Orlando Drug Crimes Defense Attorney
A drug charge can reach your job, your housing, your financial aid, and your license — long after the case is over.
If you are facing drug charges of any kind, it is in your best interest to retain an Orlando drug crime attorney quickly. Speaking with a lawyer early can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case. We identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s case — how evidence was handled, whether there was probable cause, whether your rights were violated — and build the defense from there.
- Drug cases tried to verdict, not just negotiated
- Your case handled personally by Jose E. Lopez
- Free, confidential consultation — in English or Spanish
Talk to a Drug Defense Lawyer Today
Tell us what happened. Your consultation is free and confidential.
Prefer to talk now? Call 407.479.7009. Submitting this form does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Practicing in Florida since 2008
Former Ninth Judicial Circuit public defender
Se habla español — fully bilingual representation
Free consultations — call before your first court date
What You Do in the Next Few Days Matters
Most drug cases do not start with an investigation. They start with a traffic stop, a knock at the door, or a search someone agreed to without understanding they could say no.
That is exactly why the early details matter so much. Where you were, what was said, who else was present, what officers claimed to see before they searched — those facts decide whether the state’s evidence holds up. They are also the facts that get lost fastest.
Whether you have already been arrested or have only been questioned by police, we are here to help. We understand how serious the situation is and work to protect you against a wrongful conviction.
Protect Yourself Right Now
Remain calm and exercise your rights. Being cooperative and being silent are not opposites — you can be polite and still decline to answer.
Do not make statements to law enforcement until you have spoken with an attorney, and say clearly that you want a lawyer.
Do not consent to further searches. If a search already happened, write down exactly how it unfolded while it is fresh.
Do not discuss the case over the phone from jail, over text, or on social media. Those channels are not private.
Do write down everything you remember — the time, the location, who was there, and what was said before the search began.
Types of Drug Charges in Florida
Drug crimes in Florida range from minor possession charges to serious felonies involving distribution and trafficking. Each type demands a different legal approach, because the consequences vary significantly.
Drug Possession
Whether a charge is filed as a misdemeanor or a felony turns on the substance, the amount, and your record. Even a small quantity can follow you for years.
Possession With Intent to Sell
The state often infers intent from packaging, cash, or a scale rather than from any actual sale. Inference is not proof, and it can be challenged.
Sale & Distribution
These cases frequently rest on a confidential informant or a controlled buy — both of which come with credibility and procedure problems worth pressing.
Drug Trafficking
Trafficking is driven by weight thresholds and carries mandatory minimum exposure. The quantity attributed to you is itself a contestable issue.
Manufacturing & Cultivation
Allegations built on equipment, grow materials, or utility records rather than on anyone observing production.
Charges After a Traffic Stop
A great many drug cases begin with a routine stop. If the stop or the search was not lawful, what officers found may not be usable against you.
Florida’s Penalties for Drug Charges
Florida imposes harsh penalties on those convicted of drug crimes. Whether a charge is a misdemeanor or a felony depends on the type of drug involved, the quantity involved, and whether you have any prior convictions.
The consequences also extend well past sentencing. A conviction can affect future employment, housing opportunities, financial aid for education, professional licenses, and personal relationships. A significant part of our work is aimed at limiting those downstream effects, not only the sentence itself.
- First-degree misdemeanorUp to one year in jail, mandatory treatment, and up to one year of home detention.
- Third-degree felonyUp to five years in jail.
- First-degree felonyUp to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
- Trafficking casesCan carry mandatory minimum sentences ranging from three to 25 years.
Penalty ranges are general and depend entirely on the facts of your case. This is information, not legal advice.
Where Drug Cases Actually Fall Apart
A charge is an accusation, not a conclusion. We scrutinize every aspect of the case against you — the stop, the search, the seizure, the testing, and the people the state is relying on.
The search was unlawful
Consent that was never freely given, a stop without a valid reason, a search that went beyond its scope. When the search fails, the evidence that came from it can be challenged.
They were not your drugs
Substances found in a shared car, a shared apartment, or someone else’s bag are not automatically yours. Proximity is not possession, and the state has to bridge that gap.
There was no probable cause
We examine the stated basis for the stop, the detention, and the arrest against body-camera footage and the officer’s own reports.
The evidence was mishandled
Chain of custody gaps, weighing and packaging problems, and lab testing issues all go directly to whether the state can prove what it says it seized.
The informant is not credible
Many sale and distribution cases depend on someone working off their own charges. That motive is legitimate cross-examination material.
Your statements should not come in
If you were questioned in custody without proper warnings, or kept talking after asking for a lawyer, what you said may be challenged.
Every case is different. The strategies described here are general and do not constitute legal advice or a prediction about any particular case.
Drug Cases Taken to Verdict
Not every case goes to trial, and not every case should. But a prosecutor’s calculation changes when the defense is prepared to try the case.
Not Guilty
Possession of Cannabis with Intent to Sell
No culpable
Posesión de sustancias controladas con intención de venta
Every case is different and results depend on their specific circumstances. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
Getting Help Takes One Phone Call
Tell us what happened
Call or send the form. You speak with the firm directly — in English or Spanish — and nothing you share is repeated outside of it.
We pressure-test the case
We walk through the stop, the search, what was seized, and your court date, and identify where the state’s case is most vulnerable.
You decide what’s next
You will know the fee, the plan, and the timeline before committing to anything. If we are not the right fit, we will say so.
What People Say After Working With Jose
I am very satisfied with the service I received from my attorney. Mr Jose E. Lopez went above and beyond to make sure I understood the case and all my options. Now I can see why there are so many positive testimonials about this law firm. I highly recommend this law firm.— Luis R.
