Drug Crimes

Faced with Drug Charges in Los Angeles? Speak with an Experienced Defense Attorney

Proven defense strategies against narcotics allegations, from simple possession to complex distribution and trafficking charges.

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Los Angeles
Drug Crime Attorney

If you have been charged with a drug crime in Los Angeles, the consequences are serious and immediate — jail or prison time, a permanent criminal record, loss of your professional license, and immigration consequences that cannot be undone. California prosecutors pursue drug cases aggressively, and the window to build an effective defense closes fast. At The Law Offices of Arash Hashemi, our criminal defense attorney has spent over 20 years defending clients against every category of drug charge — from simple possession to federal narcotics prosecutions. Contact our office today for a free, confidential consultation with a criminal defense attorney who will fight for you from day one.

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Van Nuys criminal lawyer Arash Hashemi providing defense for felony and misdemeanor charges.

Charged with a Drug Crime in Los Angeles — Here Is What You Need to Know Right Now

A drug arrest in Los Angeles sets a legal process in motion that moves quickly. What you do and what you do not do in the hours and days immediately following your arrest will directly affect the outcome of your case. Before you speak to law enforcement, before you appear in court, and before you make any decisions about your defense, you need an experienced drug crime lawyer in your corner.

Here is what every person charged with a drug crime in Los Angeles needs to understand from the start:

  • You have the right to remain silent — exercise it immediately. Do not attempt to explain, minimize, or provide context to arresting officers. Anything you say will be used against you.
  • The charge filed against you is not necessarily the charge that will stick. Drug charges are frequently overcharged at arrest. An experienced drug crime lawyer can challenge the basis for the charge and pursue reductions from the earliest stage of the case.
  • California offers diversion programs for certain drug offenses that can result in dismissal without a conviction — but eligibility depends on the specific charge, your prior record, and how quickly you act.
  • The 10-day DMV deadline that applies in DUI cases does not apply to drug charges — but evidence is perishable. Surveillance footage gets overwritten, witnesses’ memories fade, and legal deadlines for filing motions are fixed. Every day without an attorney is a day your defense is not being built.

Drug Crime Charges We Defend in Los Angeles

Drug Possession (Health & Safety Code § 11350 / § 11377)

Simple possession of a controlled substance — including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, fentanyl, MDMA, and prescription drugs without a valid prescription — is a misdemeanor for most first-time offenders under Proposition 47. However, aggravating circumstances, prior convictions, or the specific substance involved can change that calculus quickly. Our firm explores every diversion and dismissal option for possession cases before any other resolution is considered.

Possession with Intent to Sell (Health & Safety Code § 11351 / § 11378)

Prosecutors frequently upgrade simple possession arrests to possession with intent to sell based on circumstantial evidence — quantity, packaging materials, scales, large amounts of cash, or text messages on your phone. These are felony charges carrying significant state prison exposure. Our drug crime lawyer challenges every element of the intent-to-sell allegation, and regularly achieves reductions to simple possession or outright dismissal.

Drug Sales and Transportation (Health & Safety Code § 11352 / § 11379)

Drug sales and transportation charges carry some of the harshest penalties in California criminal law, with base sentences of 3 to 9 years in state prison depending on the substance. When federal agencies such as the DEA or FBI are involved, charges may be filed in federal court where mandatory minimum sentences apply. Our firm has experience defending drug sales and transportation charges at both the state and federal level.

Drug Manufacturing (Health & Safety Code § 11379.6)

Manufacturing or producing a controlled substance — including operating or assisting with a methamphetamine lab, fentanyl synthesis operation, or illicit extraction lab — is a felony carrying 3, 5, or 7 years in state prison with substantial enhancements. Our firm examines every aspect of how the alleged manufacturing operation was discovered, how search warrants were obtained, and whether the prosecution’s chemical evidence withstands scrutiny.

Drug Trafficking and Federal Narcotics Charges

Large-scale drug trafficking investigations in Los Angeles frequently involve multiple agencies and result in federal charges where mandatory minimum sentences of 5 to 40 years apply depending on the substance and quantity. Our drug crime lawyer defends clients in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, bringing the same depth of preparation and courtroom experience to federal cases that we bring to every state prosecution.

