Drug Penalties in Illinois
ACCURATE AS OF FEBRUARY 20, 2015
Possession of Methamphetamine’s WeightStatuteClassTime0-5 grams720 ILCS 646/60(b)(1)Class 32-5 years5-15 grams 720 ILCS 646/60(b)(2)Class 23-7 years15-100 grams720 ILCS 646/60(b)(3)Class 14-15 years100-400 grams720 ILCS 646/60(b)(4)Class X6-30 years400-900 grams720 ILCS 646/60(b)(5)Class X8-40 years900+720 ILCS 646/60(b)(6)Class X10-50 years Possession...Motion to Reconsider Sentence Does NOT Stop Appeal Filing Deadlines
Background. Louis Townsend pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a felon and was sentenced to 71 months in prison. He challenges his sentence on several grounds, but the government questions whether the appeal is timely. Townsend’s deadline for filing a notice...
Motion to Reconsider Sentence Does NOT Stop Appeal Filing Deadlines
Background. Louis Townsend pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a felon and was sentenced to 71 months in prison. He challenges his sentence on several grounds, but the government questions whether the appeal is timely. Townsend’s deadline for filing a notice...
Honest Services Fraud: Use of Word “Reward” In Jury Instruction Leads to Reversal
Thomas Hawkins and John Racasi were employed as analysts on the staff of Larry Rogers, a member of the Cook County Board of Review, when they accepted money from Ali Haleem, a corrupt Chicago police officer...
Honest Services Fraud: Use of Word “Reward” In Jury Instruction Leads to Reversal
Thomas Hawkins and John Racasi were employed as analysts on the staff of Larry Rogers, a member of the Cook County Board of Review, when they accepted money from Ali Haleem, a corrupt Chicago police officer...
Supervised Release Is Not Mandatory: New Rules Regarding Non Mandatory Conditions
In considering four consolidated cases, the Court of Appeals held that district court’s must consider the § 3553(a) factors when imposing all non-mandatory conditions of supervised release, including standard conditions of supervised release.
Supervised release, in contrast...
Chicago Federal Defense Attorney Michael J. Petro Success at Dirksen
Success at Dirksen Building. Chicago Criminal Defense Attorney Michael J. Petro fought tooth and nail against the government’s Petition for Preliminary Order of Forfeiture. The petition sought proceeds and specific property including substitute assets. The Judge listened to Mr. Petro’s arguments and dismissed the government’s petition. Savings to client $550K!
Police Use of Lethal Force: Boilerplate Rules
Near midnight on July 18, 2004, Lieutenant Joseph Forthman of the West Memphis, Arkansas, Police Department pulled over a white Honda Accord because the car had only one operating headlight. Donald Rickard was the driver of the Accord, and Kelly Allen...
USSG 2D1.1: Court’s Failure to Explicitly State Drug Quantity Leads to Reversal
Background. Dwayne Garrett was found guilty of possessing with intent to distribute 50 or more grams of crack cocaine and sentenced to 190 months in prison. He appeals both his conviction and sentence.
Garrett was indicted, along with more...
Pro Se Representation: Boilerplate Rules
The defendant was convicted by a jury of having committed, along with another man, four drug-related robberies of pharmacies in Milwaukee, and also of having used a firearm in connection with the robberies and having possessed a...