
Drug Sales
Fighting for Clients In Deland, Daytona Beach and Throughout Central Florida
It’s not only illegal to sell drugs, also known as “controlled substances” and “narcotics”, but it is also illegal to manufacture, deliver, or possess drugs with the intent to sell. The drug crisis has become a serious problem in the State of Florida. Social media portrays people passing out with children in the car as a result of overdosing on opioids. The State of Florida takes into consideration that in order for someone to possess drugs, they had to purchase the drugs from someone. If you are charged with “selling” drugs, the State will likely come down hard on you.
The justice system treats drug sales differently than they treat drug possession. Charges for drug sales carry heavier punishments and harsher jail sentences than simply possessing drugs. In some situations, penalties are enhanced even greater if you are caught selling drugs near a church (or place of worship), a school, or a daycare. In most town in Volusia County, especially DeLand, it seems that there is a daycare, church, or school on every corner. In some cases, drug sale charges may result in “minimum mandatory” sentences, which means that no matter how bad the Judge may want to give you a lighter sentence, the Judge is required by law to give you a minimum prison sentence, even if it is your first time being arrested.
Have you been charged with a crime in Central Florida? With offices conveniently located in DeLand and Daytona Beach, our team can defend you against your criminal charges.
What is Sale of Narcotics or Drugs?
For the purpose of this statute, drug sale is defined by the Florida Standard Criminal Jury Instructions in section 25.2, as “a means to transfer or deliver something to another person in exchange for money or something of value or a promise of money or something of value.
It is difficult for the police to catch a drug transaction taking place. In order to prevent drugs from being sold, the police set up specialized units to combat drug use in their community. The police often times work with other police agencies to increase police presence in certain neighborhoods. In addition, the police pool their equipment to set up surveillance to monitor drug sales activity going on in certain areas.
Another way that police arrest people who are accused of selling drugs is to use an undercover police officer to purchase drugs from a suspect. You have seen this in movies and TV shows where an officer grows his beard, uses a disguise, or all of the above, to hide their identity and purchase drugs from a suspected drug dealer.
Not only do the police purchase drugs from suspected drug dealers, but they use confidential informants to purchase drugs. A confidential informant is not a law enforcement officer. Often times, the confidential informant is facing charges of their own, and are helping police to help themselves. They are exchanging their knowledge of who may be selling drugs, and their time to purchase drugs from those suspects, in order to obtain a more favorable sentence in their own case.
In each of these situations, the police run a risk of violating a person’s constitutional rights if the arrest is not executed absolutely perfectly. Attorney Matt Thompson has worked with the drug enforcement agencies and has a comprehensive knowledge of the way the agencies operate. In addition, Attorney Matt Thompson has litigated many issues surrounding arrests for drug sales, such as unlawfully obtaining evidence, illegal searches and seizures, unlawfully obtained warrants, and unlawfully obtained wire taps.
To prove the crime of the Sale of Narcotics, the State must prove the following three elements beyond a reasonable doubt (Fla. Stat. 893.13 and Florida Standard Criminal Jury Instruction 25.2):
- The Defendant sold a certain substance;
- The substance was an illegal substance pursuant to Florida Statutes;
- The Defendant has knowledge that the substance being sold was an illegal substance pursuant to Florida Statutes
If you have been charged with selling narcotics, it is best to speak to an attorney immediately. Thompson Law would welcome you to sit down with Attorney Matt Thompson to discuss your individual case. Please contact Thompson Law and schedule a free consultation with Attorney Matt Thompson by calling (386) 280-4977.

Client-Focused. RESULT-DRIVEN.
Working Closely with You To Build a Strong Case
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All Charges Dismissed Domestic Battery
Defendant was trapped inside car where her boyfriend was acting aggressive. Defendant had to take legal action against the victim to remove him from vehicle. Attorney Thompson sent letter to State early in the case to outline defenses and mitigation and all charges were dismissed prior to filing.
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All Charges Dismissed Sexual Battery & Domestic Battery
Mr. Thompson took depositions of the victim showing that the victim was not truthful with police when she provided her statement as to what happened. Confronted victim with social media posts, bank records, and telephone records to show that she was not in the places that she stated she was during the time the alleged crime took place. Case 1 was dismissed and the Defendant pled to Case 2 and received two (2) years of prison and credit for fifteen (15) months in prison.
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All Charges Dismissed Racing on the Highway
Client was arrested after leaving a car show in a fast vehicle. Officers suspected the client of racing another vehicle and police officers pulled him over, drug him out of his vehicle, and arrested him for both racing on the highway and resisting an officer without violence. Upon review of the body camera video, Attorney Matt Thompson raised an excessive use of force complaint against the arresting officer. All charges against the client were dismissed.
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All Charges Dismissed Battery
The Client was working as a part time substitute teacher to help generate income to help his sick child granddaughter. While working there were children acting up and he instructed the child to stay in his seat while the others went to recess. The child claimed that the client hit him and told administration. Attorney Thompson did a public records request to obtain reports from the Department of Children and Families and noticed serious discrepancies in the child’s story. Attorney Thompson was able to p
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No Charges Filed and Prevented Arrest Grand Theft
Client was caring for her special needs sister. While caring for her she received advice from bank personnel to place her sister’s Disability Checks into a bank account in the Client’s name to avoid other family members from stealing money. Once the family members discovered this they called the police to investigate the Client. Attorney Thompson put together documentation showing how the money was being spent and met with police to further explain the situation. The police determined that there was no
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Charges Reduced to Simple Assault Aggravated Assault with a Firearm
At the time these charges were filed, the State of Florida had a 3-year minimum mandatory for Aggravated Assault with a Firearm. Neighbors of the Client claimed that he pointed a shot gun at them and fired over their heads when they came onto his property. Police came out the following day and arrested the Client. Attorney Thompson found a CAD report where the police had investigated the crime the night of the incident and determined that there was insufficient evidence of the arrest. Attorney Thompson