Prescription Drug Fraud (Health & Safety Code § 11173)

Obtaining prescription medications through fraudulent prescriptions, doctor shopping, or forged documents is a criminal offense that California prosecutors pursue seriously — particularly in the context of the opioid crisis. These charges can result in felony convictions that affect professional licenses, healthcare careers, and permanent records. Our firm defends prescription fraud allegations with thorough investigation of the medical records and prescribing history at issue.

Being Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance (Health & Safety Code § 11550)

Being under the influence of a controlled substance is a misdemeanor, but a conviction still creates a permanent criminal record, triggers probation, and mandates drug counseling. Our firm pursues diversion and dismissal for these cases wherever eligibility exists, with keeping a conviction off your record as the primary objective.

Drug Crime Penalties in California

Drug crime penalties in California depend on the specific charge, the controlled substance involved, the quantity, and the defendant’s prior criminal history. The stakes range from misdemeanor probation to decades in federal prison — and understanding the full scope of what you face is essential when building your defense.

Simple Possession (Misdemeanor — Post-Prop 47):

  • Up to 1 year in Los Angeles County Jail
  • Fines and court assessments
  • Probation and mandatory drug counseling
  • Potential eligibility for diversion and dismissal

Possession with Intent to Sell (Felony):

  • 2, 3, or 4 years in California state prison depending on substance
  • Fines up to $20,000
  • Felony probation with strict conditions
  • Potential federal charges if interstate activity involved

Drug Sales and Transportation (Felony):

  • 3 to 9 years in state prison depending on substance and quantity
  • Substantial fines and asset forfeiture
  • Sentence enhancements for prior convictions

Drug Manufacturing (Felony):

  • 3, 5, or 7 years in state prison
  • Fines up to $50,000
  • Enhancements for minors present, proximity to schools, or injuries caused

Federal Drug Trafficking (Felony — Federal Court):

  • Mandatory minimum sentences of 5 to 40 years
  • Life imprisonment for repeat offenders or cases involving death or serious injury
  • Mandatory asset forfeiture and substantial fines

Beyond incarceration and fines, a drug conviction triggers collateral consequences — loss of professional licenses, immigration consequences, loss of federal student aid, and a permanent record that affects employment and housing for years to come. Our drug crime lawyer fights every consequence from day one.

Why You Need to Contact a Los Angeles Drug Crime Lawyer Immediately

Drug cases in Los Angeles have hard deadlines that do not move. The decisions made in the earliest days of your case — what evidence gets preserved, what motions get filed, and whether you qualify for diversion — determine the range of outcomes available to you. Here is why waiting is never the right choice:

  • Evidence Disappears Fast — Surveillance footage is typically overwritten within 30 to 72 hours. Witness accounts become less reliable with time. Physical evidence must be properly documented and preserved before it is lost. Our firm moves immediately to secure and analyze all available evidence from the moment you retain us.
  • Charges Can Be Challenged Before They Are Formally Filed — In many cases, our drug crime lawyer contacts the prosecuting agency before charges are formally filed, presents exculpatory evidence, and challenges the basis for the arrest. This early intervention frequently results in reduced charges or no charges at all.
  • Diversion Eligibility Has Deadlines — California’s drug diversion programs — including Proposition 36 and PC 1000 — have eligibility requirements and procedural deadlines. Missing these windows can foreclose options that would otherwise have kept a conviction off your record entirely.
  • Bail and Detention Conditions Are Set Early — The conditions of your release, including any drug testing or monitoring requirements, are determined at arraignment. Having an attorney at this stage — or before — directly affects your freedom while your case is pending.
  • Your Statements Can Be Used Against You — Law enforcement will attempt to question you. Every statement you make without an attorney present is a potential piece of evidence for the prosecution. Our firm advises every client on exactly what to say and what not to say from the very first contact.

Legal Defenses Against Drug Crime Charges in Los Angeles

A drug charge is not a conviction. Our drug crime lawyer analyzes every case individually and builds a defense strategy targeting the specific weaknesses in the prosecution’s evidence.

