A couple from Bloomington, Illinois faces multiple felony charges for allegedly trafficking more than 10 ounces of illegal drugs into Illinois, according to an article by The Pantagraph.
Law enforcement apparently discovered controlled substances in a package mailed to the Illinois couple. Then police obtained a search warrant for the couple’s residence. Between both searches, law enforcement confiscated:
- 1,750 grams of amphetamine pills;
- 1,350 grams of unmarked pills;
- 720 grams of oxycodone; and
- 160 grams of alprazolam.
As a result of this incident, the authorities charged the Illinois couple with:
- Multiple counts of Class X felonies, including several counts of drug trafficking; and
- One Class 3 felony for possession of drugs with intent to deliver.
At this juncture, the Illinois couple remains in police custody after failing to post bail. While these individuals await arraignment on April 29, it seems like a proper occasion to review several Illinois laws and penalties.
Drug Delivery Laws and Penalties in Illinois
720 ILCS 570/401 establishes the Illinois laws against and penalties for drug delivery. This section makes it unlawful to knowingly:
- Deliver or manufacture any controlled substance; or
- Possess any controlled substance with intent to deliver or manufacture.
Under Section 401, there is a sliding scale of Illinois penalties for drug delivery or possession with intent to deliver. The punishment usually increases based on the type and quantity of controlled substance in question.
In the present case, specifically, the Illinois couple faces Class 3 felony charges for possession with intent to deliver. If convicted, the penalties can include imprisonment for two to five years and criminal fines up to $25,000.
Drug Trafficking Laws and Penalties in Illinois
720 ILCS 570/401.1 provides the Illinois laws against and penalties for drug trafficking. This section makes it unlawful to knowingly:
- Bring or cause to be brought any controlled substance into Illinois; and
- Intend to manufacture or deliver the controlled substance in question.
Typically, the Illinois punishment for drug trafficking is twice that for a delivery crime, fluctuating based on the type and quantity of controlled substance in question. Though Section 401.1 does apply Class 2 felony charges to any drug trafficking offense that involves the use of a cellular radio telecommunications device.
If convicted for a Class 2 felony in Illinois, the penalties can include imprisonment for three to seven years and criminal fines up to $25,000.
In the present case, specifically, the Illinois couple faces Class X felony charges for drug trafficking. If convicted, the penalties can include imprisonment for six to 30 years and criminal fines up to $25,000.
Do You Need Legal Help?
No matter what the criminal offense, all charges are serious. A sound strategy and an aggressive defense are essential for a positive outcome. To protect your rights in such situations, it is highly advisable to retain legal counsel from an experienced criminal defense attorney.
The Prior Law Firm in Bloomington, Illinois, has proven experience in matters of criminal defense. If you need legal help with criminal defense, contact us today for a free consultation. You can reach The Prior Law Firm by phone at (309) 827-4300, email at johnprior@thepriorlawfirm.com or by completing an online form.