This crack user called the police on her dealer…for cheating her out of drug money! This woman, Suzanne Basham, called the police, claiming that her dealer sold her sugar instead of crack. She wanted the dealer arrested for the $40 fraud, so that she could get her money back. Police were unable to find any evidence that the man had sold crack cocaine, an allegation that he denied. They did however find a crack pipe on the woman, and she was charged for possession of the paraphernalia.
Florida law says it is illegal to possess or distribute controlled substances. The punishments for a drug crime in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale area are as follows:
- First degree misdemeanor: up to one year in prison and fines up to $1000
- First degree felony: up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000
- Drug trafficking: fines can be up to $500,000 and can include up to life in prison
- If someone was involved in trafficking drugs into the Miami and Fort Lauderdale area and knew someone could die, the death penalty could be imposed.
There are other consequences of a drug conviction in Florida such as disqualification for employment with the state or for federal aid.
If you have arrested or charged for a drug related crime, seek out a Miami criminal attorney as soon as possible to avoid wrongful conviction, or the maximum penalties.