Big Boi of OutKast Settles Drug Case

Rapper Big Boi of the musical duo OutKast settled a pending drug case in a Miami, Florida court last week. Big Boi, whose real name is Antwan Patton, was initially arrested in August after K-9 dogs smelled drugs on him as the Grammy-winning rapper was exiting a cruise ship. Local law enforcement agents at the scene searched Patton and found the drug ecstasy, a cigarette roller with residue of the drug marijuana, and methylenedioxymethamphetamine, more commonly known as MDMA, which is also used in the production of the drug ecstasy. Patton was charged with two felony drug offenses and had been facing jail time as punishment. Instead, an agreement was reached in court on October 13th where Patton was ordered to perform community service, submit to drug testing for three months, and donate $2,000 to charities instead of going to jail. According to Miami prosecutors, if the 36-year-old Patton remains drug-free for the required three months his charges will be dropped.

As any Los Angeles Drug Crime Defense Attorney can tell you, drug deferment programs and deals such as that in Patton's case are becoming increasingly popular. In drug deferment deals, a skilled Los Angeles Drug Crime Defense Attorney will, actually first enter a guilty plea on your behalf, then the court actually suspends sentencing in your case until an agreed-upon later date. In the meantime, your Los Angeles Drug Crime Defense Attorney hammers out a deal with prosecutors working on your case that typically includes completion of specified hours of community service, mandatory drug testing, showing up for all scheduled court appearances or meetings, and potential drug treatment programs or counseling. When you return to court with your Los Angeles Drug Crime Defense Attorney at the agreed-upon date (typically anywhere from six to 18 months after you have entered your guilty plea), if you have met all the conditions of your deferment, charges against you are actually dismissed altogether. If you have not met the conditions of your deferment, you are sentenced as the judge in the case sees fit since you have already pleaded guilty. Drug deferment programs are great solutions for many "smaller" drug offenses such as the possession of certain drugs or drug paraphernalia. As your experienced Los Angeles Drug Crime Defense Attorney can tell you, however, not all drug offenses are eligible for deferment. If you have been arrested for drug-related crime, call the offices of Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, LLP today at 1-877-781-1570 today to get the expert legal guidance and defense you need.