Drug Trafficking Attorney in San Bernardino

State & Federal Trafficking Defense. Dennis Kuntz Handles Every Case Personally.

Drug trafficking charges are among the most aggressively prosecuted offenses in California. Whether you’re facing state charges under California Health and Safety Code section 11352 or federal charges that carry mandatory minimum sentences, the stakes are serious. At Law Office of Dennis Kuntz, Dennis Kuntz personally handles every drug trafficking case from start to finish, drawing on his background as a public defender and nearly a decade of criminal defense experience to build a focused, individualized defense strategy.

Mr. Kuntz advocates for clients at the San Bernardino Justice Center and understands how local prosecutors build these cases. You’ll not be handed off to a paralegal or junior associate. Every decision, every filing, every court appearance is handled by the attorney you hired.

Law Office of Dennis Kuntz offers free consultations to anyone facing drug trafficking charges in San Bernardino. Call (909) 200-4045 today. Acting quickly can help preserve your constitutional rights and keep more defense options open.

What California Law Defines as Drug Trafficking

California draws a clear line between possession, possession for sale, and trafficking. Health and Safety Code section 11352 covers the sale, transportation, importation, furnishing, administering, or giving away of controlled substances including heroin, cocaine, and opioids. Section 11379 applies the same conduct to non-narcotics such as methamphetamine. Both are always charged as felonies, and both carry significantly harsher penalties than possession charges.

You don’t have to be behind the wheel of a vehicle loaded with drugs to face trafficking charges. Even offering to transport or sell can trigger a charge. If drugs are found in a space you controlled, even without physically touching them, prosecutors may argue constructive possession. Law enforcement builds these cases using surveillance, undercover operations, informants, and circumstantial evidence like scales, large cash amounts, and packaging materials.

Potential Penalties for a Drug Trafficking Conviction

A first offense under Health and Safety Code section 11352 can carry a possible sentence of 3, 4, or 5 years. If drugs were transported for sale across two or more county lines, that range can increase to 3, 6, or 9 years. Fines can reach $20,000, and weight-based enhancements for large quantities can push financial penalties significantly higher. These figures represent potential exposure; actual outcomes depend on the specific facts of your case.

Sentencing enhancements can apply when trafficking occurs near drug treatment centers or homeless shelters, when a minor is involved, or when firearms are present. The consequences extend well beyond prison and fines:

• Asset forfeiture: The government can seize cash and property connected to the alleged trafficking activity.
• Immigration consequences: A felony drug trafficking conviction may qualify as an aggravated felony under federal immigration law, which can result in deportation or removal proceedings for non-citizens.
• Professional licensing: Fields such as nursing, pharmacy, and education can revoke or deny licensure following a conviction.
• Federal benefits: Eligibility for federal student loans and public housing assistance can be affected.

State vs. Federal Drug Trafficking Charges

State trafficking charges under Health and Safety Code section 11352 typically apply when drugs move within California without crossing state lines. Federal charges under 21 U.S.C. section 841 apply when drugs cross state or international borders, or when federal agencies such as the DEA are involved in the investigation. DEA involvement signals a larger-scale operation with significant agency resources behind the prosecution.

Federal convictions carry mandatory minimum sentences that can range from 5 years to life in prison depending on the substance and quantity involved, with fines reaching into the millions. In some circumstances, a defendant can face both state and federal charges from the same conduct. We handle both, and Mr. Kuntz builds a defense strategy calibrated to the specific authority pursuing the charges.

How We Approach Drug Trafficking Defense

Every trafficking case begins with the evidence the government claims to have. Mr. Kuntz reviews how that evidence was gathered, how it was handled, and whether law enforcement followed constitutional requirements at every step.

The Fourth Amendment prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures. When police violate that protection, a motion to suppress can ask the court to exclude the tainted evidence. Without the evidence, the prosecution’s case may be significantly weakened. Beyond suppression, several recognized defense approaches may apply depending on the facts:

• Lack of knowledge: The accused didn’t know drugs were in their possession or vehicle.
• Constructive possession disputes: Drugs found in a shared car or home don’t automatically establish that one person controlled them.
• Entrapment: Law enforcement induced a person to commit an offense they wouldn’t have otherwise committed.
• Insufficient evidence of intent: The prosecution must prove intent to sell or distribute beyond a reasonable doubt.
• Chain of custody and lab testing challenges: The government must prove the substance found is the controlled substance alleged.
• Traffic stop legality: If the stop that led to the discovery was unlawful, everything found afterward may be challengeable.

No two cases are alike. Mr. Kuntz analyzes the specific facts of each situation to identify the strongest lines of attack available.

Why San Bernardino Clients Work Directly With Dennis Kuntz

At larger firms, drug trafficking cases can get passed to less experienced staff. That doesn’t happen here. Mr. Kuntz’s background includes working in a public defender’s office and at one of Los Angeles’ largest criminal defense firms, giving him a clear view of how prosecutors construct these cases and where their arguments may be vulnerable.

We routinely appear at the San Bernardino Justice Center and track local law enforcement practices and charging trends from the San Bernardino District Attorney’s Office. That local knowledge shapes how every case is approached. Mr. Kuntz is a member of the California State Bar and California Attorneys for Criminal Justice (CACJ), and the firm is licensed to practice throughout California.

Start With a Free Consultation

The sooner you have an attorney reviewing your case, the more options may be available to you. Mr. Kuntz can personally review your situation, answer your questions, and explain what a defense strategy could look like given your specific circumstances. There’s no financial obligation, so you can understand where you stand before making any decisions.

Call (909) 200-4045 or submit the online contact form to schedule your free consultation with Law Office of Dennis Kuntz today.