If you drive straight through the 2,000-mile journey from Chicago to Los Angeles suburb Huntington Beach, you will get there in about 32 hours. The city famous for its sandy beach and excellent surfing is home to a 64-year-old man who was recently pulled over in Chicago’s southwest neighbor, Joliet – a city famous for its prison, the Blues Brothers and a pair of casinos.
According to news reports, the California man was driving an RV on Interstate 80 when he was apparently pulled over for a windshield-wiper violation (he was reportedly using his wipers without having the headlights on). Will County sheriff’s deputies searched the RV and reported finding 190 pounds of marijuana and six grams of methamphetamine. The driver was charged with possession of more than 5,000 grams of cannabis and manufacturing or delivering more than 5,000 grams of cannabis.
According to a news report, officials estimate that the seized marijuana has a street value of about $600,000.
Illinois state law stipulates that someone convicted of transporting or distributing more than 5,000 grams of weed is guilty of a Class X felony, which can result in a sentence ranging from 6 to 30 years in prison. If that person is determined to have transported more than 2,500 grams of marijuana across state lines into Illinois, the penalties could be doubled.
In other words, the man arrested in Joliet could potentially face a sentence ranging from 12 years to 60 years in prison, plus a fine of up to $400,000.
Anyone facing those types of harsh punishments should decline to speak to a prosecutor or investigator until they have spoken with an attorney experienced in defending freedom and rights in state, city and federal courts.