The National Household on Drug Abuse has stated that around 28 million people, within the United States, have used cocaine at least once.
Even though the above is true, and even though cocaine is a popular drug, it is illegal in the United States. And, if you are found to be in possession of cocaine, you can face some very serious penalties.
Clarifying the penalties for cocaine possession and speaking with a Chicago drug crime defense attorney who can help you will allow you to protect yourself.
What Are The Penalties For Cocaine Possession?
The exact penalties for cocaine possession are dependent on the quantity of cocaine that is found in your possession.
If you are found to be in possession of 15 grams or less of cocaine, then you can be charged with a Class 4 felony and be sentenced to one to three years in prison.
Just after that, if you are found to be in possession of 15 to 100 grams of cocaine, then you can get four to fifteen years in prison, on top of a serious fine.
Right after the above, if you are found to be in possession of 100 to 400 grams of cocaine, you can be faced with a sentence of six to thirty years in prison. And, if you are found to be in possession of 400 to 900 grams of cocaine, you can receive a prison sentence of eight to forty years.
If you are found to be in possession of more than 900 grams of cocaine, then this can lead to charges of “intent to distribute” and “drug trafficking,” among others, due to the size of that quantity.
Outside of the above, you can also be fined, based on the value of the cocaine that you are holding.
Just as an example of the above, if you are holding 15 grams of cocaine, and that is worth $5,000, then you can be given a $5,000 fine, on top of a prison sentence.
How Can You Defend Yourself From A Cocaine Possession Charge
The best way to defend yourself from a cocaine possession charge is to speak with an attorney who can help you.
A good attorney will go over the facts that led to your arrest and then use these facts to build an effective defense.
If, for example, you were arrested at a party, alongside numerous other people, then a good attorney can prove to the court that the cocaine at that party was not yours.
Or, just as another example, if you were arrested while driving your vehicle, a good attorney can contest the facts of this traffic stop and demonstrate that it was unlawful.
Every single one of the possibilities outlined above, along with many others, will allow you and your attorney to demonstrate your innocence.
Get Qualified Legal Help Today
If you need representation for a cocaine possession accusation or another drug-related crime in Illinois, Glasgow & Olsson is uniquely qualified to help you.
Our team has helped thousands of people who have been charged with crimes in Illinois. When we take cases, we do so to win. This means we take cases to trial. We don’t arrange plea bargains unless it is in the best interest of our clients. As proactive lawyers, we fight aggressively and support our clients throughout their entire case up to and including appeals. Protecting your life and freedom is always the goal, and with our decades of experience practicing law, we know how to get results. This is why we are regularly invited to appear as a legal contributor on popular radio and news outlets, including ABC, CNN, NBC, CBS, and Fox NEWS.
When you need an attorney, experience matters.
Speak with a Chicago criminal defense attorney today to learn how our experience can get you the results you deserve.