What You Need to Know Before a Small Mistake Becomes a Criminal Crisis COMMON MISTAKES DEFENDANTS MAKE IN CHICAGO NO-CONTACT ORDER CASES Chicago is a city filled with dense neighborhoods, busy apartment buildings, and constant public movement. Because people live, shop, and commute in close proximity, accidental encounters happen every…
What Every Chicago Defendant Should Know Before Speaking to Law Enforcement Why Chicago Residents Must Understand Their Rights Before Any Police Questioning Occurs Chicago is a city with constant police activity. Whether you live in Beverly, Uptown, Little Village, Avondale, or near downtown, you will see officers conducting investigations daily.…
Chicago Traffic Stops and Vehicle Searches: How These Cases Really Begin Chicago is a city where traffic stops happen constantly. Whether you are driving down Lake Shore Drive, heading toward the Loop from the South Side, or returning home to neighborhoods like Jefferson Park, Pilsen, Beverly, or Old Irving Park,…
Chicago is a city where police investigations happen constantly. Whether you are in Andersonville, Bronzeville, Belmont Cragin, Albany Park, Chatham, or Garfield Ridge, it’s common to see officers canvassing neighborhoods, reviewing surveillance footage, or stopping individuals for questioning. When Chicago police decide they want to “ask you a few things,”…
Understanding What a Walmart Shoplifting Arrest Means in Chicago Being accused of shoplifting at Walmart can feel like your life changes in a single moment. Whether the arrest happened at a Walmart in Chicago, Berwyn, Evergreen Park, or a suburban location such as Cicero or Niles, the process is nearly…
Chicago’s Trucking Lifeline and the Stakes of a CDL Case In a city like Chicago—where semis move daily along I-90, I-94, and I-290 to reach warehouses in Bedford Park, Cicero, and Joliet—commercial drivers are the unseen force that keeps businesses alive. Losing a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) can mean losing…
When Beating a Criminal Charge Doesn’t End Immigration Risks in Illinois As a Chicago criminal defense lawyer, I often meet people who breathe a sigh of relief after a not-guilty verdict or a case dismissal, only to discover that their immigration troubles are far from over. Illinois law governs what…
How Immigration Enforcement Collides with Illinois Criminal Law In Chicago’s busy criminal courts, confusion often arises when people hear that ICE “has a warrant.” I’ve spent decades defending clients across Cook County, and many were shocked to learn that what officers called a “warrant” was actually a detainer request. The…
Federal aggravated identity theft is not just another fraud charge—it is one of the harshest federal crimes prosecuted in Chicago. Under 18 U.S.C. § 1028A, defendants convicted of aggravated identity theft face mandatory prison time. Judges cannot reduce or suspend these penalties, which means the stakes are higher than in…
Chicago’s Role in Federal Criminal Enforcement Chicago is not only the largest city in Illinois but also one of the busiest federal jurisdictions in the country. Because of its central location, major airports, and international commerce, it draws the focus of agencies such as the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and…