Robert J Callahan | Chicago, IL Criminal Defense Lawyer | Attorney
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Recent Criminal Case Victories

Robert J. Callahan

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Call (312) 322-9000 and Start Fighting for Your Rights.

Click on the criminal defense case victory links below to learn how we won each case.

Recently Won Cases

(Actual Dates and Cases)

February 2023

Class X Predatory Sexual Assault of a Child – CASE DISMISSED Solicitation of Unlawful Business – CASE DISMISSED

January 2023

Class 4 Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance – CASE DISMISSED Battery – CASE DISMISSED Unlawful use of a Weapon in an airport – CASE DISMISSED

December 2022

Battery – CASE DISMISSED

November 2022

Unlawful use of a Weapon in an airport – CASE DISMISSED Reckless Conduct – CASE DISMISSED Possession of Ammunition – CASE DISMISSED

September 2022

Unlawful Use of a Weapon – CASE DISMISSED Trespass – CASE DISMISSED

August 2022:

Class 3 Felony Retail Theft Charges – CASE DISMISSED

June 2022:

Theft and Possession of Bank Identification Card – Class A Misdemeanor – CASE DISMISSED Criminal Damage to Property –

Class A Misdemeanor – CASE DISMISSED
Class 4 Felony Unlawful Use of Weapon – NOT GUILTY
Class 1 Felony Possession of an Controlled Substance – CASE DISMISSED
Domestic Battery – CASE DISMISSED Theft and Possession of Bank Identification Card – Class A Misdemeanor – CASE DISMISSED

May 2022

First Degree Murder – CASE DISMISSED Class 4 Felony Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon – CASE DISMISSED

Assault – CASE DISMISSED
Aggravated Unlawful Use of Weapon by a Felon – CASE DISMISSED
Violation of Concealed Carry Permit – CASE DISMISSED
First Degree Murder – REDUCED TO ARMED ROBBERY

April 2022

Class 4 Felony Criminal Damage to Property – REDUCED TO A MISDEMEANOR

Unlawful Use of Weapon – CASE DISMISSED

March 2022

Aggravated Assault – CASE DISMISSED

February 2022

Class 4 Felony Unlawful Use of Weapon – REDUCED TO A MISDEMEANOR

Domestic Battery – CASE DISMISSED
Class 3 Felony Theft – NOT GUILTY

JANUARY 2022

DUI- Class A Misdemeanor – Dismissed

Unlawful Use of a Weapon – Class A Misdemeanor – Dismissed

DECEMBER 2021

Domestic Battery – Class A Misdemeanor – Dismissed

NOVEMBER 2021

Battery- Bodily Harm – Class A Misdemeanor- Dismissed

OCTOBER 2021

Violation of Order of Protection – Class A Misdemeanor- Bench Trial- Not Guilty

Unlawful Use of a Weapon – Class A Misdemeanor- Dismissed

SEPTEMBER 2021

Domestic Battery-Bodily Harm- Class A Misdemeanor – Bench Trial- Not Guilty

Possession of Controlled Substance- Class 4 Felony – Dismissed
Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon – Class 4 Felony – Dismissed

AUGUST 2021

Manufacturing and Delivery of 900+ grams of Methamphetamine, Cocaine and Heroin – CASE DISMISSED

Unlawful Use of a Weapon – Class A Misdemeanor – CASE DISMISSED
Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon – Class 4 Felony – Entered into Veteran’s Treatment Court

JULY 2021

Disorderly Conduct – Class A Misdemeanor – CASE DISMISSED

Leaving the Scene of an Accident – Class A Misdemeanor – CASE DISMISSED

JUNE 2021:

Theft and Possession of Bank Identification Card – Class A Misdemeanor – CASE DISMISSED

Retail Theft- Class A Misdemeanor – CASE DISMISSED Possession of Cannabis in a Motor Vehicle – Ordinance Violation – CASE DISMISSED
Criminal Damage to Property – Class A Misdemeanor – CASE DISMISSED

MAY 2021:

Domestic Violence Order of Protection – CASE DISMISSED

Unlawful Use of a Weapon – Class A Misdemeanor – CASE DISMISSED

APRIL 2021:

Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon – Class 4 Felony – REDUCED TO CLASS A MISDEMEANOR WITH SUPERVISION

Theft – Class 4 Felony – CASE DISMISSED
Theft By Deception – Class 3 Felony – CASE DISMISSED
Identity Theft – Class 3 Felony – CASE DISMISSED
Domestic Battery – Bodily Harm – Class A misdemeanor – CASE DISMISSED

MARCH 2021:

