people to jail or prison if they possibly can in some of these drug cases. So, you want to make sure that you're well represented and you've got an attorney who's handled your type of case in the Valley courts.
So, if you need help, this is right up my alley. I've been handling these questions for 26 years and have taken thousands of cases throughout the San Fernando Valley. Pick up the phone. Make the call. Get your case moving in the right direction.
Retain a Drug Crime Attorney
You've got to have an attorney. If you get an attorney involved, they can pressure the police if that's something you choose to do to ensure that you get credit. A lot of times, they want you to make two, three, four, five, or six busts.
Nobody wants to do that. It's way too dangerous for them. A lot of people don't even have that type of information. So, if you don't have an attorney involved, they can take advantage of you in the wrong way. So, if you've got a drug-related offense in the San Fernando Valley — whether it be a possession or possession for sales — pick up the phone and make the call. Let's talk about it and see what we can do to get you the best result, such as deferred entry of judgment.
Related:
