The U.S. Attorney for the District of Southern Illinois indicted a Carbondale man for two drug crimes involving crack cocaine. On Aug. 15, the 48-year-old man pleaded guilty to a charge for distribution of crack cocaine as well as a second drug charge for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Activities that led to the two charges allegedly took place in Jackson and Williamson Counties beginning in 2012 and ending in April 2013.
During the investigation, a source working for the police allegedly purchased crack cocaine from the accused man on April 7. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Carbondale Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration worked together on the investigation. At a plea hearing for the accused man, evidence was reportedly presented to the court that linked the man’s drug activities to those of a co-defendant who had already pleaded guilty.
While he awaits his scheduled sentencing hearing on Dec. 3, the accused man is being held with no bond. He could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each charge as well as a fine of $1,000,000. Up to three years of supervised release could also be added onto the end of his prison sentence.
An individual who is facing the possibility of more than a decade behind bars may consider employing the services of a criminal defense attorney who could advocate their case early on for the possibility of reduced or dismissed charges. By carefully examining the prosecution’s evidence, an attorney might be able to uncover if there are any inaccuracies in the police report or if officers infringed on the defendant’s rights during the arrest. An attorney might also participate in plea bargain negotiations where rehabilitation may be presented as an alternative to a lengthy prison sentence.
Source: KFVS, “Williamson Co. man pleads guilty to crack cocaine charges“, Amber Ruch, August 18, 2014
Source: KFVS, “Williamson Co. man pleads guilty to crack cocaine charges“, Amber Ruch, August 18, 2014