The Challenge
Our client was arrested for transporting approximately five pounds of methamphetamine and faced a potential sentence of up to seven years in state prison. The case originated from one of the nation’s largest wiretap operations, where the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) intercepted communications from thousands of individuals. Because the arrest was tied to a high-level federal investigation, the prosecution initially maintained a firm position on a lengthy prison commitment.
Our Strategy
Our defense focused on the legality of the underlying wiretap operation, which was at the center of a national inquiry regarding its legal authorization. We conducted a technical review of the warrant used to intercept our client’s telephone calls and identified significant legal deficiencies. By demonstrating that the evidence against our client was obtained through a potentially illegal wiretap, we gained the leverage necessary to secure a favorable resolution. The client was sentenced to 180 days of Caltrans work, successfully avoiding any time in state prison.
Media Coverage
The Result
PRISON SENTENCE AVOIDED – 180 DAYS CALTRANS WORK
Your Case Belongs at the Southwest Justice Center.
Your Defense Belongs Here.
If you were arrested in Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee, Wildomar, Lake Elsinore, Winchester, or French Valley, your future will likely be decided at the Southwest Justice Center (SWJC) on Auld Road. In these courtrooms, local knowledge is the ultimate advantage. Since 1999, Nic Cocis has been a weekly fixture in the SWJC, appearing before the same judges and negotiating with the same Riverside County prosecutors for over 25 years. We don’t just know the law — we know the specific nuances, procedural quirks, and judicial tendencies of the Southwest District. Whether you are facing a felony or a misdemeanor, you need a firm that treats the Southwest Justice Center as its home turf.
