Illinois federal gun crimes lawyer

Federal firearm offenses can carry significant prison sentences, particularly when a gun is connected to another federal crime. Possessing or using a firearm during certain violent or drug-trafficking crimes may result in additional charges and prison time, with potential penalties increasing when a firearm is brandished or discharged or when certain weapons or devices are involved. Prior convictions can also significantly affect sentencing. Under the Armed Career Criminal Act, 18 U.S.C. § 924(e), qualifying defendants convicted of unlawful firearm possession who have three qualifying prior convictions can face a mandatory minimum 15-year federal prison sentence.

The circumstances surrounding the possession, search, seizure, and alleged use of the firearm can play an important role in defending against federal gun charges in Illinois. Potential defenses discussed on the page include lack of probable cause, an illegal search, entrapment, fabricated witness testimony, lack of knowing possession, and lawful authorization to possess the firearm. Federal firearm cases can therefore depend not only on the weapon itself, but also on who allegedly possessed it, how it was obtained or transferred, whether it was connected to another alleged crime, and how law enforcement obtained the evidence used to support the charge.

Where federal gun crime charges are prosecuted in Illinois

Federal gun crimes in Illinois are prosecuted in the federal court system, with cases generally handled in one of the state’s three U.S. District Courts based on where the alleged offense occurred. Chicago is a major court location for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Springfield for the Central District of Illinois, and Benton for the Southern District of Illinois. All three federal judicial districts in Illinois fall within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. The specific district and court location where a federal gun crimes case is prosecuted generally depends on where the alleged criminal conduct occurred and the counties served by that district.