On Jan. 19, a 32-year-old Illinois man was arrested for allegedly dealing drugs after police executed a search warrant at his Arlington Heights home. He has been charged with felony possession of marijuana with intent to deliver. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison.
According to authorities, police found nearly 14 pounds of marijuana in the defendant’s residence, including a 13-pound brick and 454 grams divided into prepackaged containers. The defendant also had 8 grams of marijuana in the waistband of his pants. In total, the drugs had an estimated street value of in excess of $125,000.
This is not the first time the defendant has faced criminal charges. In 2008, he was convicted of drug possession in Michigan. At the time of his latest arrest, he was also on bond for charges of reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident. His new bond was set at $115,000.
People who have been handed drug distribution charges could face severe consequences if a conviction is obtained, particularly if they have a prior record. Possible sentences include long prison terms and heavy fines. However, a defendant may be able to avoid such outcomes by working with a criminal defense attorney. In some cases, legal counsel may discover that police seized the drugs in violation of the defendant’s constitutional right against unreasonable searches. If successful, the evidence might be ruled inadmissible, which could potentially lead to the dismissal of the charges.
Source: Arlington Heights Patch, “Nearly 14 Pounds Of Pot Worth $125K Found In AHeights Home“, Joe Vince, Jan. 19, 2018