A man from LeRoy, Illinois, faces felony charges for delivery and trafficking after allegedly using Amtrak to transport methamphetamine (“meth”) across state lines, according to an article by The Pantagraph.
Apparently, the Illinois State Police obtained information that this Illinois man was making trips to St. Louis and returning to McLean County with large amounts of meth. But on September 14, police officers tailed the Illinois man after leaving the train station and executed a traffic stop. After a K9 unit indicated the presence of drugs, police searched the vehicle and seized 223.9 grams of meth.
As a result of this incident, the Illinois man faces criminal charges for meth trafficking and delivery. Based on the information at hand, it seems appropriate to review the Illinois laws against and penalties for meth delivery and trafficking crimes.
Illinois Laws Against Meth Delivery
The Illinois laws against the delivery of meth appear at 720 ILCS 646/55. This section makes it unlawful to deliver meth or possess meth with intent to deliver. Both versions of this offense are punishable in the same way.
Any person who violates Section 55 with respect to:
- Less than 5 grams — Is guilty of a Class 2 felony and subject to a prison sentence between three and seven years as well as criminal fines up to $25,000;
- Between 5 and 15 grams — Is guilty of a Class 1 felony and subject to a prison sentence between four and 15 years as well as criminal fines up to $25,000;
- Between 15 and 100 grams — Is guilty of a Class X felony and subject to a prison sentence between six and 30 years as well as criminal fines up to $100,000;
- Between 100 and 400 grams — Is guilty of a Class X felony and subject to a prison sentence between nine and 40 years as well as criminal fines up to $200,000;
- Between 400 and 900 grams — Is guilty of a Class X felony and subject to a prison sentence between 12 and 50 years as well as criminal fines up to $300,000; or
- More than 900 grams — Is guilty of a Class X felony and subject to a prison sentence between 15 and 60 years as well as criminal fines up to $400,000.
Illinois Laws Against Meth Trafficking
The Illinois laws against meth trafficking appear at 720 ILCS 646/56. This section makes it illegal to knowingly bring meth into Illinois with intent to manufacture or deliver.
The punishment for meth trafficking is connected to the delivery crimes described above. But Section 56 doubles the sentencing range for trafficking crimes. For example, trafficking more than 900 grams of meth into Illinois would still lead to Class X felony charges and criminal fines up to $400,000. But the prison sentence would increase two-fold, with a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 120 years in prison.
Do You Need Legal Help?
No matter what the criminal offense is, 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, by email at johnprior@thepriorlawfirm.com, or by completing an online form.