Chicago Criminal Defense Lawyers
With A Reputation For Results In Tough Cases
Earlier this month, a federal judge in the state of New York struck down a policy in New York City dealing with a police procedure known as “stop and frisk,” citing the city’s use of the procedure as unconstitutional. Stop and frisk, as some of our readers may know, is a procedure whereby officers briefly detain, question and possibly search…
Mandatory minimum sentences may not be something all of our readers have heard of, but for those who’ve been through the criminal justice system on federal drug charges, it probably is. Mandatory minimum sentences are something the federal government implemented back in the 1980s during the so-called “war on drugs.” The intent was to curb judges’ discretion as to prison…
Our readers may have heard about the Chicago woman, formerly from a South Side housing development, who is suing three police officers for allegedly kicking her apartment door in and placing bags of crack cocaine outside her window back in 2009. The woman was acquitted of drug charged at trial after the incident, but she took the matter further by…
Our regular readers will remember that we wrote, last month, a set of posts on investigation tactics used by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). As we pointed out in those posts, the agency has been criticized for its use of sting setups, in which suspects are drawn into agreements to rob drug stash houses that,…
Governor Pat Quinn is expected to sign into law today a measure that would legalize medical marijuana in Illinois. The bill, which would take effect in January, calls to the creation of a pilot program in which qualifying patients would be able to use up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana on a biweekly basis. To qualify for the program, patients…
Earlier this month, an alleged Chicago gang member who was arrested in La Crosse back in April on suspicion of selling illegal drugs pleaded not guilty to federal drug charges. The 50-year-old Indiana man, accused of being a member of the Black Disciples, allegedly sold cocaine and heroin according to agents from the FBI. He was arrested along with 16…
In our previous post, we began speaking about investigation procedures currently used by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. As we noted, it is not uncommon for the agency to use stings to draw suspects into agreeing to rob drug stash houses that do not exist. The practice has been called into question, even among those responsible…
According to a recent analysis by USA Today, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (AFT), the agency charged with enforcing national gun laws, has incarcerated over 1,000 individuals by setting them up drawing them into a fake plot to rob drug stash houses that did not actually exist. While the strategy has come to be an important part…
One of the primary initial concerns in building a criminal defense case is to determine whether police officers involved in the criminal process have acted properly and legally in gathering evidence, arresting, citing, and questioning the criminal defendant. This is an incredibly important question, particularly in cases where police have gathered incriminating evidence by means of questionable practices. To take…
Last week, twenty three individuals were charged with federal narcotics offenses for allegedly participating in the distribution of heroin and cocaine in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. The charges were the result of an investigation led by the Chicago Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Around three pounds of heroin and nearly nine pounds of cocaine were seized in the…