New Jersey Fentanyl Charge Lawyer

Fentanyl Offense Attorney in Totowa, NJ, Handling Complex Cases Involving Synthetic Opioids

Fentanyl charges in New Jersey carry some of the harshest penalties in the state.

The stakes couldn't be higher. Our New Jersey fentanyl charge lawyer is here to fight for you. Prosecutors treat these cases aggressively. They assume the worst and push for maximum sentences.

But being charged doesn't mean you're always out of options. It means you need someone who understands how these cases work and knows how to challenge the evidence against you.

We've defended clients facing possession, distribution, and trafficking charges. We know where prosecutors overreach and where their cases fall apart.

The right defense can mean the difference between years in prison and getting your life back. Don't face this alone. Contact us today for a free consultation, and let's fight for your freedom.

What Actions Can Lead to a Fentanyl Charge in New Jersey?

Simple possession of fentanyl is the most common charge.

If police find any amount of fentanyl on you, in your car, or in your home, you can be arrested. It doesn't matter if it's pills, powder, or patches. Any detectable amount counts as possession.

You don't need to have fentanyl directly on your person to face charges. New Jersey law recognizes "constructive possession."

This means you can be charged if you knew the fentanyl was somewhere and had control over that location. Your bedroom and your car's glove compartment can all trigger possession charges.

Distribution charges come next. To charge you for fentanyl distribution, prosecutors look at circumstantial evidence:

• Multiple baggies
• Scales
• Large amounts of cash
• Text messages

Anything that could suggest dealing or simply having more fentanyl than seems reasonable for personal use.

Manufacturing charges apply if you're involved in producing, preparing, packaging, or cutting fentanyl. This includes mixing fentanyl with other substances or dividing larger quantities into smaller amounts for sale.

Where you get caught matters too. Within 1,000 feet of a school, and prosecutors will add school zone charges. These zones cover massive areas in New Jersey's cities and suburbs. You might not even realize you're in one.

What Happens If You're Convicted of a Fentanyl Charge in New Jersey?

A fentanyl conviction reshapes every aspect of your life. The penalties vary based on what you're charged with, how much fentanyl was involved, and where the alleged offense occurred.

Penalties for Fentanyl Possession

New Jersey treats fentanyl possession as a third-degree crime. Here's what you're actually looking at:

• You face up to five years in state prison. The judge can also impose a fine of up to $35,000.
• The state suspends your driver's license for six months to two years, and it doesn't matter if you were in a car.
• Community service is common. Judges often order dozens or hundreds of hours of unpaid work.

Penalties for Selling, Trafficking, or Manufacturing Fentanyl

Distribution and manufacturing charges carry devastating penalties. The consequences depend heavily on the amount of fentanyl involved.

• Less than one ounce is a third-degree crime. You face three to five years in prison and fines up to $75,000. This is the same penalty as possession, but prosecutors push distribution charges because they sound worse to juries and give them more leverage in plea negotiations.
• One ounce or more but less than five ounces is a second-degree crime. Now you're looking at five to 10 years in prison. The fine increases to $150,000.

Manufacturing charges follow the same penalty structure as distribution. Whether you're selling fentanyl or producing it, New Jersey treats you identically under the law.

If your distribution or manufacturing results in someone's death, you face strict liability charges under New Jersey's drug-induced death statute. This is a first-degree crime with even harsher mandatory minimums.

Extra Prison Time for Fentanyl Offenses in School Zones

School zone enhancements make already serious charges catastrophic. Operating within 1,000 feet of school property adds separate charges on top of your underlying offense.

The school zone enhancement is itself a third-degree crime. You face an additional three to five years in prison. These sentences run separately from your main charges.

But here's what makes school zone charges so dangerous: they come with mandatory minimum sentences. You must serve at least one-third of your sentence before you're eligible for parole.

Life Impact: Job Loss, Housing Issues, and More

A fentanyl conviction demolishes your life in ways that extend far beyond prison walls.

Some employment becomes nearly impossible. Employers run criminal background checks. When they see a drug conviction—especially one involving fentanyl because of its deadly reputation—your application will often be rejected, depending on the job and state laws.

