Gloucester Township NJ Drug Kingpin Defense Lawyer
N.J.S.A. 2C:35-3 was enacted to target those who act as a drug kingpin or leader of a narcotics trafficking network. If someone is convicted of violating this law, they face a first-degree crime that can result in a life sentence. A drug kingpin offense clearly is not something for the inexperienced attorney nor for someone to deal without anything short of a skilled advocate. Our firm, the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, comprises one of the largest criminal defense teams in NJ and staff with years of experience defending complex trafficking and distribution cases like yours. If you have been charged with being a leader of a narcotics trafficking network in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-3, call our Camden County criminal firm at 856-662-8300 for a free consultation.
A leader of a Narcotics Trafficking Network Offense In Camden County
Under N.J.S.A. 2C:35-3, a person is a leader of a narcotics trafficking network if he conspires with two or more other persons in a scheme or course of conduct to unlawfully manufacture, distribute, dispense, bring into or transport in this State methamphetamine, lysergic acid diethylamide, phencyclidine, gamma hydroxybutyrate, flunitrazepam, or any controlled dangerous substance classified in Schedule I or II, or any controlled substance analog and if the person acts as a financier, organizer, supervisor, or manager of at least one of the persons with whom he conspires. Put more succinctly, a person would be guilty of this offense if they conspire with others to distribute or move controlled dangerous substances within New Jersey and they act in some sort of supervisory role over others within the conspiracy.
- Required Role Under 2C:35-3. To be convicted of this violation, the state must show that the defendant held one of the four roles prescribed by statute. “Financier” is a person who, with an intent to derive a profit, provides money or credit or another thing of value in order to purchase a controlled dangerous substance or an immediate precursor or otherwise to finance the operations of a drug trafficking network. “Organizer” is a person who arranges, devises or plans a drug trafficking network. A “supervisor” is one who oversees the operation of a drug trafficking network. A “manager” is one who directs the operations of a drug trafficking network. A conviction is not precluded by the fact that the defendant was subject to the supervision or management of another. More than one person may be convicted of being a leader of a particular narcotics trafficking network.
- For-Profit Enterprise. Assuming someone serves one of the four roles previously described, he/she must conspire to engage in a for-profit enterprise. However, it is not a defense to this charge that no profit was actually realized. The trier of fact, the statute says, may infer that a particular scheme or course of conduct was undertaken for profit from all of the attendant circumstances, including but not limited to the number of persons involved, the actor’s net worth, his expenditures in relation to his legitimate sources of income, the amount or purity of the specified CDS, or the amount of cash or currency involved.
- More Than One Leader. A conviction is not precluded by the fact that the defendant was subject to the supervision or management of another. More than one person may be convicted of being a leader of a particular narcotics trafficking network. Lastly, it is not a defense to the crime that the controlled dangerous substance was not meant for distribution in New Jersey, but merely was being transported or brought into the State for the purposes of distributing it elsewhere for profit.
Being the leader of a narcotics trafficking network is a crime of the first degree and upon conviction, the person shall be sentenced to an ordinary term of life imprisonment during which the person must serve 25 years before being eligible for parole. The court may also impose a fine not to exceed $750,000 or five times the street value of the controlled dangerous substance, whichever is greater. Lastly, this offense may not merge with or preclude prosecution for other drug-related offenses.
Camden Leader of a Narcotics Trafficking Network Attorneys
A drug kingpin charge is one of the most serious offenses contained in the New Jersey Criminal Code. This is one of the very rare offenses that can result in life in prison. If you were arrested anywhere in Camden County, including Winslow, the City of Camden, Voorhees, and Cherry Hill, you need to be represented by an attorney experienced in defending complex CDS distribution cases. Our team at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall has several former prosecutors on staff and is a firm that is well equipped to defend your drug kingpin offense. Call us anytime 24/7 at 856-662-8300 for a free consultation.
