Woodridge Drug Charge Lawyer

If you have been charged with a drug crime in Illinois, you face major penalties that can change your life forever. If you are convicted, in addition to facing jail time and fines, you will have a criminal record that can affect your employment and educational opportunities, limit your ability to get decent housing, ruin your relationships, and rob you of self-esteem.

Due to the seriousness and complexity of the laws, it is essential to get top-notch legal assistance when charged with drug crimes. The experienced Woodridge drug charge lawyers at Wolfe & Stec, Ltd. are skilled trial lawyers who believe each case has unique circumstances and requirements. Whether you have been accused of drug possession, trafficking, or sale, our drug charge defense lawyers will work with you to mount the most effective defense possible.

Why You Should Choose Wolfe & Stec

Drug arrests are serious. Prosecutors and juries have little sympathy for drug users and sellers, and law enforcement is tough on drug cases. Fighting the system without an experienced and aggressive defense attorney is difficult. At Wolfe & Stec, we believe every accused person is innocent until proven guilty.

When you have our Woodridge drug defense lawyers on your side, we will:

• Meet with you to listen to your version of what happened and discuss your options, answer your questions, and explain what will happen in the legal system.
• Investigate the circumstances of your drug charge, review the evidence, and examine lab reports to determine the best way to build a solid defense.
• Examine how your case was handled by law enforcement to determine if your rights were violated and if the laws about search and seizure and arrests were fully met. If evidence is found inadmissible due to being unlawfully obtained, it can greatly increase the chances that you will be found not guilty.
• Examine other circumstances surrounding the case to determine if other mistakes were made.
• Negotiate with prosecutors to find ways to have your charges dismissed or lessened.
• Take your case to trial if necessary to defend you.

Types of Drug Charges We Defend Against

At Wolfe & Stec, Ltd., our drug charge lawyers can defend you if you have been accused of any Illinois drug crime. The most common categories of charges include:

• Possession of marijuana, cocaine, LSD, heroin, methamphetamine, prescription drugs, and others.
• Trafficking, sales, and distribution of controlled substances. This involves the selling, furnishing, or delivering of an illegal drug.
• Drug distribution refers to selling, delivering, or exchanging controlled substances (720 ILCS 570/401). You may be found guilty of distribution if you transfer, attempt to transfer, or intend to transfer an illegal drug to someone.
• Drug trafficking refers to the importation of controlled substances into Illinois, whether on foot, by car, by plane, by shipment, or by any other methods
• The manufacture of drugs or a controlled substance in Illinois is prohibited. You could be charged if you are caught in the process of manufacturing, if you are found to be operating a meth or drug lab in your home, or business, found with chemicals or cultivating plants commonly used to make a controlled substance, or if police have a search warrant and find evidence of manufacturing.
• Driving while under the influence of drugs – Illinois has drugged driving laws that forbid the operation of a motor vehicle with a detectable level of an illicit drug or drug metabolite present in bodily fluids above a state-imposed threshold.
• Possession of drug paraphernalia is illegal under the Illinois Drug Paraphernalia Control Act (720 ILCS 600/). This paraphernalia includes pipes, water bongs, and common household items that may be used in association with drug use or distribution, such as scales, Ziploc baggies, and syringes.
• Possession with Intent to Deliver involves possession of an illegal substance with the intent to sell it ( 720 ILCS 570/401).
• Dog sniff/detection cases

Common Types of Drugs Involved in Drug Charge Cases

Illinois has a Controlled Substances Act (720 ILCS 570/) that classifies drugs from Schedule I to Schedule V according to factors such as the potential for abuse and whether the drug has any medical or beneficial uses. Schedule V controlled substances are considered the least dangerous, while Schedule I drugs are considered the most dangerous.

The following is a list of the most common drugs that lead to drug arrests that our drug charge attorney can fight on your behalf:

• Cocaine
• Heroin
• Morphine
• Fentanyl
• Methamphetamine (Crystal Meth)
• Prescription drugs – if sold or used without a prescription.

Punishments for Drug Crimes

Illinois drug laws address controlled substances that include heroin, cocaine, and morphine and additional controlled substances such as methamphetamine, fentanyl, LSD, and even peyote. Because of the potential of harm to others, drug trafficking is punished more severely than mere possession, and the larger the amount of the drug involved, the greater the punishment.

For example, in Illinois, possessing less than 1 gram of cocaine or heroin, or morphine is a Class 4 felony, with a sentence of probation or 1 to 3 years in jail. Possession of 15 grams or more of heroin, cocaine, or morphine, but less than 100 grams, may carry a sentence of 4 to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $200,000. Anyone found possessing 900 grams or more of heroin, cocaine, or morphine may be sentenced to 10 to 50 years in prison and fined up to $200,000 or the full street value of the drug, whichever is greater.

The Illinois Controlled Substance Act (720 ILCS 570/Art. IV) contains a complete list of Illinois drug penalties that our drug defense attorney can help fight.

Call a Drug Charge Defense Lawyer in Woodridge for a Free Consultation

You must hire the best criminal defense attorney if you have been charged with any drug crime in Illinois. The experienced and seasoned Illinois drug crime defense attorneys at Wolfe & Stec, Ltd. will examine the facts, the individuals involved, and the evidence available in every situation. Our goal is always to minimize the situation’s negative impact and focus on protecting your freedoms, liberties, and rights.