Every year, it seems as if the heroin epidemic stays the same or gets worse, and due to overdoses and crimes associated with heroin addiction (such as theft or fraud), judges, police, and prosecutors tend to hand out the harshest sentences to those convicted of possessing, distributing, or manufacturing heroin. In fact, even possession of heroin residue weighing less than 0.2 grams is considered a very serious felony, resulting in prison time as well as a lifelong criminal record.
If you’re charged with a heroin crime, you need a Chicago heroin crimes attorney as soon as possible to look over your case, provide legal counsel, and aggressively fight for you in courts. In a best-case scenario, drug crimes attorney Fred Mark Dry can help get your charges dropped or prove a non-guilty conviction, but if the evidence is stacked against you, we’ll do everything under Illinois and federal law to get the sentence reduced or secure alternative sentencing, such as drug rehabilitation instead of prison.
Penalties for Heroin Possession
Crimes for possession of heroin are detailed in Illinois Statute 720 ILCS 570/402, under the Illinois Controlled Substance Act. According to this statute, if you’re caught with over 0 grams of heroin, but less than 15 grams, you’ll be facing a Class 4 felony punishable by up to 1 to 3 years in prison and/or maximum fines of $25,000. Possessing more than 15 grams, however, results in a Class 1 Felony, carrying a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 4 yearsand fines up to $200,000.
Generally, if police find a large quantity of heroin, you’ll be charged with distribution, which carries a 3 year mandatory minimum sentence for even just half a gram. Distributing just 15 grams, however, is a Class X felony, the most serious in Illinois. If charged with a Class X felony, you could be facing between 6 and 30 years in prison.
How Our Drug Crimes Defense Can Help
After being caught possessing heroin, it may feel as if prison and the social status of being a felon are inevitable. Fortunately, this is not always the case, and Attorney Fred Mark Dry has helped thousands of individuals successfully move on from a heroin-related crime. We’ll diligently investigate the circumstances of the arrest, challenging the stop and search that resulted in your arrest.
Also, as being in the same home or car with heroin not on your person is not a crime, we’ll ensure that you aren’t being charged with just being in the same vicinity as heroin. And most importantly, if the evidence is stacked against you, we’ll work with prosecutors and judges to establish various plea bargains that’ll keep you out of jail
Contact the Top-Rated Heroin Crimes Attorney in Chicago
Being charged with heroin possession or distribution can be a frightening affair, especially because there is very little compassion or patience with heroin offenders in Illinois. Therefore, you need an experienced Chicago heroin crimes attorney to stand up for you, challenge the case, and make sure that you’re able to move onwards from the alleged crime.
If you’re caught with heroin, don’t wait and contact Attorney Fred Mark Dry