Strong Defense Against Drug Charges In DuPage County
Aggressive Drug Crime Defense
Illinois takes drug crimes very seriously. A first offense conviction can result in jail time and excessive fines. Further, it can have negative consequences on your personal life, including your ability to gain employment or obtain certain professional licenses. If you have been charged with a drug offense, you need an experienced defense attorney to fight for you.
At Marquardt & Belmonte, P.C., we provide strong defense for clients charged with crimes involving controlled substances in the DuPage County area.
Whether this is your first interaction with the legal system or you have had previous criminal convictions, we can help you. Using our 115 years of combined criminal law experience, we will work to keep you out of jail, reduce the charges or even get the charges dismissed altogether.
We Defend Clients In All Drug Offense Cases
We defend clients charged with a range of drug offenses, including:
Whether your charge involves heroin, marijuana, cocaine or prescription drug abuse, our trial lawyers will aggressively fight for you. Our goal is to protect your rights and minimize the impact the drug charge has on your life.
Wheaton,IL Drug Possession Attorneys And Former Felony Prosecutors On Your Side
All six of our attorneys are former DuPage County prosecutors. We have extensive experience in prosecuting drug crime cases. Using our thorough understanding of both the prosecution and defense roles in a criminal case means our legal team develops powerful defense strategies for our clients.
Wheaton Lawyers Defending Against Drug Trafficking Charges
Former DuPage County Prosecutors On Your Side
Drug trafficking arrests do not always result from large numbers of illegal narcotics or prescription drugs. Small amounts can lead to serious federal charges. You could even face conspiracy charges without any drugs in your possession. Regardless of the circumstances that led up to your arrest for drug trafficking, you must protect your rights.
At Marquardt & Belmonte, P.C., we represent DuPage County residents facing serious, life-changing federal charges of drug trafficking. Our criminal defense attorneys combine 115 years of experience and knowledge of state and federal laws with insight as former DuPage County prosecutors. That point of view has helped our clients have drug trafficking charges reduced or dismissed altogether.
Wheaton Attorneys Committed To Protecting Your Rights
Whether it is your first offense or you have prior convictions, we provide an aggressive defense. Police officers and investigators will want you to talk about a drug offense before calling an attorney. They will claim to have your best interests in mind. However, the complexity of your case coupled with search and seizure issues require you to assert your rights, starting with the right to be silent.
Multiple years in prison, significant fines and the possibility of a "three-strikes" law violation raise the stakes in these cases. We attend to every detail, starting with the steps law enforcement took prior to your arrest, including:
- Controlled drug buys from an undercover officer or informant
- Search warrants and the affidavits submitted to obtain it
- Wiretaps to secure evidence specifically for conspiracy charges
- Consent to search a home or car by someone other than you
- Traffic stops that result in large quantities of a marijuana or other illegal narcotics found
- Intent to sell issues based on quantity of drugs found
Drug trafficking crimes are oftentimes charged as federal crimes. Add to that conspiracy charges and a possible conviction threatens not only your freedom, but also your future. Job searches and professional license pursuits become extremely difficult, if not impossible.
DuPage County Lawyers Defending Against Illegal Search And Seizure
Protecting You From Aggressive Police Tactics
The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures by law enforcement. Search and seizure defenses often come into play in drug cases, where police may overstep their authority when obtaining drug evidence. If the police violated your constitutional rights, the drug evidence may be suppressed and the charges dismissed.
At Marquardt & Belmonte, P.C., we are six former felony prosecutors who defend people accused of drug crimes in the DuPage County area. Our lawyers have dealt with the issue of illegal search and seizure from both a prosecution and defense point of view. As a result, we are very experienced in evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the state's case based on Fourth Amendment issues.
What Is An Illegal Search and Seizure?
Search and seizure issues often arise when a vehicle or person is stopped and searched by police. Police must be careful not to violate your rights in these situations. For example:
Charged With Marijuana Possession In DuPage County? Our Lawyers Can Help.
We Will Fight To Protect Your Rights And Future
Do not assume that a charge of marijuana possession is a minor crime. Like any other illegal narcotic-related offense, the consequences are serious. Those convicted face jail time and significant fines, including for first offenses. In addition, pursuing a job or professional license becomes extremely challenging. For some, a criminal record with a marijuana possession conviction ends career pursuits.
