Posted on February 05, 2013 in Criminal Defense

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that three Schaumburg police officers, all tactical members of the department’s special investigations unit, were the subject of a recent sting operation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration that resulted in their arrests. The trio now faces a barrage of felony charges related to a drug ring that they were allegedly operating with the help of a former police informant.

According to the informant, the police officers began to steal drugs and cash from drug dealers in 2012. Sometimes, the police officers would use the informant to illegally buy and sell drugs. Other times, the officers turned over drugs seized in legal operations over to the informant to sell, dividing the profits with him. After the informant was caught with drugs, he advised the authorities of the cops’ scheme, which had been going on for approximately six to nine months. This led to the DEA operation that brought the alleged drug ring down. The police officers were told that an out-of-state associate had stashed $20,000 in a storage facility. The officers allegedly broke into the facility and stole the money, an event that was recorded on audio and video equipment. Law enforcement officials then took the three men into custody and executed about 20 search warrants for the men’s homes, vehicles, and the police station.

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 Posted on February 02, 2013 in Criminal Defense

In early 2011, Henry Benjamin III, 39, led police on a wild chase through several northwest suburbs before crashing his car into a West Dundee police car, injuring several officers in the process, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Benjamin plead guilty this January to one count of aggravated DUI and one count of aggravated driving on a revoked license, and faces punishment for two Class 2 felonies, according to a release from the Kane County State’s Attorney’s office. When tested the night of the incident, records show that Benjamin’s blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit.

The ordeal began when Carpentersville police stopped Benjamin for a routine traffic violation on Route 25. Benjamin failed to "provide the officer with his driver’s license and proof of insurance, and when he attempted to reach into the center console of his car, the officer became alarmed and a struggle ensued," according to the Sun-Times. The officer was dragged behind Benjamin’s car for a short distance after the drunk driver pulled off, and proceeded to lead "multiple squad cars from multiple jurisdictions on a lengthy chase at speeds over the speed limits," until losing control of his car. One officer continues, at the beginning of 2013, to recover from injuries sustained in the incident. A 2008 report issued by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) states that, by far, automobile, motorcycle, and aircraft accidents cause the most law enforcement officer deaths each year. "Although the way the FBI reports this data renders uncertain how many of these incidents involve a high speed pursuits," the IACP report states, "the numbers are still compelling." If you or someone you know has been charged with a DUI or have lead the police on a high-speed chase and are now facing aggravated driving charges, don’t go through it alone. Contact a dedicated Chicago-area criminal defense attorney today. Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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 Posted on January 29, 2013 in Criminal Defense

On January 8^th, Illinois joined New Mexico and Washington as a state which allows illegal immigrants to receive valid driver’s licenses.  The bill originally failed in 2007 by two votes, but passed the house last year 65-46.  The hope is that by making licenses available to everyone on the road will make the roads safer for all by avoiding traffic violations.

The supporters of this bill used statistics to prove the necessity of this new law.  There are an estimated 250,000 illegal immigrants who are old enough to drive yet cannot receive licenses to operate vehicles.  The Illinois Coalition for Immigrants and Refugee Rights has said that these illegal drivers cause around $64 million in damages per year, a cost that is carried by people who pay for insurance.

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 Posted on January 26, 2013 in Assault & Battery

Over the weekend of January 11^th, the former stepson of White Sox Vice President Kenny Williams was at a hotel downtown with his girlfriend.  Dedrick Williams is the son of Kenny’s former wife and has not been in communication with his stepfather for years.  Early on Saturday morning around 3 am, the two had a dispute and hit each other in their hotel room at the Palmer House Hotel.  When the Chicago Police arrived both Dedrick, 30, and his girlfriend, 30, admitted to hitting each other.

Williams’ girlfriend suffered a black eye, a swollen lip and bruises on her arms.  Williams’ injuries were not reported.  She claimed that her injuries were the result of Dedrick punching her in the face with a closed fist.  Both were offered medical attention at the scene but both declined to be treated and were released.

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 Posted on January 23, 2013 in Criminal Defense

One of the things that Chicago police have complained about is that there is just not enough community involvement when it comes to fighting crime. Residents are afraid to report criminal activity for fear of retaliation. According to CBS Chicago, there is a new tool coming soon that can alleviate these worries.

Cook County residents will soon have access to a new phone app called iWatch. This is an app that will be downloaded right the user’s smart phone that will connect them directly to the police. With this app, local residents will be able to send in tips about crime happening in the area. They will also be able to attach and send photos of the crime or the perpetrator.

The great thing for residents is that this tool will allow them to be 100 percent anonymous in their reports. Residents do not want to talk to the police because they are afraid of what will happen if someone finds out that they have given information to the police. They often complain that police will not be there to protect them. This convenient app will alleviate those fears. iWatch supports 40 different languages so non English speaking residents do not have to worry about the language barrier that can sometimes cause an issue. The app also appeals to the younger crowd that is accustomed to communicating via text messages and other electronic means.

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 Posted on January 20, 2013 in Criminal Defense

One of the things that Chicago police have complained about is that there is just not enough community involvement when it comes to fighting crime. Residents are afraid to report criminal activity for fear of retaliation. According to CBS Chicago, there is a new tool coming soon that can alleviate these worries.

Cook County residents will soon have access to a new phone app called iWatch. This is an app that will be downloaded right the user’s smart phone that will connect them directly to the police. With this app, local residents will be able to send in tips about crime happening in the area. They will also be able to attach and send photos of the crime or the perpetrator.

The great thing for residents is that this tool will allow them to be 100 percent anonymous in their reports. Residents do not want to talk to the police because they are afraid of what will happen if someone finds out that they have given information to the police. They often complain that police will not be there to protect them. This convenient app will alleviate those fears. iWatch supports 40 different languages so non English speaking residents do not have to worry about the language barrier that can sometimes cause an issue. The app also appeals to the younger crowd that is accustomed to communicating via text messages and other electronic means.

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 Posted on January 17, 2013 in Criminal Defense

A 45 year old Bartlett man has received a two year prison sentence after pleading guilty to one count of possession of a firearm without a valid firearm owner’s identification card. According to a report in the Chicago Tribune, police arrested Tony Johnson last May when his girlfriend contacted police following an argument between the two of them. She told police that Johnson was hiding a supply of weapons and explosives at a Roselle storefront.

When Bartlett police went to Johnson’s condominium, they found four styles of machine guns, all of which could be converted into fully automatic weapons. One of them, a Colt AR-15, was the same style as rifles used in last year's mass shootings in Aurora, Colo., and Newtown, Conn. They also found large containers of chemicals used to make explosives. Roselle police had assistance with the search and investigation from Bartlett police, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents, the Department of Homeland Security and the DuPage County Bomb Squad.

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 Posted on January 14, 2013 in Criminal Defense

A Chicago Ridge deputy fire chief has been charged with attempted murder, home invasion, aggravated unlawful restraint, aggravated attempted criminal sexual assault and residential burglary after he allegedly broke into a neighbor's home wearing a ski mask and carrying a knife.

Gary Swiercz, 49, who has been with the department for over twenty years, was placed on paid leave right after his arrest, but retired the following day.

According to reports in the Chicago Tribune, prosecutors say Swiercz broke into the home of a woman in his condo building while wearing a ski mask and carrying a folding knife. He also had duct tape, rope, a sex toy and lubricant. He put his hand on the woman's mouth while she was sleeping, then put a 3-inch blade to her throat and threatened to slash it. He held her hands together and forced her into the kitchen, where he pushed her against a cabinet, and then he threw her to the ground, grabbed her by the hair and slammed her to the ground multiple times. The victim suffered a swollen lip and a knot to the back on her head.

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 Posted on January 11, 2013 in Criminal Defense

According to a recent WGEM.com article, a new law has taken effect in the state of Illinois as of January 1, 2013, which will provide severe penalties for parents who allow their underage children to consume alcohol at their homes or other properties under their control. This new law makes it a criminal offense for parents to allow minors, or anyone under the age of twenty-one, to drink at any property they own, including their homes, cabins, boats, lakes, or campgrounds. Supporters of the law say that it will put added pressure on parents to ensure that their children and their friends are not using their property for the purposes of consuming alcohol. For those parents who have knowingly allowed their underage children and their friends to use their property for the purposes of alcohol consumption under their supervision in the past, the new law may be a deterrent to permitting such activities in the future.

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 Posted on January 08, 2013 in Criminal Defense

According to the Chicago Tribune, 17-year-old rap star Keith Cozart, a.k.a Chief Keef, recently appeared in Cook County Juvenile Court on allegations that he had violated the terms of his probation by moving from his home in Dolton with his grandmother to another home in Northbrook. After hearing testimony, however, the judge ruled that there was no credible evidence that Cozart had actually moved, and denied the prosecution’s request to incarceration Cozart pending a more comprehensive hearing later this month. Prosecutors also alleged that several attempts to reach Cozart by telephone and at his Dolton address had been unsuccessful, and that his probation officer had not heard from him since December 18, when his first album went on sale. Although the judge declined to incarcerate Cozart, a formal hearing on the probation violation charges has been set for January 28, 2013.

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