A man from Normal, Illinois faces multiple felony charges for alleged cocaine delivery crimes, according to an article by The Pantagraph.
The Bloomington Police Department conducted an arrest after receiving reports that this Illinois man committed four cocaine deliveries between November 26 and December 1. Thereafter, local authorities charged the Illinois man with four counts of unlawful delivery of cocaine.
At this point, the Illinois man declined to post bail and remains in police custody. While the legal case continues to evolve, it seems appropriate to review the Illinois laws against and penalties for delivery of cocaine.
Illinois Laws Against Delivery of Cocaine
720 ILCS 570/401 provides the Illinois laws against delivery of a controlled substance, including cocaine. Under this section, there are severely controlled circumstances under which delivery of cocaine is allowed, largely for medical or research purposes.
Otherwise, Illinois prohibits any person from delivering or manufacturing a controlled substance like cocaine. Additionally, Section 401 makes it unlawful to possess a controlled substance while demonstrating an intent to deliver or manufacture. But from a punishment standpoint, delivery and possession with intent to deliver are treated in the same way under Illinois law.
Illinois Penalties for Delivery of Cocaine
Section 401 also describes the Illinois penalties for delivery of cocaine and other controlled substances. Though it is worth noting that the Illinois punishment for this offense does change based on the classification and quantity of controlled substance in question.
For the most dangerous substances classified in Schedule I or II, which includes cocaine, unlawful delivery crimes involving:
- Less than 1 gram — Leads to Class 2 felony charges and a potential sentence of three to seven years in prison and criminal fines up to $200,000;
- Between 1 and 15 grams — Leads to Class 1 felony charges and a potential sentence of four to 15 years in prison and criminal fines up to $250,000;
- Between 15 and 100 grams — Leads to Class X felony charges and a potential sentence of six to 30 years in prison and criminal fines up to $250,000;
- Between 100 and 400 grams — Leads to Class X felony charges and a potential sentence of nine to 40 years in prison and criminal fines up to $500,000;
- Between 400 and 900 grams — Leads to Class X felony charges and a potential sentence of 12 to 50 years in prison and criminal fines up to $500,000; or
- At least 900 grams — Leads to Class X felony charges and a potential sentence of 15 to 60 years in prison and criminal fines up to $500,000.
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.