Drug Trafficking

Drug Trafficking Lawyer in Cleveland

Former Public Defender. 90% Success Rate. Built for Your Defense.

A drug trafficking charge carries serious consequences under Ohio law, and the evidence behind the charge matters enormously. At Mastandrea Law, LLC, we examine how that evidence was gathered, tested, and weighed before anything else. Rod Mastandrea leads our criminal defense practice, and since 2009 our firm has represented over 5,000 clients across Northeast Ohio. We’re a boutique practice, which means we limit caseloads and work with every client directly rather than passing you through a system.

Facing a drug trafficking charge in Cleveland? Call us now at (216) 306-5105 to schedule your free consultation. We’re available 24/7, including nights and weekends.

Cleveland Courtroom Experience That Matters in a Trafficking Case

Rod Mastandrea spent over 14 years as a staff attorney in the Cuyahoga County Public Defender’s Office before founding Mastandrea Law, LLC. He knows how local prosecutors build these cases and where they can be challenged. Our firm has handled thousands of criminal cases in courts throughout Northeast Ohio, including drug crimes at every felony level, and we report a 90% success rate across our practice, though every case turns on its own facts. In 2015, Rod received the Avvo Clients’ Choice award in criminal defense.

A Defense Strategy Built Around Your Specific Charges

We don’t apply the same approach to every case. Charges under Ohio law vary based on drug schedule, quantity, and circumstances, so the defense has to vary too. We go through the evidence piece by piece: the lab testing, the weight calculations, and the circumstances of the search. When we find weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, we use them. Your goals drive the direction we take.

Direct Access to Your Attorney Throughout Your Case

When you retain Mastandrea Law, LLC, you get your attorney’s personal cell phone number. That’s not a policy statement. It’s how we actually work. We follow up promptly when things develop, so you’re not left waiting to find out where things stand. We keep our caseload manageable enough to give every client real attention.

We represent clients and their families, not just the charges on a docket. Protecting your rights from the moment you contact us is what our representation is about.

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How Ohio Law Defines Drug Trafficking

Ohio Revised Code 2925.03 defines trafficking in drugs broadly. It covers knowingly selling or offering to sell a controlled substance, but also shipping, transporting, delivering, or preparing a substance for shipment when it’s intended for sale. A completed transaction isn’t required. Packaging drugs for distribution can be enough to support a charge.

The statute draws a line based on drug schedule. Trafficking involving a Schedule I or II controlled substance, such as heroin, cocaine, or fentanyl, is charged as aggravated trafficking in drugs, a more serious offense than trafficking involving a Schedule III, IV, or V substance.

Felony Degrees & Penalties Under Ohio Law

Both offenses are always felonies. The degree depends on the drug schedule, the quantity involved relative to the statutory bulk amount, and whether the offense occurred near a school or a juvenile. Standard trafficking in drugs ranges from a fifth-degree felony to a first-degree felony. Aggravated trafficking follows a similar scale, starting at the fourth degree.

Penalties escalate sharply with quantity. When the amount equals or exceeds 100 times the bulk amount, Ohio classifies the offender as a major drug offender subject to a mandatory maximum prison term for a first-degree felony. Higher-degree felonies also carry fines up to $20,000, and any conviction results in a mandatory driver’s license suspension of at least six months.

Where Felony Drug Charges Are Heard in Cuyahoga County

Felony drug trafficking charges in Cuyahoga County are heard in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. A case moves through arraignment and a bond hearing before reaching pretrial hearings, and how those early stages unfold can affect everything that follows. Having counsel from the beginning is important at this level.

Discuss Your Charges with Our Cleveland Defense Team

If you’re facing a trafficking charge, the time to start building a defense is now. We offer free initial consultations by phone, video, or in person, and we’re reachable by phone, email, or chat. Call Mastandrea Law, LLC at (216) 306-5105 to speak with our team about your situation today.

Common Defense Angles in Drug Trafficking Cases

Trafficking charges often rest on evidence gathered during a traffic stop, a stop-and-frisk encounter, or the execution of a search warrant. Each of those procedures must comply with constitutional standards governing search and seizure. If law enforcement exceeded what the law permits, the evidence may be subject to suppression, which can significantly affect the direction of a case.

Beyond how evidence was obtained, the state’s testing and weighing of the substance deserve scrutiny. The drug’s confirmed identity and measured quantity directly determine the felony degree charged and whether any mandatory minimum sentence applies. Lab results and chain-of-custody records can both surface issues worth raising in the defense.

Professional Licensing Consequences Beyond Sentencing

The consequences of a trafficking conviction don’t stop with prison time and fines. Under Ohio Revised Code 2925.38, when a court convicts someone who holds a professional license, it must notify the applicable licensing authority. Licensing boards in fields such as healthcare, law, education, and real estate may take independent action on a felony conviction. For anyone whose livelihood depends on a professional license, that consequence can be as significant as the criminal sentence itself.

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