Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 500 Grams or More of Cocaine (21 U.S.C. §§841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 846). Multi-count federal indictment in West Palm Beach before Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks.
The government charged the client on multiple counts with varying exposure. Count 1 triggered a ten-year mandatory minimum; the charged quantity gave prosecutors substantial leverage. The outcome would depend entirely on which counts survived to sentencing.
Counsel negotiated dismissal of the ten-year count in exchange for a plea to the five-year count, and secured government agreement not to oppose a low-end guideline sentence. The client was sentenced to exactly 60 months — the mandatory minimum floor — with the higher exposure count gone entirely.
Facing similar charges?