Drug Trafficking Attorney in Newport Beach

Choose Newport Beach’s Strategic & Trusted Criminal Defense Team

If you are seeking a drug trafficking attorney in Newport Beach, selecting the right legal advocate matters more than ever. When you’re up against serious charges, proactive and strategic legal representation can make a meaningful difference. 

At Corrigan Welbourn Stokke, APLC, our team’s foundation as former Orange County prosecutors gives us unique insight into how these cases are approached and prosecuted locally. We prioritize personalized collaboration—your case will always be handled by seasoned partners rather than passed to junior staff. 

Serving Newport Beach and the greater Orange County area, we offer consistent guidance and supportive service, ensuring you’re never left to manage this challenging process on your own.

Facing a drug trafficking charge? We are former prosecutors who offer free consultations and are available 24/7. Contact a drug trafficking attorney in Newport Beach today by calling (949) 251-0330 or filling out this online form.

Understanding Drug Trafficking Laws in California

In California, the laws governing drug crimes are primarily found in the California Health and Safety Code. The crime of drug trafficking is a felony that is treated with the utmost seriousness. 

The law is broad and makes it illegal to:

• Sell, furnish, administer, give away, or transport a controlled substance (Health and Safety Code § 11352).
• Possess a controlled substance with the intent to sell or distribute it (Health and Safety Code § 11351).

It is important to understand that in California, giving drugs to someone else is considered "distributing" them, even if no money is exchanged. This is a crucial detail that often catches people off guard. The prosecution's case often hinges on proving a person's intent to sell or distribute, which a knowledgeable drug trafficking attorney in Newport Beach can challenge.

Key Elements the Prosecution Must Prove

To secure a conviction for a drug trafficking offense, the prosecution must prove several key elements beyond a reasonable doubt:

• Unlawful Action: The state must prove that you unlawfully manufactured, distributed, or possessed with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
• Knowledge: The state must prove that you knowingly possessed, transported, or otherwise engaged with a controlled substance. This means they must demonstrate you were aware of the substance's existence and its illicit nature.
• Intent to Deliver or Sell: This is the most crucial element in a distribution or trafficking case. The prosecution must prove that you had the specific intent to deliver or sell the drugs, as opposed to possessing them for personal use. This intent is often inferred from the quantity of the drug, the presence of drug paraphernalia (scales, baggies), or other circumstantial evidence.
• Usable Amount: If you are accused of transporting a controlled substance, the state must also prove that the drug was in a "usable amount."

The prosecution's case often relies on the testimony of law enforcement, confidential informants, and forensic experts. As a seasoned Newport Beach drug trafficking lawyer, we will challenge the government's evidence at every turn, scrutinizing the methods used to collect and analyze the evidence and questioning the credibility of their witnesses.

Penalties and Collateral Consequences of a Drug Trafficking Conviction in California

California law categorizes drug trafficking offenses as felonies, with the classification and penalties dependent on the type and quantity of the drug involved. The penalties escalate with the amount of the controlled substance. A conviction for a drug trafficking offense can also be enhanced if the crime was committed in a drug-free zone, such as near a school, or if it involved a minor. 

A skilled drug trafficking attorney in Newport Beach will work to prevent any enhancement of your charges and will fight for a resolution that minimizes the impact on your life.

The direct legal penalties for a drug trafficking conviction in California are steep and often include:

• Incarceration: State prison time, ranging from a few years for a felony to decades for a more serious offense with enhancements.
• Fines: Fines can be substantial, often reaching into the thousands or tens of thousands of dollars.
• Probation and Supervised Release: A conviction will likely be followed by a period of supervised probation, during which you must adhere to strict conditions. A violation of these terms can lead to re-incarceration.
• Mandatory Drug Treatment: The court may order you to attend various programs, such as drug and alcohol counseling.

Collateral Consequences

A criminal record for a drug offense can follow you for the rest of your life, making it incredibly difficult to find employment, obtain professional licenses, or secure housing. Many employers and professional licensing boards have zero-tolerance policies for these convictions, and landlords often deny rental applications to those with a criminal record.

Additionally, a felony conviction will result in a permanent ban on owning or possessing a firearm. For non-citizens, a conviction can have severe immigration consequences, including deportation. The social stigma attached to these crimes can also damage your reputation and personal relationships.

Building a Strategic Defense Against Drug Trafficking Charges

Every case is unique, and we develop a defense strategy tailored to your specific circumstances. 

As a seasoned drug trafficking attorney in Newport Beach, we will leverage every possible defense, including:

• Constitutional Violations: We will challenge any violation of your Fourth Amendment rights (unlawful search and seizure), Fifth Amendment rights (right to remain silent), or Sixth Amendment rights (right to an attorney). If evidence was obtained illegally, it may be suppressed, which can significantly weaken the prosecution's case.
• Lack of Knowledge or Intent: The prosecution must prove you had the knowledge and intent to commit the crime. We can argue that you were unaware of the drugs' presence or that you had no intention of distributing them.
• Challenging the Evidence: We can argue that the prosecution has not met its burden of proving every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. This may include challenging the credibility of witnesses or the reliability of the forensic evidence.
• Entrapment: In cases involving confidential informants or sting operations, we can argue that law enforcement officers induced you to commit a crime that you otherwise would not have committed.

Who We Are: Former Prosecutors Defending Your Future in Newport Beach

Our legal team brings over 100 years of combined experience defending clients throughout Orange County. Each partner at Corrigan Welbourn Stokke, APLC is a former prosecutor, giving us valuable perspective on both sides of the courtroom. This rare background helps us analyze charges from every angle, anticipate prosecution strategies, and develop thorough, dynamic defenses. 

As a smaller firm, we deliver highly responsive service and ensure clients always work directly with our senior attorneys—building trust through transparency, focus, and open communication.

Our experience inside Orange County’s justice system means we know the processes, personnel, and priorities influencing local drug trafficking allegations. We routinely interact with Newport Beach law enforcement agencies and prosecutors, drawing on these relationships to understand the strengths and weaknesses in the government’s case.

Our firm remains committed to clear communication and rigorous advocacy throughout each phase of your matter.

• In-Depth Legal Knowledge: Our familiarity with Newport Beach law enforcement agencies—including the Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD) and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department—allows us to anticipate local prosecutorial approaches and respond strategically to agency procedures.
• Personalized Strategy: Every client receives an individualized plan, developed through rigorous in-house collaboration so that every angle is covered and no detail is missed.
• Consistent Communication: We provide frequent updates, answer questions promptly, and make ourselves available 24/7 for urgent matters and same-day appointments, ensuring your peace of mind at every step.

Contact Your Newport Beach Drug Trafficking Defense Team Today

If you or a loved one needs a drug trafficking attorney in Newport Beach, you deserve a legal team committed to your defense from the very first call. At Corrigan Welbourn Stokke, APLC, we review your case with attorneys who have decades of criminal law experience and proven insight into local courts, judges, and procedures. 

Call (949) 251-0330 or reach out online now for a confidential, no-obligation case review—our firm is available 24/7 to provide you with trusted counsel, immediate answers, and support tailored to your unique situation.