Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog

August 18, 2023

Chicago Police Officer and Sister Convicted of Charges Stemming From January 6th

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

A Chicago police officer and his sister have been convicted of several counts related to the January 6th riot at the Capitol. The officer was convicted of entering or remaining in a restricted building, disorderly conduct in a restricted building, disorderly conduct in the Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in the Capitol building. The jury acquitted the police officer of another crime. He was accused of entering the office of Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley.

He is one of several individuals who have been charged with serious crimes related to the January 6th riot. The most serious charges have been filed against those who either attacked Capitol police that day or organized the event to storm the Capitol building during the swearing-in of incumbent President Joe Biden.

18 Years for Stewart Rhodes

August 16, 2023

Chicago Man Charged With Murder of 9-Year-Old Girl

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

A Chicago man has been charged with the grisly murder of a 9-year-old girl. He appeared in court just recently for a bond hearing, during which he was denied bond. His public defender had argued for a reasonable bond based on the fact that the defendant had no criminal history. However, the Chicago courts, considering the severity of the crime with which he is charged, elected to deny him bond. The defendant was still recovering from a shooting himself. He was shot in the left side of his face as police attempted to apprehend him.

Police do not yet have a motive for the shooting. The defendant was a neighbor of the victim. According to the police report, the victim was standing near an ice cream truck when a shot rang out. The victim’s father told her to go back inside their home, where she would be safe. That is when the shooter exited his house armed with a handgun, approached the 9-year-old who was with her father and shot her in the head with a handgun. When the father saw that the defendant was shooting at his daughter, he tried to stop him. During the altercation, the defendant was shot in the face with his own gun.

Mental Health Defense

August 11, 2023

Tinley Park Police Officers Arrest Man Suspected of Grisly Murder

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Police surrounded the home of a Tinley Park man who was suspected of slaying a woman. The man had barricaded himself in his home and was surrounded by SWAT for hours before the arrest was made. Local residents were told to shelter in their homes while the standoff continued. The suspect has been charged with one count of first-degree murder.

While the investigation remains ongoing, the police believe that the man killed a 30-year-old woman. He was apprehended by police after a domestic call. Police found the victim’s body near where the domestic call had been called in. According to police, the man stabbed the woman several times. He had lacerations on his own face as well, likely defensive wounds.

Suspect Has a Lengthy Criminal History

August 9, 2023

Jury Foreman Claims He Regrets Finding Defendant Guilty

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

A 20-year-old juror says that he could not sleep after convicting a defendant of being an armed habitual criminal and battery of a police officer. He later called the conviction a “cover-up.” Nonetheless, the defendant was convicted and will go to jail, though he may have grounds for an appeal.

An altercation between the defendant and the police officers occurred after the defendant ran into an apartment complex. The defendant was on probation for a drug-related crime and subject to a curfew. Police followed the defendant into the apartment complex and fired on him. They claimed he had a gun, a fact which the defendant denied. The prosecution failed to present fingerprint evidence tying the defendant to the gun.

It remains unclear why the juror voted to convict the defendant when he clearly believed that he was innocent. However, it gives you a sense of how our jury system works and why, sometimes, defendants are convicted based only on the say-so of the police.

August 4, 2023

Police Charge Suspect With Sexual Assault for Incident in Public

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Chicago police have charged a 31-year-old man with sexual assault. The suspect is accused of coming up behind the woman and groping her before running away. The incident occurred while she was trying to enter a nearby apartment. The woman had arrived in Chicago from out of town to visit friends. The suspect has been charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault, unlawful restraint, and another count of aggravated robbery.

The incident occurred on July 8th. The suspect was not apprehended immediately, leaving residents of the Lincoln Park neighborhood in fear. The suspect was later taken into custody the following day when surveillance images identified him as the 31-year-old culprit. Police released images of the suspect from a CTA station.

Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault

August 2, 2023

As Gun Possession Arrests Double, Shootings Remain High

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Renewed focus on weapons charges is producing interesting, if disappointing, results. While arrests have doubled for possession of weapons charges, shootings remain high and frequently result in no arrest. The problem is that the majority of these arrests are targeting Black men but have not resulted in an overall reduction of violent crime.

The race to get guns off the street ensures that police officers will use any potential pretext as a reason to search suspects. This can include innocuous traffic stops for tinted windows, the smell of weed, or a bulge in a fanny pack. Police believe that every gun recovered is a potential life saved. But lives are also destroyed in the process. However, the majority of weapons-related charges involve allegations of possession and not use. Violent crimes involving guns remain difficult to solve, and police have overwhelmingly charged Black men with weapons violations. Even as the number of possession-related arrests doubled, the number of violent crimes involving guns escalated over the same period.

Statistics on Gun Possession Charges

July 28, 2023

Chicago Man Charged With Five Counts After Leading Police on High-Speed Chase

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

A Chicago man is facing five charges in Racine County after leading police on a high-speed chase. He is charged with reckless endangerment, grand theft of an automobile, unlawful possession of a firearm, and felony counts of attempting to elude police officers.

According to police, a deputy observed a white Infinity Sedan speeding on the I-94. The deputy began to pursue the vehicle, and road spikes were used to deflate the suspect’s tires. The vehicle began to lose one of its tires as it attempted to exit the highway. The suspect crashed the vehicle outside of a business and then began to flee on foot. The chase lasted for 16.7 miles reaching a top speed of 135 mph.

Deputies apprehended the suspect and searched the vehicle finding a handgun with an extended magazine on the floor of the passenger side of the vehicle. According to the complaint, there was one bullet in the chamber and another 18 in the magazine. The suspect did not have a valid concealed carry permit.

July 26, 2023

Chicago Rapper to Plead Guilty to Using Stolen Credit Cards to Pay for Private Jets

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

A local Chicago rapper is going to plead guilty to using stolen credit cards to pay for private jet rides, luxury vehicles, and “designer” puppies. The charges were filed by the federal government in this case. The rapper is facing one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft, according to the court filing. Officials say he is one of six codefendants in the case.

The rapper will plead guilty to one count of wire fraud and another count of making false statements. A wire fraud conviction carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Prosecutors have filed paperwork affirming the agreement, but the judge still needs to sign off on the plea deal. Two counts of aggravated identity theft were dropped in negotiating the plea agreement.

Wire Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud

July 21, 2023

Two Face Charges After Chicago Officer’s Son Shot During Robbery

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Two teenagers are facing charges after a Chicago police officer’s son was shot during a robbery. An 18-year-old and a 17-year-old allegedly held up a 22-year-old man at gunpoint at 1:48 am. The 17-year-old is alleged to have shot the victim, who turned out to be the son of a Chicago police officer. The victim was seriously injured in the attack. He is now listed in fair condition after sustaining a gunshot wound to the chest. Both men have since been arrested and charged with two counts of attempted robbery with a firearm, one count of aggravated battery, and one count of attempted first-degree murder.

Robbery With a Firearm

Robbery is a theft crime but also a crime of violence. To prove robbery, the prosecution must establish that the defendant threatened the victim with force or actually used force in an attempt to take the victim’s belongings. In this case, the two used a gun to threaten and then shoot the victim. Robbery is considered a class-2 felony under Illinois and has a typical sentence of three to seven years.

July 19, 2023

Man Faces Federal Charges for Possession of a Pipe Bomb

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

A Marissa, IL, man is facing federal charges for constructing a destructive device (a pipe bomb). According to police, the man intended to use the pipe bomb to blow up his former wife’s vehicle. He admitted to lighting the device and throwing it at people who confronted him inside his trailer park in April. The device, however, failed to detonate. A second suspicious device was also located inside his trailer.

Possession of an unregistered destructive device is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison.

Possession of an Unregistered Destructive Device