Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog

July 5, 2023

13 Men Facing Charges Related to Drug Trafficking

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

Federal authorities announced charges against 13 men for operating an “open-air” drug market in which they sold fentanyl-laced heroin and cocaine. They have since been charged with drug trafficking related to the sale and manufacture of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine. The men are suspected to be members of the Traveling Vice Lords gang. Authorities say they ran a multi-year investigation into the crew executing search warrants at multiple locations where the drugs were sold. Multiple locations throughout Chicago and Chicago suburbs were targeted as part of the investigation.

Authorities seized more than a kilo of cocaine, more than 250 grams of heroin containing fentanyl, 10 firearms, two 50-round drum ammunition magazines, several extended ammunition magazines, and nine vehicles.

What is an “Open-Air” Drug Market?

June 30, 2023

Charges Dropped Against Mother and Son After Shooting

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

Charges have been dropped against a mother and her son in the shooting death of a man at a restaurant. Surveillance footage shows the man punching the woman before the woman’s son pulled her gun and shot him. The woman had a concealed carry license and was a FOID card holder at the time of the shooting. The mother and son had been charged with first-degree murder, and the mother was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. However, when footage emerged that the man was the aggressor, Cook County prosecutors decided to drop all the charges against them.

What Happened?

The mother was in line ordering food at a restaurant when she was approached by the victim. An argument ensues between the victim and the mother, and the victim throws a punch at the mother. The son, who had the gun on his person, pulls it from a front hoodie pocket and shoots the victim after he threw the punch at his mother.

June 28, 2023

Chicago Pharmacist Convicted of Selling Blank Vax Cards on eBay

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

A Chicago pharmacist has been convicted of stealing and then selling blank COVID-19 vaccination cards on eBay. The announcement came from the Justice Department, which claimed that the pharmacist stole CDC-issued vaccination cards and made them available to eBay users across the country. The Justice Department claims that over three weeks, the pharmacist listed over 650 vaccination cards on the online marketplace. They claim he sold the cards to over 200 individual buyers and pocketed more than $5,600 due to the illicit sales.

The government was able to present evidence of the transactions and correspondence sent between the pharmacist and buyers. The pharmacist was convicted of 12 counts of theft of government property.

His attorney plans to appeal the verdict, claiming that the cards were not government property and that the government never exerted any control over them to make them their property. Instead, The government made the cards available to pharmacies like Walgreens, which distributed the cards after patients received COVID-19 vaccinations. In other words, the government exerted no supervision over the cards. They only printed them and then distributed them to pharmacies.

June 23, 2023

Police Seargent Found Not Guilty After Pinning Teen to Sidewalk

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

In an incident that was reminiscent of the murder of George Floyd, a Chicago police sergeant was charged with aggravated battery and official misconduct after pinning a 14-year-old boy to the sidewalk while off duty. During a bench trial, the sergeant was found not guilty of the charges, although he remains on leave after having his police duties stripped. The family says they plan on filing a civil lawsuit in the case.

A viral video of the incident made its way across social media, stoking animosity toward the sergeant and police in general. The sergeant could be seen with his knee on the boy’s back. The boy was face down, lying on the ground.

According to reports, the officer believed that his son’s stolen bicycle was spotted near a Starbucks. The officer found the bicycle near a group of teens and waited to see if anyone would take it. The 14-year-old touched the bicycle to move it, and that is when the officer confronted him. The officer grabbed the teen, placed him in an arm bar, and pushed him to the ground. Then he placed his knee on the teen’s back.

June 21, 2023

Illinois Considers Expanding Program for First-Time Weapons Offenders

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

Governor Pritzker is considering expanding a program that allows first-time offenders to erase charges related to weapons possession. The law allowed those between the ages of 18 and 20 to participate in a program that, if successfully completed, would erase the charges from their record. The initiative is part of a broader effort to ensure the employability of young men in the Chicago area and across the state.

The First Time Weapons Offender Program was passed in 2017 by a Democratic-controlled Congress as a five-year experiment. The program was extended again on a one-year basis, and now, it could be extended yet again. The new legislation would remove the age limit, shorten the probationary period, and allow the initiative to continue indefinitely. Thus far, however, the Governor has not signed the bill into law, so, as of now, the old provisions still remain on the books.

