The holiday season always sees a rise in property crimes, as people become even more desperate trying to “keep up with the Joneses,” or just trying to provide a decent holiday season for their family. Whatever the reason, much of the fraudulent activity on credit cards throughout the year occurs…
Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog
Are You Being Charged with Possession or Delivery of Ecstasy in Chicago?
Ecstasy, increasingly referred to as Molly, is the street name for the drug MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine). Whatever you call it, Ecstasy is a synthetic and psychoactive drug, with similarities to stimulants like amphetamine and with similarities to hallucinogens, like mescaline. Those who take it report experiencing euphoria, increased energy, warmth and…
Chicago Property Crimes
When people think about crime, it is usually violent crime that comes to mind. Drug and gun related crime dominates the news, especially in the Chicago area. That said, property crimes are four times more prevalent in Chicago than violent crimes, and many such crimes are serious offenses. Being convicted…
Possession of Cocaine in Chicago
It is against the law in Illinois to possess any amount of cocaine at all. Cocaine, a stimulant derived from the coca plant, is classified as a Schedule I drug in Illinois. The penalties for the possession of cocaine are set out in the Illinois Controlled Substances Act at 720…
When are the Police Allowed to Search Your Home?
If a police officer shows up at your door and demand you open it, you may feel as if you have no option but to allow the officer into your home. Many people are intimidated by the authority of the police or frightened at the idea of disagreeing with the…
Chicago’s Heroin Epidemic and Overdose Crisis
In October of this year, there were more than 100 heroin overdoses in Chicago, including 74 in a 72 hour period. Police blame one batch of heroin that swept through Chicago’s West Side, which was laced with the drug fentanyl, a powerful painkiller. Most of the users who overdosed obtained…
Public Indecency in Illinois
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Public indecency in Chicago is a complicated and serious criminal charge. The penalties and other consequences you face will depend on the circumstances surrounding the incident. In most cases, the crime of public indecency is a Class A misdemeanor in Illinois. The gist of being charged with…
What Makes a Sexual Assault “Aggravated” in Chicago?
Being charged with sexual assault in Illinois is serious, and if you are convicted of sexual assault, you face some of the heaviest penalties levied for any crime in the state. There are several categories of criminal sexual assault in Illinois, and although they all carry the potential for severe…
Happy Holidays: Ticket and Tax Amnesty for Chicagoans!
Two parking tickets, tucked beneath a single windshield wiper, await a likely angry driver when he returns to his vehicle on a street in downtown Doylestown PA. 2008-04-05. Great news, if you are an individual or a business that owes debt to the City of Chicago. The city has announced…
The Most Common Defenses to Drug Crimes
Whether you are facing charges of possession of a controlled substance or illicit drug, or you have been charged with trafficking with the intent to sell or distribute illegal drugs, there are many legal defenses available to you. Depending on which, if any, is applicable, you can greatly reduce the…