Illinois police officers arrested two men and one woman in McLean County for various felony drug crimes involving cocaine, according to an article by The Pantagraph.
These arrests occurred in the evening of Friday, July 31st and resulted in the following charges:
- Unlawful possession of cocaine;
- Unlawful delivery of cocaine; and
- Unlawful possession of cocaine with intent to deliver.
All three individuals in question are scheduled for an arraignment on August 14th. Until then, it seems like a valuable opportunity to review several Illinois criminal statutes.
Unlawful Possession of Cocaine
Illinois law under 720 ILCS 570/402 makes it unlawful to possess any controlled substance, including Schedule II substances like cocaine. Any person who violates Section 402 by possessing:
- Less than 15 grams of cocaine — Is guilty of a Class 4 felony with a potential sentence of $25,000 in fines and one to three years in prison;
- Between 15 and 100 grams of cocaine — Is guilty of a Class 1 felony with a potential sentence of $200,000 in fines and four to 15 years in prison;
- Between 100 and 400 grams of cocaine — Is guilty of a Class 1 felony with a potential sentence of $200,000 in fines and six to 30 years in prison;
- Between 400 and 900 grams of cocaine — Is guilty of a Class 1 felony with a potential sentence of $200,000 in fines and eight to 40 years in prison; or
- More than 900 grams of cocaine — Is guilty of a Class 1 felony with a potential sentence of $200,000 in fines and 10 to 50 years in prison.
Unlawful Delivery of Cocaine
Illinois law under 720 ILCS 570/401 makes it illegal to deliver or manufacture any controlled substance. Section 401 also prohibits any person from possessing a controlled substance with the intent to deliver. Illinois law features the same punishment for delivery and possession with intent to deliver.
Any person who violates Section 401 by delivering or possessing with intent to deliver:
- Less than 15 grams of cocaine — Is guilty of a Class 1 felony with a potential sentence of $250,000 in fines and four to 15 years in prison;
- Between 15 and 100 grams of cocaine — Is guilty of a Class X felony with a potential sentence of $500,000 in fines and six to 30 years in prison;
- Between 100 and 400 grams of cocaine — Is guilty of a Class X felony with a potential sentence of $500,000 in fines and nine to 40 years in prison;
- Between 400 and 900 grams of cocaine — Is guilty of a Class X felony with a potential sentence of $500,000 in fines and 12 to 50 years in prison; or
- More than 900 grams of cocaine — Is guilty of a Class X felony with a potential sentence of $500,000 in fines and 15 to 60 years in prison.
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.