At Marquardt & Belmonte, P.C., our six-member team of attorneys understands the severity of narcotics possession crimes as both criminal defense attorneys with a combined 115 years of experience and former DuPage County prosecutors. With so much at stake, you need immediate and aggressive representation from lawyers committed to protecting your rights.
Don't Wait. Fight Back Against A Marijuana Charge.
If you have been charged with marijuana or drug paraphernalia possession, or cultivation and operation of a grow house, act fast in securing legal representation from an attorney at our firm. Prosecutors and investigators will claim to have your best interests in mind. They do not. Speaking to them compromises your rights. Our job is to protect your rights, starting with your right to remain silent.
In investigating all aspects of your arrest, we question the search and seizure issues. Did police have a reason for a traffic stop that led to a marijuana possession arrest? Did you provide consent to a search? Was the search warrant valid? "No" to any of these questions means that your rights were violated. We bring that vital information to the attention of the courts to get charges dismissed.
A detail-driven investigation for a drug offense, regardless of what we discover, is only the start of the effective defense strategies we develop on your behalf.
Charged With Narcotics Possession? We Can Help.
Experienced Wheaton Defense Attorneys With The Insight Of Former Prosecutors
The consequences of a first offense conviction of narcotics possession go beyond jail time and fines. With a criminal record following you, the ability to secure a job or professional licensure becomes challenging. Police officers and investigators may claim to have your best interests in mind following an arrest. However, only an experienced criminal defense attorney can protect your rights, starting with the right to remain silent.
At Marquardt & Belmonte, P.C., all six criminal defense attorneys once served as DuPage County prosecutors. That level of insight together with 115 years of combined experience is vital when your future and freedom are at stake.
We Explore Every Available Option To Protect Your Rights And Future
We attend to every detail of a criminal case involving possession of marijuana, heroin or cocaine. Our lawyers also have experience in prescription drug abuse. Clients facing criminal charges often come to us with addiction problems. We encourage them to get immediate help while we handle all aspects of their defense.
Search and seizure issues often arise in cases involving drug offenses. Police officers need a reason to detain you in a traffic stop. Searches cannot occur without your consent and warrants must be valid. Failure to follow any and all of those procedures violates your rights. Investigating all the steps prior to and following your arrest is part of the powerful defense strategies we develop for your case.
Are You Charged With A Prescription Drug Crime? Our Wheaton Criminal Defense Lawyers Can Help.
Strong Defense Against Prescription Drug Crime Charges
Prescription drug charges need to be taken very seriously. Even though painkillers such as OxyContin and oxycodone are legal when obtained with a prescription, it is a felony to possess these drugs without a prescription.
At Marquardt & Belmonte, P.C., we are six former felony prosecutors who defend people accused of drug crimes in the DuPage County area. Using our 115 years of combined criminal law experience, our lawyers will work to keep you out of jail, reduce the charges or even get the charges dismissed altogether.
Former Illinois Prosecutors Providing Skilled Criminal Defense
Many doctors freely prescribe opiate-based painkillers, often for injuries sustained in an accident. Unfortunately, many people become addicted to painkillers. When the prescription runs out, they may turn to illegal sources for the drugs.
When you retain us to represent you, we will evaluate all possible defenses available to you, including issues with the search and seizure of drug evidence. Even if police have a strong case, we can pursue other defense strategies such as persuading the state to view your prescription drug possession as an addiction to be treated rather than a crime to be punished.
Our goal is to keep your drug arrest from having negative consequences on your life. A drug conviction can affect your ability to gain employment or obtain a professional license. If you are a student, it can affect your ability to obtain student loans. No one should plead guilty to a drug crime without speaking to an experienced defense lawyer.
William Belmonte and his team was a beacon of hope to me and my family during a time when my options seemed limited and the likelihood of a satisfactory resolution seemed impossible. I was facing serious consequences, which Mr. Belmonte was able to bring from a maximum sentence to a minimum, and help get my life back in order. In addition, his calm, honest, and upfront demeanor offered emotional support to myself and for those I care for most. My family and I are eternally grateful for Mr. Belmonte service and I highly recommend his law firm.
– S.B.
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