The spread of drug addiction in the past few decades have resulted in an increased number of drug enforcement actions in Illinois and across the U.S. Earlier this year, the Southern Illinois Drug Task Force conducted an investigation that led to the arrests of four people.
According to the SIDTF, a 30-year-old man from Salem was arrested for possessing methamphetamine with the intent to deliver it. A 27-year-old West Frankfort woman was arrested for possessing methamphetamine. A 39-year-old West Frankfort woman was arrested and charged with possessing marijuana with the intent to deliver. Finally, a 27-year-old Carterville man was arrested and is facing multiple charges, including aggravated fleeing and eluding, possession of marijuana and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon or gang member.
Multiple police agencies participated in the operation, including the West Frankfort, Christopher, Ziegler, and West City Police Departments. The Illinois State Police also was involved in the investigation and sting. The four defendants will be prosecuted by the Franklin County State Attorney’s Office. There is no indication of whether the four remain in custody or if they have had bonds set.
Drug charges are treated harshly in Illinois courts. When the charges involve allegations of drug distribution or selling drugs while in possession of weapons, the potential consequences can be even more severe. People who are accused of drug crimes may want to retain criminal defense attorneys as soon as possible after they have been charged. When attorneys are hired early in the process, they may have more time to thoroughly investigate the case so that they can build the strongest cases possible. The attorneys might try to get some of the evidence suppressed or secure favorable pleas to lesser charges.
