Fans of the hit music competition television program American Idol may remember contestant Antonella Barba, who participated in the sixth season of the show in 2007. While her voice may have briefly put her in the spotlight when the show aired, today she is in the spotlight for another reason: allegedly running a drug ring in Virginia.
According to the federal indictment, Barba conspired to distribute various drugs. Back in October of 2018, Barba was allegedly ordered by another individual to deliver 830 grams of fentanyl to a second individual. These individuals have also been criminally charged for reportedly providing others with heroin and cocaine so that they may distribute those drugs. Barbra has been charged with distributing drugs, possessing drugs with the intent to distribute them and conspiracy. All these charges are federal charges.
Federal drug charges such as these are very serious. Even if a person didn’t directly sell the drugs, simply intending to or conspiring to do so can lead to incarceration, fines and other significant consequences. Moreover, if a person is convicted, that person may find it difficult to find housing and employment after they serve their sentence, due to having a criminal record that will show up on background checks.
Drug crimes can include possession, distribution and manufacturing. Even intending or conspiring to commit these offenses can lead to criminal charges. These charges are made even more serious if there are a significant number of drugs at issue. For this reason, those accused of such crimes will want to explore all their defense options so that they can make decisions that are in their best interests.