Available To Serve You Nationwide On All Federal Cases
This page was written, edited, reviewed & approved by Karren Kenney following our comprehensive editorial guidelines Karren Kenney, the Founding Partner, has 30+ years of legal experience as a criminal defense attorney.
If you or a loved one has been arrested at the border or targeted in a federal investigation for drug trafficking or importation, you’re not dealing with a simple possession case. You’re up against the United States government, represented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California—one of the busiest federal districts in the country because of border-related crimes. Department of Justice
At Kenney Legal Defense, founding attorney Karren Kenney has spent more than 25 years litigating criminal cases in Southern California courtrooms, with over 100 criminal jury trials under her belt. As a former Senior Deputy Public Defender, she has never prosecuted anyone—and she brings that defense-only mindset into every federal case.
When your freedom and future are on the line, you need a federal drug crimes lawyer who knows how the system really works, not a former prosecutor who used to put people in prison.
San Diego sits at the center of federal drug enforcement:
Federal drug trafficking charges often involve:
If your case involves crossing at San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, Tecate, or Calexico, expect it to be handled as a federal matter—not just a state case.
Some of the most frequently charged federal drug offenses include:
The U.S. Sentencing Commission’s drug primer gives an overview of how these statutes and guidelines work together at sentencing.
Drug trafficking sentencing is driven by:
Congress has imposed mandatory minimum sentences for many drug trafficking offenses. Reports from the U.S. Sentencing Commission and the Congressional Research Service explain how these mandatory minimum penalties work and when limited exceptions may apply. U.S. Sentencing Commission
In simple terms:
At Kenney Legal Defense, we dig into quantity challenges, role reductions, mitigating evidence, and safety-valve arguments to push back against excessive sentencing exposure.
Many San Diego federal drug cases begin with:
The government has massive resources—DEA, HSI, CBP, and task forces working together. But they still have to prove you knowingly transported drugs. The U.S. Sentencing Commission’s drug reports emphasize how often low-level couriers face harsh penalties for relatively minor roles.
Our job is to show:
Every case starts with a deep dive into the government’s evidence:
Because Attorney Karren Kenney has tried over 100 criminal jury trials and defended serious drug, conspiracy, gang, and even RICO cases, she knows how agents build these cases—and how to break them down in court.
We focus on:
Q: How serious are federal drug trafficking charges in San Diego?
Very serious. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in SDCA is one of the busiest in the country because of border cases, including drug importation, and often seeks prison time in trafficking cases.
Q: Will I automatically go to prison if charged?
No—outcomes vary based on drug quantity, prior record, safety-valve eligibility, cooperation, and how strong the government’s case really is. An experienced federal defense lawyer can often significantly reduce exposure or avoid mandatory minimums in some circumstances.
Q: Is there any official information I can read about federal drug sentencing?
Yes. You can review educational materials from the United States Sentencing Commission on federal drug offenses and mandatory minimum penalties to better understand how the system works.
If you’re under investigation or already indicted for federal drug trafficking or importation, you can’t afford a lawyer who is learning federal court as they go.
At Kenney Legal Defense, you get:
Contact Kenney Legal Defense at (855) 505-5588 or contact us online for a free, confidential phone consultation about your federal drug case today.