Unlawful Search and Seizure 

The most powerful defense in the majority of drug cases. If law enforcement searched your home, vehicle, or person without a valid warrant, without your consent, or without a recognized exception to the warrant requirement, the evidence obtained may be suppressed entirely. A successful suppression motion frequently ends a drug prosecution before it reaches trial. Our firm scrutinizes the basis for every search in every case we handle.

Lack of Knowing Possession

Every drug possession offense requires proof that the defendant knew the substance was present and knew it was a controlled substance. When drugs are found in a shared vehicle, a common area, or a location accessible to multiple people, the element of knowing possession is often the weakest link in the prosecution’s case. Our firm builds these arguments carefully and presents them at every available opportunity.

Challenging Intent to Sell

When prosecutors charge possession with intent to sell rather than simple possession, they must prove the intent element beyond a reasonable doubt. The circumstantial evidence they rely on — quantity, packaging, scales, cash — can frequently be explained innocently. Our drug crime lawyer contests intent allegations aggressively, often achieving reductions to simple possession that dramatically change the sentencing exposure and diversion eligibility of the case.

Entrapment

If an undercover officer or government informant induced you to commit a drug offense you would not have otherwise committed, an entrapment defense may be available. Our firm investigates the role of undercover operations and confidential informants in every case to determine whether government overreach crossed the legal line into entrapment.

Chain of Custody and Lab Analysis Challenges

Drug evidence must be properly collected, stored, and analyzed to be admissible. Breaks in the chain of custody, contamination, mislabeling, or deficiencies in laboratory procedures can all undermine the reliability of the prosecution’s forensic evidence. Our firm works with independent forensic toxicologists and drug analysts to challenge lab results where grounds exist.

Diversion and Alternative Sentencing

For eligible clients, California’s drug diversion programs — Proposition 36, PC 1000, and drug court — offer the possibility of resolving charges without a permanent criminal conviction. Successful completion results in dismissal. Our drug crime lawyer evaluates every client’s eligibility and advocates strongly for these outcomes, understanding that keeping a drug conviction off your record is often the most important result we can achieve.

Why Clients Charged with Drug Crimes in Los Angeles Choose our firm

At The Law Offices of Arash Hashemi, our criminal defense attorney is well-versed in defending against every category of drug charge in Los Angeles. We understand how these cases are built, how to expose unlawful searches, challenge weak evidence, and hold prosecutors accountable when they overreach.

  • Over 20 Years of Criminal Defense Experience: Two decades handling drug cases at every level — from misdemeanor possession to complex federal narcotics prosecutions in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
  • Direct Attorney Access: Attorney Hashemi handles your case personally from the first call through the final resolution. You will never be passed to a junior associate or left without answers.
  • Former Insight into Prosecution Strategy: Attorney Hashemi’s deep familiarity with how Los Angeles prosecutors build drug cases gives clients a strategic advantage from the earliest stage of the defense.
  • State and Federal Court Coverage: Our firm defends drug charges in both California state court and federal court — complete coverage regardless of where your case is prosecuted.
  • Early Intervention That Produces Results: Our firm engages the prosecuting agency before charges are formally filed, presenting exculpatory evidence and negotiating from a position of strength — frequently achieving diversion, charge reductions, or dismissal at the earliest possible stage.
  • Trial-Ready from Day One: Every case is prepared as if it will go to trial. That preparation is what creates leverage with prosecutors and produces better outcomes at every stage of the process.

Contact a Los Angeles Drug Crime Lawyer Today

If you have been charged with a drug crime in Los Angeles, do not wait. The prosecution is already building its case, and every day without an experienced drug crime lawyer working on your defense is a day you cannot get back. A drug conviction, even a misdemeanor can cost you your career, your professional license, and your future.

At The Law Offices of Arash Hashemi, we have spent over 20 years defending Los Angeles residents against drug charges at every level. Call our firm immediately or schedule a confidential consultation with Attorney Hashemi using our secure online system. We will review the facts of your case, explain your options, and build a defense strategy focused on protecting your record and your future.

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We are conveniently located in the Westside Towers, serving clients charged with drug crimes across Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, the San Fernando Valley, Compton, Long Beach, Pasadena, and all surrounding communities. Contact our drug crime lawyer today — your defense starts the moment you call.