Housing becomes a constant struggle. Landlords can reject applicants based on drug convictions, but in many states they must follow specific procedures or limits on how they use criminal records.

Immigration consequences hit non-citizens brutally. A fentanyl conviction is treated as a serious controlled-substance offense for immigration purposes. It doesn’t matter if you're a lawful permanent resident who's been here for decades. This type of conviction can trigger deportation proceedings and can create permanent bars to re-entry, with almost no available waivers.

Child custody battles become nightmares. Family courts may view drug convictions as evidence affecting parental fitness, depending on the circumstances. Your ex’s attorney will weaponize the conviction. You might lose custody or face supervised visitation with your own children if the court believes the conviction impacts the child’s safety or well-being.

The penalties for fentanyl charges are crushing, and the collateral consequences last forever. But you have options right now.

Discuss your case with our New Jersey fentanyl charge lawyer. We can examine the evidence, identify weaknesses in the prosecution's case, and fight to get your charges reduced or dismissed.

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  “Great attorney to hire he took care of my expungement for a very reasonable price he was quick efficient very honest and easy to work with. He was referred to me by a family member anyone looking for a good lawyer that's honest and trustworthy I would recommend Camili & Capo.”

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How Our New Jersey Fentanyl Charge Lawyer Can Fight Your Charges

Every fentanyl case is unique. The defenses that work depend on specific facts:

• How police found the fentanyl
• What they did during your arrest
• What procedures they followed
• What evidence they actually have

We can't guarantee outcomes before reviewing your case. But our New Jersey drug charge attorneys can show you how we attack these cases and where we look for weaknesses that can get charges reduced or dismissed.

Challenging an Initial Stop, Search, or Seizure

Most fentanyl cases start with a traffic stop, a home search, or a stop-and-frisk on the street.

But police can't just do whatever they want. The Fourth Amendment protects you from unreasonable searches and seizures.

An illegal stop can mean everything that comes after it gets thrown out. The fentanyl they say they found can be excluded. Your statements can be ruled inadmissible. Their case crumbles.

We examine the officer's justification for stopping you. For traffic stops, did you actually commit a violation, or did the officer make something up?

We review dashcam footage, body camera recordings, and police reports looking for inconsistencies between what the officer claims and what actually happened.

For home searches, we scrutinize the warrant.

Was it based on reliable information? Did it properly describe the place to be searched? Was it executed correctly? Any defect in the warrant or how it was executed can invalidate the entire search.

If we prove the stop or search was illegal, we can ask the judge to suppress the fentanyl evidence.

Contesting Lab Results

Just because police found pills or powder doesn't mean they can prove it's fentanyl.

The prosecution must test the substance and prove beyond a reasonable doubt that it's actually fentanyl.

Lab results aren't automatic. We challenge the chain of custody, the testing procedures, and the lab's certifications. Any break in the chain of custody creates reasonable doubt about whether the substance tested is the same substance seized from you.

Our fentanyl offense attorney in Totowa, NJ, examines who handled the evidence and when. Was it properly labeled? Properly stored? Were there opportunities for contamination or mix-ups? Crime labs handle thousands of samples. Mistakes happen.

If the lab results are questionable or the chain of custody is broken, we can file motions to suppress the lab evidence. Without valid lab results, proving the substance is fentanyl is extremely difficult.

Fighting for Bail and Reduced Charges Early in the Case

New Jersey uses a risk assessment system to determine whether you're released or detained pending trial.

The court considers the severity of the charges, your criminal history, whether you're a flight risk, and whether you pose a danger to the community.

We fight for your release at the detention hearing. We present evidence showing you're not a flight risk:

• Strong ties to the community
• Steady employment
• Family support
• No history of failing to appear in court

We argue you don't pose a danger:

• No history of violence
• Willingness to comply with strict conditions
• Support systems in place to help you stay clean

Early in the case, we also start negotiating with prosecutors about reducing charges. The earlier we get involved, the more options you have. Cases get harder to defend as time passes and evidence gets solidified. Contact us immediately after your arrest.