Attorney Jose Lopez was very professional and worked hard to achieve the results that were needed to win our case. If you want an attorney that will go the extra mile for you to get the job done right I highly recommend Attorney Jose Lopez.— Doc M.
I have used Mr.Lopez in the past and he was great. He is very knowledgeable, professional and down to earth. What I like best was that he broke everything down to me so I can better understand the process. Whenever I had any questions or concerns he called me right back. He made me feel secure that he had my best interest at heart. I will definitively recommend him to everyone I know!— Lisa C.
Compassionate, committed to the case. 24/7 available. Will go the extra mile. Knowledgeable and professional. Make you feel secure. Fees reasonable…— Luis Martinez
Testimonials reflect the experience of individual clients and are not a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Jose E. Lopez, Founding Attorney
Mr. Lopez began his career as a public defender for the Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida, where he handled thousands of cases ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies.
Over the course of his career he has taken drug cases to trial, including charges of possession of cannabis with intent to sell, sale and delivery of cocaine, and trafficking in cocaine and controlled substances. He founded this firm to give clients the one-on-one attention they deserve during one of the hardest moments of their lives — his clients work with him and no one else.
- Admitted to practice in the State of Florida in 2008
- Admitted in the U.S. District Court for the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida
- Juris Doctor, Stetson University College of Law
- B.A., University of Central Florida
- Born in Puerto Rico; raised in Central Florida; fluent in Spanish
Based in Downtown Orlando
Searching for a drug defense attorney near you usually means one thing: you want someone who knows the courthouse your case is actually going to, and who you can reach without a two-hour drive.
Our office sits in downtown Orlando, a short drive from the Orange County Courthouse. Attorney Lopez was raised in Central Florida and has called Orlando home for most of his life — and he began his career defending cases in the Ninth Judicial Circuit.
Communities We Serve
- Orlando
- Winter Park
- Kissimmee
- Apopka
- Ocoee
- Winter Garden
- Dr. Phillips
- Lake Nona
- Orange County
- Osceola County
Our Orlando Office
618 E South St. #500, Orlando, FL 32801
¿Lo arrestaron por cargos de drogas en Orlando?
Un cargo por drogas puede afectar su empleo, su vivienda, su ayuda financiera para estudios y sus licencias profesionales. El abogado Jose E. Lopez nació en Puerto Rico y habla español con fluidez. Usted puede recibir asesoría y representación completamente en español.
La consulta inicial es gratuita y confidencial.
Drug Crime Defense FAQs
Remain calm and exercise your rights. Do not make statements to law enforcement until you have spoken with an attorney, and request a lawyer clearly. A swift response can sometimes mean the difference between a quick resolution and a drawn-out legal battle, so make the call before your first court date rather than after it.
Misdemeanor and felony drug charges differ primarily in severity and potential penalties. Misdemeanors typically involve lower quantities and carry lighter consequences such as short jail time, fines, or probation. Felonies involve larger quantities or more serious offenses and can lead to extensive jail time and substantial fines. The distinction significantly changes the legal strategy, which is why it matters to have the charge assessed early.
Charges are filed as misdemeanors or felonies depending on the type of drug, the quantity involved, and whether you have prior convictions. A first-degree misdemeanor can carry up to one year in jail, mandatory treatment, and up to one year of home detention. A third-degree felony can carry up to five years. A first-degree felony can carry up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Trafficking cases can carry mandatory minimums ranging from three to 25 years.
In some cases, yes. Much depends on how the evidence was obtained and handled, whether there was probable cause, and whether your constitutional rights were respected. Where dismissal is not realistic, reduced charges or alternative sentencing may be. No attorney can promise a particular result, and any lawyer who does should give you pause.
The consequences reach well past the courtroom. A conviction can affect employment, housing, financial aid for education, and professional licenses, and it can strain personal relationships and standing in the community. Much of our work is aimed at limiting those collateral consequences, not just the sentence.
It is possible under certain conditions, such as where charges were dismissed or you were acquitted. The process is detailed and eligibility varies case by case. We can review your situation and tell you honestly whether expungement is available to you.
Ask who will actually handle your file day to day, how much of the lawyer’s practice is criminal defense, whether they have tried drug cases to verdict rather than only negotiated them, and how they will keep you informed between court dates. At this firm, Jose E. Lopez handles his clients’ cases personally — his clients work with him and no one else.
Yes. The firm is based in downtown Orlando and represents people arrested throughout the surrounding Central Florida communities. If you are unsure whether your case is one we handle, call and ask — it takes a few minutes to find out.
The consultation is free. Fees depend on the charge, the court, and how far the case is likely to go, and they are discussed openly before you decide anything. You will not be asked to commit to representation on the first call.
Yes. Attorney Jose E. Lopez was born in Puerto Rico and is fluent in Spanish. You can be consulted, represented, and kept informed entirely in Spanish.
Call Our Orlando Drug Crime Lawyer
The sooner legal representation is involved in your case, the better. Whether you have already been arrested or have only been questioned by police, we are here to help.
One call costs you nothing and tells you where you actually stand.
Law Offices of Jose E. Lopez, P.A.
618 E South St. #500, Orlando, FL 32801
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Attorney Advertising. This page is an advertisement for legal services by the Law Offices of Jose E. Lopez, P.A., 618 E South St. #500, Orlando, FL 32801. Jose E. Lopez is responsible for its content.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own facts. No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
Testimonial disclaimer. Client testimonials appearing on this page reflect the individual experiences of those clients and are not a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of any other legal matter.
The information on this page is general in nature, is not legal advice, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney about your specific situation. Penalty ranges described here are general and depend on the facts of an individual case. Contacting the firm by phone or through a form on this page does not create an attorney-client relationship, and information sent before such a relationship is established may not be treated as confidential.
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