Manufacturing Controlled Substances Defense Attorney in Los Angeles

Illegal drug manufacturing is one of the most aggressively prosecuted offenses in Southern California. Federal agencies such as the DEA, along with the Los Angeles Police Department and specialized narcotics task forces, devote extensive resources to identifying and dismantling local labs that produce methamphetamine, MDMA (ecstasy), PCP, GHB, LSD, fentanyl, and other synthetic drugs. A conviction under California Health & Safety Code § 11379.6 can carry years in state prison, six-figure fines, and devastating collateral consequences that follow you long after any sentence is complete.

If you or a loved one is being investigated or has been arrested for manufacturing a controlled substance, it is critical that you speak with an attorney who has significant experience in litigating drug crimes. This page explains the law, potential penalties, viable defense strategies, and how Kraut Law Group Criminal & DUI Lawyers, Inc. can help you protect your freedom and future.

Section 11379.6 makes it a felony to “manufacture, compound, convert, produce, derive, process, or prepare, either directly or indirectly by chemical extraction or by means of chemical synthesis, any controlled substance” listed in §§ 11054–11058 HSC. To secure a conviction, the prosecution must prove:

• You engaged in at least one step of the manufacturing process. Possessing precursor chemicals or equipment can be enough if the evidence shows you used them to begin production.
• You knew of the substance’s nature as a controlled substance. The required intent is absent if you believed you were producing a legal cleaning solvent.
• You acted intentionally. Accidental contamination or being forced under duress will not satisfy the element of willfulness.

Merely offering to manufacture, or assisting someone else, can also be charged under the statute, even if the process was never completed, a fact that prosecutors often use as leverage in plea negotiations.

California courts interpret the term broadly. Operations range from sophisticated clandestine labs hidden in warehouses to improvised “one-pot” meth labs assembled in a motel room or the trunk of a car. Activities that have been held to satisfy § 11379.6 include:

• Purchasing large quantities of pseudoephedrine pills, extracting ephedrine, and combining it with red phosphorus and iodine.
• Using pressurized systems to convert fentanyl precursor chemicals into finished fentanyl powder.
• Operating tablet presses to turn MDMA crystals into ecstasy pills bearing logos.

• Base punishment. A conviction carries three, five, or seven years in state prison and up to $50,000 in fines.
• Quantity-based enhancements. When the drug involved is methamphetamine, PCP, or GHB, the court must impose consecutive terms in addition to the base sentence if the total mixture exceeds:
  • 3 gallons of liquid or 1 pound of solid – +3 years
  • 10 gallons or 3 pounds – +5 years
  • 25 gallons or 10 pounds – +10 years
  • 105 gallons or 44 pounds – +15 years
• Child endangerment (HSC § 11379.7). Producing methamphetamine where a child under 16 resides adds up to 2 years; if a child is injured, the enhancement is 5 years.
• Injury or death (HSC § 11379.8). If another person suffers great bodily injury or is killed as a result of the manufacturing operation, courts may add 1 year per victim.
• Prior convictions. An additional 3 years is added for each previous felony conviction for manufacturing, possession for sale (HSC § 11351), or transportation/sale (HSC § 11352, § 11378, § 11379).
• Federal exposure. Large-scale cases are frequently referred to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecution under 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 & 846, where sentences can exceed 20 years to life and asset forfeiture is routine.

Los Angeles-area narcotics officers employ a variety of techniques to build a case:

• Pseudoephedrine purchase tracking and pharmacy “pill logs.” A sudden spike in purchases can trigger an investigation.
• Surveillance and GPS tracking. Warrants authorize the installation of covert cameras or trackers on suspected “smurfing” vehicles.
• Confidential informants and controlled buys. Undercover officers may buy precursor chemicals or finished products to establish probable cause.
• Haz-Mat response teams. Once a lab is located, specialized units neutralize volatile chemicals and preserve forensic evidence.

If any warrant in the chain is defective or officers exceed its scope, the resulting evidence can be suppressed, and the case may collapse.

• Lack of knowledge or intent. Being merely present at a location where chemicals are stored is not enough. We attack the prosecution’s proof that you knowingly participated.
• Insufficient evidence of a manufacturing step. Possessing acetone, red phosphorus, or glassware is lawful absent proof you used them illegally.
• Illegal search and seizure. We examine every warrant, affidavit, and search-team report for Fourth Amendment violations. Suppression motions under People v. Woods often lead to complete dismissals.
• Forensic contamination or faulty lab analysis. Cross-examination of crime-lab chemists frequently reveals chain-of-custody gaps or unaccredited testing methods.
• Entrapment. Aggressive sting operations may be illegal when informants supply critical precursor chemicals or induce a reluctant suspect to participate.

Because § 11379.6 investigations can last months, early representation is crucial. Kraut Law Group Criminal & DUI Lawyers, Inc. often contacts detectives or prosecutors before charges are filed to present exculpatory evidence, challenge probable cause, and seek dismissal or a reduced charge, such as simple possession or attempted manufacture.

Diversion programs (e.g., PC § 1000, Prop 36, or California Drug Court) are generally unavailable for manufacturing convictions. Nonetheless, the right defense strategy can secure probation and county jail instead of state prison, particularly when:

• The client’s role was minor or lacked a prior record.
• No finished product indicated an “experiment” rather than a commercial lab.
• Chemical precursors were below threshold amounts.

We work with chemical-dependency specialists to prepare mitigation packages, demonstrating treatment plans and community support that persuade judges to grant probation under PC § 1170(h).

• Asset forfeiture of homes, vehicles, or cash associated with the alleged lab.
• Immigration consequences. Manufacturing is an aggravated felony under 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(43)(B), triggering deportation and permanent inadmissibility.
• Professional and occupational licensing discipline. Healthcare, real estate, and security guard licenses can be revoked.
• Federal benefits ineligibility, including student loans and public housing.

• Prosecutorial insight. Founding attorney Michael Kraut served 14 years as a Deputy District Attorney in Los Angeles. He understands how local narcotics prosecutors evaluate lab cases and what they need to prove.
• Extensive courtroom experience. Mr. Kraut has tried more than 90 jury trials to verdict, including complex drug conspiracies.
• Scientific resources. We maintain relationships with independent chemists and Haz-Mat experts capable of challenging prosecution lab findings.
• 24/7 crisis response. Manufacturing arrests often involve late-night raids. Our firm is available around the clock to arrange bail, attend bail-review hearings, and protect your rights during aggressive police questioning.

Every case is unique, and prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes, but they demonstrate the focused, creative defense we offer each client.

If you have been arrested, are under investigation, or suspect you may be a target in a drug-manufacturing case, do not speak to law enforcement officers before consulting counsel. Early mistakes, including consent searches, recorded phone calls, or uncontrolled statements, are often irreversible.

Kraut Law Group Criminal & DUI Lawyers, Inc., defends clients in Los Angeles County and Southern California. We will:

• Conduct a rapid, independent investigation of the allegations.
• Challenge unlawfully obtained evidence through aggressive motion practice.
• Engage respected scientific experts to dissect chemical findings.
• Fight for dismissal, acquittal at trial, or the most favorable negotiated outcome.

Schedule a free, confidential consultation today. Our downtown Los Angeles office is 6255 Sunset Boulevard, Suite 1520, Los Angeles, CA 90028. Attorney Michael Kraut can be reached 24/7 at 888-334-6344 | 323-464-6453. Or using our secure online form.