First-Time Offender Program

Pre-Trial Intervention gives first-time offenders a way out. If you complete the program's requirements, the prosecutors dismiss your charges completely. No trial. No conviction. Clean record.

Here's how PTI works: instead of proceeding to trial, you enter the PTI program.

You complete drug treatment, attend counseling, submit to random drug testing, perform community service, and check in regularly with a probation officer. The program typically lasts one to three years depending on the circumstances.

If you successfully complete PTI, the prosecutor dismisses your charges. No trial. No conviction. No criminal record. You can honestly answer "no" when job applications ask if you've been convicted of a crime.

PTI eligibility depends on several factors. You generally cannot have prior convictions. The offense cannot involve violence. You must be willing to accept responsibility for your actions and commit to completing the program requirements.

We fight to get first-time offenders into PTI. We prepare detailed applications highlighting factors in your favor:

• Stable employment
• Family support
• Lack of criminal history
• Willingness to get treatment and turn your life around

PTI isn't easy. The requirements are demanding. You'll spend a year or more proving yourself. But it's worth it. Completing PTI means no conviction, no criminal record, and a real chance at a normal future. You can move forward with your life.

How we help you depends on the specific facts of your case. Every fentanyl charge involves different circumstances, different evidence, and different opportunities for defense.

Discuss your case with our New Jersey fentanyl charge lawyer.

Why Trust Camili & Capo, PA, to Defend Your Fentanyl Charges?

Our founder, Krenar Camili, was the first in his family to attend law school. Nobody handed him connections or opened doors. He figured everything out on his own.

He clerked for Superior Court judges to learn how the system really worked. He watched cases from the inside and saw what made the difference between convictions and acquittals.

He became an Assistant Prosecutor and spent over seven years prosecuting controlled dangerous substance cases, including fentanyl charges. He learned how prosecutors build their cases, what evidence they rely on, and where their cases fall apart under pressure.

He tried dozens of drug cases and presented hundreds of investigations to grand juries. Krenar became one of the most successful prosecutors in his county.

But something changed. He realized he could do more good defending people than prosecuting them.

The system treats people facing fentanyl charges as case numbers. Nobody asks about addiction. Nobody asks what led to this moment. They just want to process cases and move on.

Attorney Krenar saw this and knew he had to switch sides. People facing life-destroying charges deserved real advocates. They deserved lawyers who would fight like their future mattered because it does.

Our other partner, Joseph Capo, shares this commitment too. He appears regularly in federal, state, and municipal courts across New Jersey, defending people against drug charges.

Together with Krenar, they bring over 35 years of combined experience to every case.

What makes Camili & Capo different? Krenar's prosecutor background.

He knows what prosecutors need to prove their case because he used to be one. He knows what judges find persuasive because he's argued to them from both sides. He knows where cases crack because he's built cases that cracked under defense pressure.

That insider knowledge becomes your advantage. When we defend you, we're not guessing about prosecutor strategy. We know it. We've lived it. We use that knowledge to anticipate their moves and counter them.

This firm doesn't exist to churn through cases and collect fees. It exists because Krenar and Joe believe that good defense work can change someone's life. When you're facing fentanyl charges, one decision determines your entire future.

You get lawyers who challenge every piece of evidence, cross-examine every witness, file every motion, and force the prosecution to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. You get lawyers who understand that this case is about your freedom, your career, your family, and your future.

The goal is always the best possible outcome: charges dismissed, reduced to lesser offenses, or entry into programs like PTI that protect your record.

We can't promise specific results, but we promise maximum effort and intelligent, aggressive defense work.

Discuss your case with us today.

Contact Our New Jersey Fentanyl Charge Lawyer at Camili & Capo, PA, Today for a Free Case Review

We believe something the criminal justice system refuses to acknowledge: addiction isn't cured by punishment. Throwing someone in prison doesn't address the underlying problem. It makes everything worse.

Let's talk about where you are, what you're facing, and how we can protect your future.

For help from a fentanyl charge lawyer in New Jersey, contact the Camili & Capo, PA, firm online or call today.