Eligibility for the First-Time Weapons Offender Program

June 16, 2023

Woman Faces Charges for Looting During George Floyd Protest

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

A 31-year-old Chicago woman pleaded guilty to weapons charges in connection with an arrest related to looting during the George Floyd protests. She was charged with the possession of a firearm by a felon after officers spotted her in the doorway of a bar. The woman was found in possession of about $5,000 in stolen jewelry as well as an illicit handgun. The tags were still attached to the jewelry, which had been looted from a nearby store.

The defendant had been sentenced previously for aggravated robbery, which is a felony. The felony on her record would bar her from owning a gun. The charge could lead to a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. However, her attorney announced they would be looking for a sentence in the three-to-five years range.

Being a Felon in Possession of a Weapon

June 14, 2023

Car Thefts Reach Record High in Chicago

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

After social media videos disseminated online showed how certain models of vehicles can be hotwired, reports of car thefts have skyrocketed in the Chicago area. Criminal experts say that the boom in car thefts is only partly related to the videos, and carjackings and similar crimes are also accounting for a spurt in car thefts. While data released relates to Chicago, the same can be said of major cities all across the U.S., with some putting the uptick as high as 20%.

Security cameras caught the theft of high-end vehicles from a repair shop, a novel approach to stealing cars. The owner of the repair shop said they had six or seven guys jimmying the locks, which allowed them to overpower the locking devices and break into the repair shop.

Car Theft Statistics by State

June 9, 2023

Woman Charged With Attacking People With a Bat

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

A Chicago woman has been charged with attacking several people with a bat. In at least one case, she asked a victim, “What would happen if I hit you with this bat?” Well, the verdict is in. She will be charged with several counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and face more charges for instances in which she did not use a bat, but merely attacked people with her hands.

All told, she will face four counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, three counts of aggravated battery in a public place, and one count of aggravated assault. Her bond has been set at $800,000 or $100,000 per victim for a total of eight victims. Although the judge noted it was her first offense, he had to consider the safety of the public in assessing bail. The woman is unlikely to have enough money to bail herself out, and thus, she is off the streets.

The attacks appear to be random. In one case, the woman drove up alongside a victim and said something threatening. She then punched the woman in the face and began dragging her by the hair until a third party intervened. An hour later, she found a second victim and said something threatening before attacking.

June 7, 2023

Illinois Vehicle Stop and Search: Know Your Rights

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

Police stop and search vehicles every day in Illinois. If your vehicle is stopped and searched by law enforcement, it may be difficult to determine whether or not your rights were violated. Vehicle stops and searches in Illinois are based on the Fourth Amendment of the US Constitution, search warrants, and the plain view doctrine. Each stop, search, and encounter with law enforcement is unique and fact specific.

Lawful Vehicle Stops

A police officer may stop a car if they have reasonable articulable suspicion of criminal activity. For example, if an officer observes a driver violating a traffic law, they may lawfully stop the vehicle. Some law enforcement roadblocks, such as DUI checkpoints, may also constitute a lawful stop. If stopped, you are required by law to provide your driver’s license, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance. However, the lawful stopping of a vehicle does not grant the officer an automatic right to search your vehicle. Without probable cause (subject to a few exceptions), the officer will need your express permission to search your car. Your permission must be voluntary, or without any type of coercion.

June 2, 2023

Apparent Vigilante Faces Trial for Beating, Robbery

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

It is unclear what, if any, peacekeeping organization the defendant belongs to. However, he was wearing a Peacekeeper’s vest when police say he invaded another man’s car, pulled him from the vehicle, and stole his wallet and cell phone. The attack took place in Little Village, and he was among a group of eight people.

The Peacekeepers are a citizen-run organization that helps prevent violence in Chicago. Thus far, they have not been associated with any violent assaults until one man was caught on police surveillance video pulling another man from his car. The man sustained fractures to his head and ribs. The peacekeeper has since been charged with aggravated battery, robbery, and invasion of a vehicle.

The Rules Regarding Security Teams