Two Chicago individuals face charges for multiple felony drug crimes after a traffic stop in Bloomington turned up 324 grams of cannabis and cocaine, according to an article by The Pantagraph.
On Saturday, April 28th at approximately 7:30 p.m., Bloomington law enforcement pulled over a vehicle near West Washington Street and Euclid Avenue. With assistance from a K-9 unit, law enforcement established probable cause and executed a search of the vehicle.
While searching the vehicle, law enforcement uncovered 254 grams of cannabis, 64.5 grams of crack cocaine, 5.5 grams of powder cocaine, several hundred pills, and various materials.
As a result of this search, law enforcement arrested the vehicle’s occupants — a 34-year-old male and a 22-year-old female, both from Chicago. Thereafter, the authorities charged both of those individuals with:
- Unlawful manufacture or distribution of 30-500 grams of cannabis;
- Unlawful manufacture or distribution of 15-100 grams of cocaine; and
- Several other felony drug crimes.
Both individuals remain in place custody in lieu of posting bail. To understand the severity of the criminal charges they are facing, it will be helpful to review Illinois state law governing unlawful manufacture or distribution of cannabis and cocaine.
Unlawful Manufacture or Distribution of Cannabis
Outside of approved and licensed exceptions, 720 ILCS 550/5 prohibits any person from manufacturing or distributing cannabis. It is also illegal to possess cannabis with intent to manufacture or distribute.
The punishment for unlawful manufacture or distribution depends upon the amount of cannabis in question. When that amount is between 30 grams and 500 grams, as is the case in the present article, the offender is guilty of a Class 3 felony. If convicted, the maximum sentence includes five years in prison and up to $50,000 in fines.
Unlawful Manufacture or Distribution of Cocaine
Outside of approved and licensed exceptions, 720 ILCS 570/401 criminalizes the manufacture or distribution of controlled substances, including cocaine. As with cannabis, it is also illegal to possess a controlled substance with the intent to manufacture or distribute.
The punishment for unlawful manufacture or distribution fluctuates based on the quantity of cocaine at issue. When that quantity is between 15 grams and 100 grams, as is the case in the present article, the offender is guilty of a Class 1 felony. If convicted, the maximum sentence includes 15 years in prison and up to $200,000 in fines.
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.