A man from Bloomington, Illinois faces felony charges for the alleged and unlawful delivery of meth, according to an article by The Pantagraph.
Court documents indicate that the Illinois man delivered meth to undercover officers with the Bloomington Police Department in December. The authorities issued a warrant for this man’s arrest on January 3. During a hearing on February 7, a judge confirmed that the Illinois man would need to post approximately $15,000 to secure his release from police custody.
At this juncture, the Illinois man remains jailed and awaits further legal proceedings. To understand the potential consequences at play in this case, it will be helpful to review the Illinois laws against and penalties for the delivery of meth.
Unlawful Delivery of Meth in Illinois
720 ILCS 646/55 furnishes the Illinois laws against delivery of meth. This section makes it illegal to knowingly:
- Deliver meth or a substance containing meth; or
- Possess meth or a substance containing meth with the intent to deliver.
In this context, the knowledge requirement is exceedingly important. A person must know — or have a reason to know — that the substance in question is meth. Otherwise, charges for unlawful delivery of meth might not be applicable.
Penalties for Unlawful Delivery of Meth in Illinois
Section 55 also explains the Illinois penalties for the unlawful delivery of meth. Any person who delivers or possesses with intent to deliver:
- Less than 5 grams of meth — Is guilty of Class 2 felony and likely subject to imprisonment for three to seven years and criminal fines up to $25,000;
- Between 5 and 15 grams of meth — Is guilty of Class 1 felony and likely subject to imprisonment for four to 15 years and criminal fines up to $25,000;
- Between 15 and 100 grams of meth — Is guilty of Class X felony and likely subject to imprisonment for six to 30 years and criminal fines up to $100,000 or the street value of the meth, whichever is greater;
- Between 100 and 400 grams of meth — Is guilty of Class X felony and likely subject to imprisonment for nine to 40 years and criminal fines up to $200,000 or the street value of the meth, whichever is greater;
- Between 400 and 900 grams of meth — Is guilty of Class X felony and likely subject to imprisonment for 12 to 50 years and criminal fines up to $300,000 or the street value of the meth, whichever is greater; or
- At least 900 grams of meth — Is guilty of Class X felony and likely subject to imprisonment for 15 to 60 years and criminal fines up to $400,000 or the street value of the meth, whichever is greater.
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.