Oakland County Drug Crime Lawyer

Facing drug charges? Christopher Brown is an Oakland County drug crime lawyer and former police officer who knows how police build narcotics cases. He challenges searches, warrants, and police tactics to protect your freedom.

Expert drug possession, and trafficking defense representation by former police officer Christopher Brown over 25 years of experience.

Aggressive Defense From an Oakland County Drug Crime Lawyer

Former police officer turned criminal defense attorney Christopher Brown represents individuals facing all types of drug charges across Michigan. From simple use or possession to serious charges such as delivery, manufacturing, or maintaining a drug house, Attorney Brown uses his law enforcement training and experience to challenge the prosecution at every turn.

Because he has worked on both sides of the law, Christopher Brown knows how police build drug cases—and how to exploit weaknesses in those cases to protect his clients.

Recent Drug Crime Results

20-Year Cocaine Delivery Felony Reduced, Then Dismissed Under 7411 — Detroit

Our client was the target of a narcotics investigation. The informant was a close friend who was angry with our client over an unpaid debt. Detroit police obtained a search warrant based on an alleged controlled buy, and our client was charged with possession with intent to deliver 50 to 449 grams of cocaine, a 20-year felony.

At the preliminary examination, testimony established that police never searched the informant before the alleged buy and never recovered the marked money. We filed motions to dismiss highlighting the informant’s motive and the failures in the investigation. The prosecutor reduced the charge to possession of less than 25 grams, a four-year felony, and our client was granted 7411 status. After one year of probation, the case was dismissed, with no conviction and no public criminal record.

Why this matters: An informant with a grudge and a careless controlled buy can’t support a 20-year felony. Challenging the investigation at the preliminary exam turned prison exposure into a dismissal with no conviction.

20-Year Felony Dismissed; Case Ultimately Dismissed Under 7411 — Pontiac

Our client was driving her boyfriend’s car, which was registered to him. Police stopped her for a traffic violation and arrested her for driving on a suspended license. During an inventory search of the car, officers found a large men’s coat in the trunk. In its pocket were 40 rocks of cocaine. Prosecutors charged her with possession with intent to deliver, a 20-year felony.

At the preliminary examination in the 50th District Court, the testimony distanced her from the coat and the drugs inside it. After the case moved to Circuit Court, the prosecution dismissed the felony. Instead, it offered her simple possession of less than 25 grams under Section 7411, Michigan’s first-offender deferral. She completed probation, and the case was dismissed.

Why this matters: Being near drugs is not the same as possessing them. When drugs are found in a car or home you share, or in someone else’s belongings, the prosecution must prove a real connection between you and the drugs.

Drug Case Dismissed After the Video Disproved “Consent” — Hazel Park

A suburban police narcotics unit followed our client after he left a location they suspected was involved in drug activity. They followed him all the way to Detroit and back. Once he returned to their jurisdiction, they stopped him.

He had committed no traffic violation. The officers simply suspected a drug transaction, and they claimed he consented to a search of his car. The video showed he never consented. We filed a motion to suppress the evidence, and the prosecutor dismissed the case in the 43rd District Court in Hazel Park.

Why this matters: Police need a lawful reason to stop you, and a valid consent to search without a warrant. When the video doesn’t match the report, the evidence can be thrown out.

See more of our case results.

Under Investigation or Charged with a Drug Crime? Level the Playing Field

Drug charges carry serious consequences, which is why Attorney Brown offers same-day appointments and jail visits for clients in custody.

His representation includes:

• Demanding full discovery of all police reports and evidence.
• Investigating the legality of searches, traffic stops, and warrants.
• Speaking directly with detectives and law enforcement officers to protect your rights.
• Identifying when prosecutors have overcharged a misdemeanor as a felony.
• Building defenses based on lack of knowledge, improper police conduct, or medical marijuana exceptions.

