{"id":962,"date":"2026-10-03T01:45:39","date_gmt":"2026-10-03T01:45:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/patrickwilsonlaw.com\/resources\/drug-crimes-defense-attorney\/"},"modified":"2026-10-27T14:56:31","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T14:56:31","slug":"drug-crimes-defense-attorney","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/patrickwilsonlaw.com\/resources\/drug-crimes-defense-attorney\/","title":{"rendered":"Miami Criminal Defense Attorney | DUI, Domestic Violence & More"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Miami Criminal Defense<\/p>

Defend Your Rights Against DUI, Domestic Violence & Criminal Charges<\/h1>

Patrick Wilson Law represents individuals across South Florida facing serious criminal charges. We focus on DUI, domestic violence, sexual battery, vehicular homicide, and charges that threaten your career or immigration status.<\/p>

Schedule Your Free Consultation<\/a><\/div>
Schedule Your Free Consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Why Choose Patrick Wilson Law<\/h2>\n

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Focused Criminal Defense<\/h3>

We concentrate our practice on the charges that matter most to our clients\u2014DUI, domestic violence, sexual battery, vehicular homicide, white collar crime, and more. We know the South Florida courts and the prosecutors who handle these cases.<\/p><\/div>

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Defense for Licensed Professionals<\/h3>

If you hold a professional license, a criminal charge threatens your livelihood. We understand the collateral consequences and work to protect your career alongside your legal defense.<\/p><\/div>

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Serving All of South Florida<\/h3>

From Miami-Dade and Broward to the Florida Keys, Kendall, Hialeah, and Miami Beach, we defend clients throughout the region in state and federal courts.<\/p><\/div>

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Seal & Expunge Records<\/h3>

A criminal record can follow you for life. We help clients move forward by pursuing expungement and sealing of records when the law allows.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

By Patrick David Wilson \u00b7 Published October 03, 2026<\/p>\n\n

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Miami Criminal Defense Attorney: Individualized Representation for Serious Charges<\/h2>\n

A criminal charge in Miami can carry serious penalties\u2014mandatory minimum sentences, collateral consequences that follow you for years, and the threat of federal prosecution.<\/p>\n

We understand the stakes, the local landscape, and the defense strategies that work.<\/p>\n

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Not sure what your next step is?<\/h3>

Talk it through with our team — the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.<\/p>

Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div>
Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Criminal Defense in Miami: What You Need to Know<\/h2>\n

Patrick Wilson Law defends people across South Florida against DUI, domestic violence, sexual battery, vehicular homicide, white collar, and other serious charges. Many of these offenses are governed by the Florida Statutes<\/a>, and prosecutors in Miami-Dade and Broward County pursue them in circuit court. Some matters\u2014such as certain white collar offenses\u2014can also draw the attention of federal agencies operating throughout South Florida.<\/p>\n

Why does criminal defense require focused representation? Because the law is complex, the penalties are severe, and the procedural rules differ sharply between state and federal court. Each charge carries its own elements, evidentiary questions, and potential defenses. Federal cases operate under different sentencing guidelines, often resulting in sentences far longer than state prosecutions for comparable conduct.<\/p>\n

State vs. Federal Prosecutions<\/h3>\n

State charges are prosecuted in Miami-Dade or Broward County circuit court under Florida law. Certain federal charges are prosecuted in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida and are subject to federal sentencing guidelines. Federal cases can involve interstate conduct or conspiracy allegations. The consequences are steeper: federal mandatory minimums often exceed state minimums, and federal judges follow stricter sentencing rules.<\/p>\n

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Charges We Defend<\/h2>\n

First-Time Offender Defense<\/h3>\n

For people facing a first criminal charge, the consequences can feel overwhelming even when the underlying offense is less serious. We represent first-time offenders charged with DUI, domestic violence, traffic offenses, and other matters, working to protect your record and your future. In appropriate cases, we pursue diversion, probation, or other alternatives to incarceration that can help you avoid a conviction.<\/p>\n

Defending Licensed Professionals<\/h3>\n

A criminal charge can threaten the license that your career depends on. We represent doctors, nurses, attorneys, teachers, and other licensed professionals facing charges that could trigger professional discipline. We account for the licensing board exposure alongside the criminal case, so the defense addresses both the courtroom and your ability to keep working.<\/p>\n

Vehicular Homicide Defense<\/h3>\n

Vehicular homicide is charged under Florida law when the operation of a vehicle in a reckless manner causes the death of another person. These are serious felony charges that can carry substantial prison time. We examine the state’s accident reconstruction, the alleged driving conduct, causation, and the circumstances surrounding the collision to build a defense.<\/p>\n

White Collar Crime Defense<\/h3>\n

White collar charges\u2014fraud, theft, embezzlement, and related financial offenses\u2014often involve voluminous records and complex transactions. We review the documentary evidence, the alleged intent, and the state’s or government’s theory of the case. These matters can be prosecuted in state or federal court, and we defend clients in both.<\/p>\n

DUI Defense<\/h3>\n

A DUI charge in Florida can carry jail time, fines, license suspension, and lasting collateral consequences. We examine the traffic stop, the basis for the arrest, the administration and accuracy of field sobriety and breath testing, and the handling of the evidence. We represent first-time and repeat DUI clients throughout Miami-Dade and Broward County.<\/p>\n

Domestic Violence Defense<\/h3>\n

Domestic violence allegations can lead to arrest, no-contact orders, and charges that affect your family, housing, and employment. We investigate the allegations, review the available evidence and witness accounts, and work to protect your rights throughout the case, including at any related injunction hearing.<\/p>\n

Leaving the Scene of an Accident Defense<\/h3>\n

Leaving the scene of an accident\u2014often called a hit-and-run\u2014can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony under Florida law depending on whether the crash involved property damage, injury, or death. We examine whether the driver knew of the crash, the identification evidence, and the circumstances surrounding the alleged failure to stop or report.<\/p>\n

Federal White Collar Charges<\/h3>\n

Federal sentencing guidelines are complex and can result in lengthy sentences, even for first-time offenders. We defend clients facing federal white collar allegations in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.<\/p>\n

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Florida Criminal Penalties and Mandatory Minimums<\/h2>\n

Felony vs. Misdemeanor Charges<\/h3>\n

Whether a charge is a felony or a misdemeanor depends on the specific offense and its statutory classification under Florida law. The classification drives the maximum penalties, the collateral consequences, and the options available for resolving the case.<\/p>\n

Mandatory Minimum Sentences<\/h3>\n

Some Florida offenses carry mandatory minimum sentences that judges cannot reduce. Where a mandatory minimum applies, the court is constrained in its sentencing, which makes the defense strategy at every earlier stage especially important.<\/p>\n

Sentence Enhancements<\/h3>\n

Florida law allows for sentence enhancements in certain circumstances, which can increase the penalty beyond the baseline for the underlying offense. We identify whether an enhancement is being applied and whether it is legally supported.<\/p>\n

Sentencing Guidelines and Collateral Consequences<\/h3>\n

Beyond incarceration, a conviction can carry collateral consequences:<\/p>\n