Seattle Criminal Defense Lawyers Guarding Your Freedom

At Black Law, we understand the serious consequences that may follow a criminal conviction and the importance of fighting for a defendant’s rights to the limits of the law. We are attorneys who have developed a hard-earned reputation as leaders in the criminal defense community. Based in Seattle, our dedicated criminal defense lawyers are tireless in investigating each client’s situation, negotiating during the plea bargaining process, and preparing a case for trial. If you choose us, you can trust us to provide an honest assessment of your options, rather than promising unrealistic results. We will clearly explain each aspect of your case so that you can make appropriate decisions for your needs and goals. Committed to leaving no stone unturned, our firm represents Washington residents who need a drug crime attorney or assistance in fighting federal charges. We also routinely handle matters related to fraud and other white collar crimes, as well as violent crimes and sex crimes, and appeals and other forms of post-conviction relief.

Our firm has extensive experience working with foreign nationals. We know how to pursue outcomes in state and federal cases, in both the pre-trial and post-conviction contexts, that protect the immigration status of people who have been charged with crimes.

In Washington state courts, drug crimes are covered by the Uniform Controlled Substances Act (RCW 69.50). These offenses (also known as VUCSA) include manufacturing, possessing, possessing with intent to distribute, and selling controlled substances, which are substances that are set forth in five schedules. There are a few drug crimes that are misdemeanors, including possession of legend drugs or drug paraphernalia. Much more serious consequences may result from charges for felony drug crimes, up to 10 years per count.

Federal drug offenses are set forth in Title 21 of the United States Code. Federal law prohibits manufacturing, delivery and possession with intent to deliver controlled substances. Federal law also prohibits import and export of controlled substances, as well as, importantly, conspiracy offenses.

In Washington, a drug crime conviction may result in many adverse social consequences in addition to jail time and fines. A conviction may disqualify you from federal financial aid for school, harm your reputation, and undermine your ability to secure a job, housing, or a professional license.

However, a conviction is far from a foregone conclusion if you enlist a criminal defense attorney to fight for your rights. Our Seattle criminal defense lawyers have substantial experience in challenging searches and seizures and seeking the suppression of evidence and statements. We have often secured favorable plea bargains and successfully moved to suppress evidence that is adverse to our clients, preventing the prosecution from proving its case. We are familiar with the state and federal agencies and prosecutors that investigate and charge drug crimes, and how they work together. Let us put our substantial experience and resources to work for you.

Many drug charges are brought at the federal level in addition to or instead of the state level. In general, federal agencies have more resources than state agencies and often conduct investigations that stretch out for months or years, involving sophisticated techniques such as wiretaps and confidential informants.

Due to mandatory minimums, the federal sentencing scheme is often much harsher than the state scheme. This means that in some cases a judge has no discretion to impose a more lenient sentence based on mitigating factors. With so much at stake, it is imperative to secure counsel to develop a skillful strategy. We have years of experience fighting federal criminal cases of all kinds, and a deep understanding of the many intricacies of federal criminal law.

White collar crimes are usually nonviolent crimes that may be prosecuted under the state or federal systems. They include cyber crimes, mail fraud, wire fraud, mortgage fraud, bank fraud, embezzlement, and securities fraud. Embezzlement, for example, occurs when a defendant entrusted with access to someone else's money or property steals some of it for personal gain. Federal embezzlement laws apply to theft from the federal government, among certain other situations.

Under federal law, fraud includes any form of intentional deception or misrepresentation that is used to benefit the perpetrator or someone else. Each fraud crime is covered by a specific statute. For example, it is a crime to use the mail or wire communications technology, such as the phone or the Internet, to defraud a victim.

Our criminal attorneys have successfully handled multi-million dollar fraud cases in courts throughout Washington.

Criminal convictions may be overturned for a number of reasons, usually related to legal or procedural errors in the lower courts. Not every trial attorney is skilled in the appellate process. We can identify mistakes made during trial and preserve issues for review by making timely objections. Even if a direct appeal is unsuccessful, this does not necessarily mean that you have no further options. Criminal convictions also may be attacked collaterally through motions or petitions for post-conviction relief. For example, it may be possible to petition the court for post-conviction relief if there is new evidence or if an attorney who previously represented you provided ineffective counsel. We have won reversals of convictions through such motions in jurisdictions all over the state. We frequently represent clients seeking to obtain post-conviction relief for immigration purposes on the ground that they were not advised of the immigration consequences of a conviction by their original criminal defense attorney, and have had success litigating many such cases.

Familiar with the complexities of the criminal justice system, the Seattle criminal defense attorneys at Black Law can provide strategic defenses for the full range of charges related to drug offenses, federal crimes, and more. We also represent defendants in Tacoma, Everett, Kent, and Bellevue, as well as other cities throughout King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties, and throughout the state. Call us at 206-623-1604 or complete our online form to set up a free consultation with a sophisticated trial or appellate attorney. Our firm is happy to accommodate clients who are not native English speakers, and we can arrange for consultations in a variety of other languages at your convenience.