Immediate Concerns: Arrest, Interrogation, Arraignment, Bond

An arrest for a drug offense can happen during a traffic stop, after a search warrant, or simply being present where drugs are found. At arraignment, the judge sets bond—often high in felony cases. However, Attorney Brown advocates for personal or minimal bonds, saving clients thousands of dollars in bail costs.

Important: Do not speak to police without legal counsel. Because he is a former officer, Christopher Brown knows their interrogation tactics and how statements—even casual remarks—can be twisted into evidence.

Michigan Drug Crimes & Penalties

Drug offenses in Michigan fall under the Controlled Substances Act and carry penalties ranging from probation to years in prison, as well as property forfeiture and license suspensions. Penalties vary depending on:

• The substance involved (heroin, cocaine, meth, marijuana, analogues, etc.).
• The conduct alleged (user, possessor, dealer, manufacturer).
• Enhancements such as repeat offenses or proximity to schools.

Michigan Drug Possession Penalties

Michigan Delivery and Intent-to-Deliver Penalties

These are maximum penalties, not typical sentences. Michigan measures weight by the whole mixture, not just the pure drug. The exact charge, the drug’s legal classification, and your record all matter.

For delivery charges, the prosecution must prove the amount.

Prosecutors usually charge fentanyl under the narcotic tiers, but we check the exact classification in every case.

For a full guide to these charges, including how prosecutors try to prove intent, informant and search warrant defenses, and forfeiture, see our page on possession with intent to deliver in Michigan.

Marijuana in Michigan: What’s Legal and What Isn’t

Adults 21 and older can legally possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana in public, including up to 15 grams of concentrate. At home, they can keep up to 10 ounces, as long as anything over 2.5 ounces is locked up.

Adults can also grow up to 12 plants at home, out of public view and in a locked area. They can give away up to 2.5 ounces to another adult, as long as no money changes hands.

Marijuana can still lead to criminal charges, however. Common examples include selling without a license, possessing large amounts, people under 21, and driving under the influence. Even so, having more than the legal limit does not, by itself, prove an intent to sell. An Oakland County drug crime lawyer can sort out what the law actually allows in your situation.

Fentanyl and Delivery Causing Death

Fentanyl cases are among the most serious drug cases in Michigan. Prosecutors usually charge possession or delivery under the same narcotic weight tiers as heroin and cocaine.

In addition, delivering a Schedule I or II drug that someone uses and dies from can lead to a charge of delivery causing death. That charge carries up to life in prison.

The prosecution does not have to prove anyone intended a death. Still, it must prove the delivery, the substance, and that the drug actually caused the death. Each of those elements deserves a hard look.

Other Michigan Drug Charges

Maintaining a drug house: It is illegal to knowingly keep a home, building, or vehicle used for drug use or sales. When charged as a crime, it is a misdemeanor punishable by up to two years and a $25,000 fine.

Prescription fraud: Getting a controlled substance through fraud, a forged prescription, or deception is a felony punishable by up to four years and a $30,000 fine.

Police Tactics: What Christopher Brown Knows From the Inside

Drug cases often involve:

• Consent searches during traffic stops.
• Undercover operations using informants or “marked money.”
• Surveillance of alleged drug houses.
• Plain view claims (e.g., “marijuana roach in ashtray”).

Also, as a former officer, Christopher Brown knows exactly how police build these cases and where mistakes happen. He can challenge the voluntariness of consent searches, attack the credibility of informants, and expose when law enforcement oversteps constitutional limits.

Property Forfeiture & Cooperation

Police and prosecutors often try to seize assets (cash, vehicles, phones, even homes) in drug cases. However, Attorney Brown aggressively contests forfeiture actions and works to return property quickly.

Clients are also pressured to “cooperate” with police in exchange for leniency. Christopher Brown helps clients weigh their options—protecting them from dangerous undercover arrangements and ensuring they are not misled by vague promises from law enforcement.

