Drug Charge Lawyers in Naperville & Chicagoland

Skilled Criminal Defense for Those Charged With Drug Possession

Have you been charged with drug possession? Arrested for possession of heroin or cocaine and need a drug crimes defense lawyer? While possession of a small amount of marijuana (less than 10 grams) is a misdemeanor, most drug charges are felonies and result in substantial fines and jail time if you are not careful. If the drug possession or sale is within 1,500 feet of a school, church, public park, or a movie theater (or if a firearm is in possession at the time of a drug arrest) the court may double the fine and the sentence. As a result of strict sentencing guidelines, drug convictions account for a significant part of the increase in Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) admissions over the past 10 years.

In addition to a potential long jail sentence, any felony conviction will make it difficult to get a job in the future. Even misdemeanor convictions for possession of a small amount of marijuana will be on your criminal record and can be viewed by prospective employers. If your child is convicted of a drug charge, he or she will not be able to obtain any government student aid, loans, or grants for one year for a first conviction or two years for a second conviction. 

To preserve your freedom and your future, you need a drug defense attorney who is willing to fight for you. We have obtained dismissals and not-guilty verdicts in dozens of felony drug cases, including cases where our clients had more than 20 kilos of drugs in their possession.

We Handle All Types of Drug Cases

The drug defense law offices of John W. Callahan, Ltd., defend clients in both federal and state court who have been charged with drug offenses such as the following:

• Drug possession — Possession of narcotics or another controlled substance (such as heroin, cocaine, morphine, marijuana, ecstasy, methamphetamine, and LSD)
• Drug distribution — Delivery of narcotics or another controlled substance
• Drug sale — Sale, manufacture, possession of narcotics or another other controlled substance with intent to traffic
• Drug manufacture — Unlawful possession of meth (amphetamine), manufacturing chemicals and equipment
• Prescription drug fraud — Fraudulently obtaining prescription drugs

Our drug defense lawyers are very familiar with constitutional defenses. We will analyze the police reports to find out if the search and seizure was legitimate. Through cross-examination of arresting officers, we can attack their credibility and break down the case against you.

Were Your Constitutional Rights Violated?

Representing clients charged with drug possession and possession with intent to deliver throughout the greater Chicago area and Cook County, the law offices of John W. Callahan, Ltd., will defend your constitutional rights. Drug charges almost always involve questions involving evidence and due process. When you were arrested…

• Were you read your rights?
• Were witnesses involved?
• Could you call an attorney?
• Was the evidence properly collected?
• Were you asked questions before you were mirandized?
• Did the officer have probable cause before searching your car?
• Did the police conduct an illegal search of your house or other belongings?
• If on a public street, did the search exceed the area under your immediate control?

If you face drug charges, contact John W. Callahan, Ltd., today. Our vigilant defense attorneys critically evaluate the prosecution’s case and relentlessly challenge shaky evidence, questionable witness testimony, and improper police procedures.

Don’t Assume the Police Go by the Book

On shows like “CSI” or “Law and Order,” the police are portrayed as upstanding professionals with an endless array of technological resources at their disposal for collecting and preserving evidence. Investigators and district attorneys are portrayed as tireless crusaders for truth and justice. Unfortunately, the real world is drastically different. Just ask the people in “Making a Murderer.” The police do not always follow proper procedures and district attorneys are often embroiled in the politics of their own office.

At John W. Callahan, Ltd., our lawyers understand the ways in which your constitutional rights can be compromised. We don’t stand idly by and let police behavior or testimony go unchallenged. Nor are we willing to allow a prosecutor to sacrifice your freedom on the altar of his or her own ambition.

Penalties for Drug Crimes

Over the past 10 years, drug convictions have accounted for a significant part of the increase in Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) admissions. Almost all drug charges, except for possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana, are felonies, and subject to prison sentences of at least one year in prison. The most serious drug crimes – those classified as class X felonies – are subject to sentences ranging from six to 30 years. When combined with other charges such unlawful use of a weapon, a drug conviction can amount to life in prison.

Certain factors can increase the penalties associated with drug possession. If you are arrested in possession of drugs within 1,500 feet of a school, public park, church or theater, it could double your sentence. If you are illegally in possession of a firearm at the time you are arrested on suspicion of drug possession, that can also escalate the penalties you face. Police may spot the same person in possession of drugs multiple times over the course of an investigation. Prosecutors will charge these crimes cumulatively, ending with a penalty far exceeding what most people expect.

Sentencing guidelines in drug cases can be shocking. It is vital to have a knowledgeable Illinois defense attorney on your side as soon as possible after an arrest. Our firm has been able to obtain dismissals and not-guilty verdicts in many challenging drug cases. We are aggressive in protecting our clients’ rights. We fight to obtain favorable outcomes for our clients.

Illinois Attorney Representing Those Charged with Drug Crimes

To preserve your freedom and your future, you need a drug crimes defense lawyer who is willing to fight for you. We have obtained dismissals and not-guilty verdicts in dozens of felony drug cases, including cases where our clients had more than 20 kilos of drugs in their possession.

Attorney John W. Callahan is very familiar with constitutional defenses for drug crimes. He will analyze the police reports to find out if the search and seizure was legitimate. Through cross-examination of arresting officers, he can attack their credibility and break down the case against you.

For a complimentary consultation to discuss your case, call 630-625-8491 or contact our firm by e-mail.