Student receives reduced charges and probation after pleading guilty

A student from the University of Illinois was sentenced after pleading guilty to the Class 3 felony of one count of possession of cannabis with intent to deliver between 30-500 grams, according to the News-Gazette on May 27. For pleading guilty, the student received a reprieve on more serious charges brought against her, including the intent...

Criminal Defense

April 8th, 2015

Urbana implements new procedure to catch drug dealers

The Urbana Police Division in Illinois has begun sending out patrol officers to make raids on drug tips rather than just its detectives, the Springfield News-Sun reported on April 3. For instance, police officers raided the house of Urbana locals Steven Inskeep, 57, and Sonda Shafer, 48, wherein they found 20 marijuana plants. Additionally, their...

Criminal Defense

January 14th, 2015

Hoopeston man arrested for cannabis possession

Thirty-four-year-old Hoopeston, Illinois resident Kareem Marshall is currently detained at the Champaign County Jail with a $10,000 bond after being arrested for charges of felony unlawful possession with intent to deliver cannabis, The News-Gazette reported on December 31. A police report showed that Marshall, holding a duffel bag, asked the clerk on duty at the front...

Criminal Defense

November 26th, 2014

Pair charged with drugs and gun crimes after traffic stop

Twenty-six-year-old New Memphis in Clinton County, Illinois resident Leross Cooks and 26-year-old Rantoul in Champaign County local James Wesley Guy were arrested by Urbana police on November 18 after a traffic violation stop resulted in more serious findings, The News-Gazette reported. Urbana police Sergeant Dan Morgan said a police officer pulled the suspects’ car over in the 1200...

Criminal Defense

November 17th, 2014

Champaign man charged with drug crimes

Twenty-nine-year-old Champaign resident Harvey Blakely was charged in the Champaign County Circuit Court with unlawful possession with intent to deliver heroin and cocaine, both of which are Class 1 felonies, after being arrested on Saturday, October 25 and assigned a $500,000 bond, The News-Gazette reported. Blakely was arrested after a shooting occurred outside the house where...

Criminal Defense

October 17th, 2014

Feds bust extensive drug trafficking network

The United States Attorney’s Office in Chicago, Illinois said in a statement that 22 suspects of a major drug trafficking network stretching from Mexico to six U.S. states had been taken under police custody, with 14 of them arrested in Chicago, California, Iowa, and Pennsylvania this week, an Associated Press article reported. The suspects were...