Special Provisions That May Dismiss Charges

Even when the evidence looks tough, Michigan law allows for outcomes that avoid permanent convictions:

• MCL 333.7411 (7411): First-time drug possession charges can be dismissed after probation.
• HYTA (Holmes Youthful Trainee Act): Offenders aged 18–25 can keep records sealed and avoid a conviction.
• MCL 771.1 Delayed Sentence: Courts may reduce or dismiss charges after a probationary period.

Overall, Attorney Brown uses these tools to protect his clients’ future, reduce charges, and minimize long-term consequences.

How a 7411 Deferral Works

Section 7411 gives some first-time offenders a chance to avoid a conviction. It is available once in a lifetime, and only for certain lower-level possession and use charges. It is not available for delivery or intent to deliver, or for larger amounts.

If the court grants it, you are placed on probation without a conviction being entered. Complete probation, and the case is dismissed. Violate it, and the court can enter the conviction and sentence you. During the deferral, the record is generally closed to the public.

As our Pontiac result shows, a felony intent-to-deliver charge can sometimes be reduced to a possession charge that qualifies for 7411. An Oakland County drug crime lawyer can tell you whether you may be eligible.

Constructive Possession: When the Drugs Weren’t Yours

You do not have to be holding drugs to be charged with possessing them. Prosecutors often rely on “constructive possession,” which means you knew the drugs were there and had control over them.

However, simply being in the same car or home is not enough. The prosecution must show a real connection between you and the drugs.

We look at who owned or used the car, room, or container. We look at who else had access, what you knew, and whether any statement, fingerprint, or message actually ties you to the drugs. In our Pontiac case, the drugs were in a man’s coat in the trunk of a car our client did not own.

Field Tests vs. Lab Results

A field test is a quick screening tool, not final proof of what a substance is. For both the identity of the drug and its weight, we review the lab testing, the chain of custody, and the analyst’s work.

Because the weight can decide which penalty tier applies, a mistake in testing or weighing can change the entire case.

Why Choose Christopher Brown as Your Oakland County Drug Crime Lawyer?

With his unique background as a former police officer and decades of criminal defense experience, Christopher Brown is able to anticipate prosecutorial strategy, dismantle weak police work, and negotiate the best possible outcomes for his clients.

If you or a loved one is facing drug charges in Michigan, contact Attorney Christopher Brown immediately. Early intervention can mean reduced charges, dismissal, or alternative sentencing programs such as Drug Court.

Facing charges in Oakland County? See our Oakland County criminal defense page, or visit our Troy criminal defense page if your case is in the 52-4 District Court.

Frequently Asked Questions About Drug Charges in Michigan

Will I go to jail for a first drug possession charge?

Not necessarily. Many first-time possession cases are resolved without jail, and some qualify for a 7411 deferral that ends in dismissal. The outcome depends on the drug, the amount, and your record.

Can I be charged if the drugs weren’t mine?

Yes, under a constructive possession theory. But being near drugs is not enough. The prosecution must prove you knew about them and had control over them.

Do I have to let police search my car?

You have the right to refuse consent to a search. Police can still search in some situations, such as with a warrant, with probable cause, or during an inventory after your car is impounded. If police claim you consented, the video may tell a different story.

Is marijuana legal in Michigan?

For adults 21 and older, within the legal limits, yes. Selling without a license, possessing more than the limits, use by anyone under 21, and driving while impaired can still lead to charges.

What is a 7411 deferral?

It is a one-time chance for certain first-time possession offenders to complete probation and have the case dismissed without a conviction.

We also defend drug charges throughout Macomb County.

We also defend drug cases throughout Wayne County.

Get Help From an Oakland County Drug Crime Lawyer

Michigan’s possession law, MCL 333.7403, sets penalties based on the type and amount of the drug. However, first-time offenders may qualify for a dismissal under MCL 333.7411. An Oakland County drug crime lawyer can also challenge an illegal search before trial. Drug cases often overlap with OWI charges and felony firearm allegations. Call (248) 468-1468 for a free consultation.