Florida Criminal Attorney Blog
Todd Macaluso, a San Diego lawyer who once represented Casey Anthony, was sentenced to federal prison for 15 years for plotting to pilot a plane full of cocaine.
He was sentenced Thursday in Brooklyn federal court, months after he was found guilty of being part of an international drug ring.
Jurors deliberated for about an hour before reaching a guilty verdict in November 2017.
The 55-year-old was found guilty of agreeing to fly 1,500 kilograms of cocaine from Ecuador to Honduras aboard his Falcon 10 in 2016, prosecutors said. The plan was for Macaluso to bring the narcotics to Honduras, where Mexican traffickers would buy the drugs. He was going to get $200,000 as his flyboy fee, but he was arrested in Haiti before anything could happen.
From 2009 to 2010, Macaluso represented Anthony, a Florida mother charged with killing her 2-year-old daughter Caylee in 2008. The child’s body was never found. Anthony was acquitted in 2011.
Florida law defines cocaine trafficking as a person knowingly transporting, delivering, making, buying, selling, or actually or constructively possessing 28 grams or more of any mixture that includes cocaine. The mandatory minimum sentence depends on the weight of the cocaine that you are accused of trafficking.
In Florida, you are looking at the following consequences if convicted of trafficking cocaine:
- 28 grams-200 grams: 3 years in prison, $50,000 fine.
- 200 grams-400 grams: 7 years in prison, $100,000 fine.
- 400 grams-150kg: 15 years in prison, $250,000 fine.
- More than 150kg : Life in prison.
All drug crimes cases are unique. Different situations require different defense strategies. Due to the harsh consequences associated with drug trafficking charges, you need to enlist the help of a criminal defense attorney who understands different defense strategies and can explain them to you. Our Florida Drug Trafficking Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can help you with your drug crimes charges. The earlier that we get involved, the greater the likelihood that we may achieve a successful outcome. Call us today at 866-608-5529 or contact us online for a free consultation.