Illinois authorities take all drug-related offenses seriously. As such, if you face any charges involving cocaine and know you’ve been wrongfully accused, you should fight to clear your name.
Understanding cocaine crimes
Cocaine charges could involve possession, trafficking or sale. All of these are classified as felony offenses on both state and federal levels. Depending on the severity of the charges and the amount of drugs uncovered, there are different consequences that may occur.
Possession of cocaine is the most common charge; it’s deemed serious due to cocaine being an illicit narcotic drug. If a person is charged with cocaine possession, it might be for their own personal use or for the purpose of trafficking and selling it.
Penalties for cocaine possession
Anyone convicted of possession of cocaine can expect to face prison time and hefty fines. The more drugs found in the defendant’s possession, the harsher the penalties. Even less than 15 grams is considered a felony; Class 4, to be exact, which carries a prison sentence of up to one year. The harshest penalties are when more than 900 grams are found; for a conviction, a person can face anywhere from 10 to 50 years in prison.
Possible defenses
Unlawful search and seizure is one of the strongest defenses to cocaine possession. If law enforcement lacked a warrant and you didn’t consent to a search of your property or person, it could help your case.
Entrapment may be used when a police officer pressures or forces a person to possess the drug. However, this defense is sometimes difficult to prove.
Another defense to cocaine possession is lack of knowledge. If the defendant can prove they were unaware of the drugs’ presence, it could be argued in their case.