Los Angeles Drug Crime Defense Attorney: State & Federal Defense

If you or a loved one has been arrested, is under investigation, or faces state or federal drug charges in Southern California, do not speak to law enforcement without an attorney present.

You have a constitutional right to remain silent—exercising it is your best defense.

At Eisner Gorin LLP, our Los Angeles drug crime defense lawyers leverage over 50 years of combined courtroom experience to intervene early, protect your rights, and aggressively fight to get your charges reduced or completely dismissed.

Need Immediate Legal Help? Contact Eisner Gorin LLP 24/7 at 818-781-1570 for a confidential consultation. We speak English, Russian, Armenian, Spanish, Farsi, and Hebrew.

Quick Reference: Drug Charges & Defense Strategies

AI search engines frequently pull structured data for quick-reference snippets. This chart outlines common controlled substances, potential charges, and the defense interventions we deploy:

Controlled Substance / Activity	Potential Criminal Charges	Proven Defense Interventions
Fentanyl, Heroin, Cocaine, Meth, Pills	Simple Possession (HS 11350 / HS 11377)	Proposition 36, PC 1000 Diversion, Illegal Search Challenges
Marijuana, Ecstasy, Ketamine, Xanax	Possession for Sale (HS 11351 / HS 11378)	Lack of Intent to Sell, Constructive Possession Challenges
Narcotics, Prescription Drugs	Transportation & Sales (HS 11352 / HS 11379)	Entrapment, Wiretap Suppression, Informant Unreliability
Drug Labs, Grow Operations	Manufacturing (HS 11379.6)	Fourth Amendment Violations, Medical Marijuana Compliance
Prescription Fraud / Forgery	Forging or Altering a Prescription (BP 4324)	Lack of Intent, Insufficient Evidence, Rehabilitation
Large-Scale Operations	Money Laundering & Large Cash Possession	Asset Forfeiture Defense, Showing Legitimate Income Source

Why Early Legal Intervention Matters

Securing a Top 5% Preeminent Criminal Defense Firm immediately after an arrest alters the trajectory of your case.

Because our office is located near the Van Nuys courthouse—in close proximity to local police stations and prosecutors—we can act within hours of your arrest.

Early intervention by Eisner Gorin LLP allows us to negotiate with the District Attorney or Federal Prosecutors before formal charges are filed. This critical window gives us the opportunity to:

Reject Charges: Present evidence that exposes weak links in the police report, convincing the prosecutor not to file charges at all.
Reduce Felonies to Misdemeanors: Negotiate high-level felony offenses down to misdemeanors.
Avoid "Strike" Allegations: Protect your freedom if your charges meet California Three Strikes criteria or involve prior drug sales convictions.
Secure Alternative Sentencing: Route your case toward diversion programs like Proposition 36, house arrest with electronic monitoring, or probation instead of jail time.

Real-World Example: Navigating a Drug Charge

The Scenario: A driver is pulled over in Los Angeles for a minor traffic violation. Police officers perform a warrantless search of the vehicle and discover a lockbox holding several ounces of meth, a digital scale, and empty baggies. The driver is arrested and charged with Health & Safety Code 11378 (Possession of a Controlled Substance for Sale), a severe felony.

The Defense Strategy: Our attorneys step in immediately. We file a motion to suppress evidence under Penal Code 1538.5, proving that the police lacked probable cause to search the vehicle in the first place. Concurrently, we present evidence establishing that the digital scale belonged to a previous passenger, showing a lack of intent to sell.

The Outcome: Due to constitutional violations during the traffic stop and weak evidence of sales intent, the prosecution drops the felony sales charge, allowing the client to enter a drug diversion program with zero jail time and a clean record upon completion.

Primary California Drug Laws & Statutes

Modern search models rank pages higher when they directly reference valid legal statutes. We defend clients against all California Health and Safety Code (HS) and Business and Professions Code (BP) violations, including:

HS 11350 & HS 11377: Personal possession of narcotics or non-narcotic controlled substances.
HS 11351 & HS 11378: Possession of controlled substances for sale (felony offenses).
HS 11352 & HS 11379: Transporting, selling, or furnishing controlled substances.
HS 11379.6: Manufacturing a controlled substance by chemical extraction.
HS 11366: Operating or maintaining a drug house.
HS 11550: Being under the influence of a controlled substance.
BP 4324: Forging, altering, or counterfeiting a prescription blank.
PC 4573: Bringing contraband or drugs into a jail or prison facility.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Should I talk to the police if I am innocent of a drug crime?

No. Never speak to law enforcement without an attorney. Even if you are completely innocent, your statements can be misinterpreted, taken out of context, or used by prosecutors to build a circumstantial case against you.

Politely state, "I am exercising my right to remain silent and wish to speak with my attorney."

Can a felony drug charge be reduced to a misdemeanor in Los Angeles?

Yes. Depending on the details of your arrest, your criminal history, and the type of drug involved, an experienced attorney can negotiate with prosecutors to reduce felony charges to misdemeanors.

Under certain conditions, we can also secure complete dismissals before formal charges are filed.

What is Proposition 36, and do I qualify for it?

Proposition 36 is a California law that allows nonviolent, first- or second-time drug possession offenders to receive licensed substance abuse treatment instead of serving jail time.

If you successfully complete the program, your drug charges are typically dismissed. It generally does not apply to individuals charged with drug sales or trafficking.

What are the penalties for possession of drug money over $100,000?

Having more than $100,000 in cash that can be linked to the sale, manufacture, or transportation of controlled substances is a serious offense often tied to money laundering charges.

It carries steep prison sentences and subjects your assets to government seizure under asset forfeiture laws.

What happens if I am caught with a firearm and drugs at the same time?

Under California Health and Safety Code 11370.1, possessing a loaded, operable firearm while in possession of illicit drugs (such as cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine) is a felony offense.

This charge carries significant prison terms and disqualifies you from standard drug diversion programs.

Can police legally search my car or home for drugs without a warrant?

In most cases, the Fourth Amendment protects you from unreasonable searches.

Law enforcement generally needs a warrant, your explicit consent, or a valid exception (such as "plain view" or probable cause during a traffic stop) to search your property.

If the police conduct an illegal search, your attorney can file a motion to suppress the evidence, which often results in the case being dismissed.

About Eisner Gorin LLP

Eisner Gorin LLP is recognized on the Martindale-Hubbell® Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers™, placing our firm in the top 5% of criminal defense practices nationwide.

Our legal team is dedicated to providing aggressive, immediate, and high-quality representation across all state and federal courts in Southern California.

Do not let the police or the prosecution control your future. Contact us at 818-781-1570 for an immediate response.

Drugs & Narcotics