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Drug Charges search, seizure, and the truth.

Defense against possession, distribution, and trafficking charges throughout the Metro East.

Most drug cases in Illinois are won or lost on the constitutionality of a single search. Before any plea is discussed, the firm examines how the evidence was obtained — the traffic stop, the warrant affidavit, the dog sniff, the consent encounter, the confidential informant — and whether any of it can be excluded under the Fourth Amendment. When evidence is suppressed, the State's case often cannot survive.

Charges range from misdemeanor cannabis paraphernalia through Class X manufacture/delivery and federal trafficking conspiracies. The firm represents clients facing possession of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl; possession with intent to deliver; cannabis offenses above lawful thresholds; drug-induced homicide; prescription fraud; and Title 21 federal indictments. The defense strategy is calibrated to the charge, the evidence, and the client's history.

Where suppression is not available, the firm pursues alternatives. Illinois drug court, TASC probation, 410 probation for qualifying first offenders, and treatment-based dispositions can produce outcomes that preserve a clean record and address the underlying issues. For clients who do not need court intervention, straight negotiation or trial may be the right path. The decision is the client's, made on full information.

Sentencing in drug cases turns on weight thresholds, substance class, location enhancements (school zones, public housing, places of worship), and whether the case proceeds in state or federal court. The firm uses independent lab testing where weight or composition is contested, and prepares mitigation that contextualizes the client's circumstances at sentencing.

Common Questions

Frequently asked.

Q01Can the police search my car during a traffic stop?
Not without probable cause, consent, or a valid warrant exception. A stop based on a minor traffic violation does not, by itself, authorize a search of the vehicle. If a drug dog alerts, the alert must be reliable and the stop must not have been unconstitutionally prolonged to wait for the dog. Suppression motions targeting these issues are common in drug cases.
Q02What weight makes a drug charge a felony in Illinois?
Any amount of a controlled substance other than cannabis is a felony in Illinois — possession of heroin, cocaine, meth, or fentanyl is a felony regardless of quantity. Cannabis becomes a felony above 30 grams (possession) or above 10 grams (delivery), with class increasing by weight. Intent to deliver and proximity to schools or housing add further enhancements.
Q03What is drug-induced homicide?
Illinois charges drug-induced homicide (720 ILCS 5/9-3.3) when a person delivers a controlled substance that another person ingests and dies from. It is a Class X felony, 15–30 years, and it is being aggressively prosecuted across Southern Illinois in fentanyl overdose cases. The defense often turns on causation and the chain of delivery.
Q04Am I eligible for drug court or 410 probation?
410 probation is available to certain first-time offenders charged with simple possession; successful completion results in dismissal with no conviction entered. Drug court is available in St. Clair County for clients whose criminal conduct is driven by addiction. Eligibility depends on the charge and the prior record — the firm evaluates this at the first consultation.
Q05What happens if my drug case goes federal?
Federal drug cases are governed by the Sentencing Guidelines and carry mandatory minimums tied to drug type and quantity (for example, 5 years for 500g of cocaine or 28g of crack). There is no parole — defendants serve at least 85% of the sentence. Cooperation, safety-valve relief, and mitigation under §3553(a) are critical levers in federal sentencing.
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Related Results

Verdicts & outcomes.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes — but they reflect a record of fighting cases all the way through, on facts the State expected to win.

Drug Crimes
Two drug charges (prior convicted felon)
24 months probation — no prison

Convicted felon facing two new drug charges. Negotiated outcome: 24 months probation with no additional prison time.

— Koran Mosby
Drug Crimes
Possession with intent to deliver
Suppression granted — case dismissed

Successful motion to suppress evidence based on an unlawful search led to dismissal of all charges.

— Confidential Client
Drug Crimes
Felony drug possession
Probation — no jail

Negotiated a probation-only resolution with no jail time for a client facing felony drug possession.

— Confidential Client
Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.