The FBI and local law enforcement entities in Florida recently joined forces for “Operation Viper” to address firearms, violence, and drugs in the Sunshine State. The investigation took place from the spring until the end of September. The investigation was split into phases and covered several counties in the state. The U.S. Coast Guard also took part.
The first phase was in Miami Dade and Broward in late-spring and early-summer. Sixty-five arrests were made overall. Twenty-one firearms were seized. The next phase resulted in four dozen people being arrested and 23 firearms seized. Law enforcement also discovered narcotics, but did not specify exactly what was found. The U.S Coast Guard offloaded drugs worth nearly $95 million. Twenty-nine people were arrested on federal charges.
Given the growing desire to address criminal behaviors, multi-agency crackdowns at the federal and local level are becoming more common. People who find themselves facing charges must recognize the dangers they face for extensive jail time, large fines, and the negative impact of a criminal record. In some instances, there are available avenues to have the charges dropped, reduce the charges, or to get an outright acquittal.
A comprehensive defense is key with any criminal charges
When a multi-pronged investigation gets underway, law enforcement will do whatever it can to make arrests and secure convictions. Often, that leads to people being confronted with myriad charges that cross lines from drugs to weapons to violence. Individually, the accusations can lead to severe consequences. When a person is arrested in these types of investigations, they will need comprehensive assistance to try and reach a positive outcome.
Since a person can lose their freedom, face financial costs, and need to deal with the post-conviction challenges such as finding employment, there are a seemingly endless list of obstacles in achieving their personal and professional objectives. It is crucial for the evidence to be scrutinized, and the scope of the case called into question. There are many options and seeking a qualified criminal defense is the first step.