Unlawful Use of a Weapon – Class A Misdemeanor – CASE DISMISSED

Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon – Class 4 Felony – CASE DISMISSED

FEBRUARY 2021:

Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon – Class 4 Felony – CASE DISMISSED

November 2020

Possession of a Controlled Substance – Class 4 Felony – CASE DISMISSED

October 2020

Leaving the Scene – Class A Felony – CASE DISMISSED

No Stalking Petition – VACATED
Aggravated UUW – Class 4 Felony – FINDING NO PROBABLE CAUSE
Aggravated UUW – Class 4 Felony – CASE DISMISSED

September 2020

Disorderly Conduct – CASE DISMISSED

August 2020

Aggravated UUW – Class 4 – FINDING NO PROBABLE CAUSE

JULY 2020

MB and son JB – Murder Charges ruled self defense after hearing – CASE DISMISSED

Applied for Clemency on Cannabis charges – CLEMENCY GRANTED
Three (3) separate cases of manufacturing/delivery of cocaine – Class 1 felonies – CASE DISMISSED

MARCH to JUNE COURTS CLOSED DUE TO COVID-19

APRIL 2020

Violation of Order of Protection- Class A misdemeanor – CASE DISMISSED

Leaving the Scene of Accident- Class A misdemeanor – CASE DISMISSED

Felony Sealing – GRANTED

Felony Gun Case Sealing – GRANTED

Battery- class A misdemeanor – CASE DISMISSED

Aggravated Sexual Abuse Investigation – NOT CHARGED

March 2020

JB – Class X- MDMA/Ecstasy Possession with Intent to Deliver – looking at 6-30 years IDOC – CASE DISMISSED

Disorderly Conduct – CASE DISMISSED

Misdemeanor – CASE DISMISSED

February 2020

MF -1st Degree Murder – ACQUITTED

Battery to a child – CASE DISMISSED

Order of Protection – CASE DISMISSED

Possession of Cannabis – Class 4 Felony; Unlawful Possession of Weapon – CASE DISMISSED

Deceptive Practices – Class 4 felony – CASE DISMISSED

DUI – REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING

January 2020

AW – Aggravated Arson-class X – Dismissed

Criminal Trespass to Land – Class A Misdemeanor – CASE DISMISSED

December 2018

Possession of Controlled Substance- Class 4 Felony – CASE DISMISSED

Possession of Cannabis – Class 4 Felony & Unlawful Use of a Weapon – Class A Misdemeanor – DISMISSED

November 2018

Battery – Misdemeanor – BENCH TRIAL- NOT GUILTY

Battery – Misdemeanor – CASE DISMISSED

Battery and Obstruction of Justice – CASE DISMISSED

People v. GK, Agg Speeding – Misdemeanor – REDUCED TO PETTY OFFENSE

DUI – REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING

People v. AN, DUI – REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING

October 2018

Battery – CASE DISMISSED

Assault – CASE DISMISSED

Felony Class 4 possession of a controlled substance – CASE DISMISSED

Disorderly conduct – CASE DISMISSED

Felony aggravated DUI – NOT GUILTY

September 2018

Felony Class 3 criminal fortification of a residence or building – FINDING OF NO PROBABLE CAUSE AT A PRELIMINARY HEARING – CASE DISMISSED

Battery – CASE DISMISSED

Class 4 felony possession of heroin – CASE DISMISSED

Domestic battery – CASE DISMISSED

Violation of an Order of Protection – DISMISSED

Battery – CASE DISMISSED

Unlawful use of a weapon – CASE DISMISSED

Class 4 felony possession of cocaine – CASE DISMISSED

August 2018

Battery – CASE DISMISSED

Class 4 felony possession of a controlled substance – CASE DISMISSED

July 2018

Battery – CASE DISMISSED

Class 4 felony possession of a controlled substance – CASE DISMISSED

Driving on a suspended license – CASE DISMISSED

Possession of marijuana – CASE DISMISSED

Class 4 felony possession of a controlled substance – CASE DISMISSED

June 2018

DUI – Misdemeanor – DISMISSED ON MOTION TO DISMISS 06/2018

Battery Misdemeanor – DISMISSED

Civil Forfeiture – HEARING WON – CAR RETURNED

May 2018

Pardon – GRANTED W/ LEAVE TO EXPUNGE

Battery Misdemeanor – DISMISSED – CONVINCED STATE IT WAS SELF DEFENSE

Expungement – EXPUNGEMENT GRANTED

April 2018

Executive Clemency Petition (AKA Governor’s Pardon) for Class 2 felony burglary – GRANTED

Battery – CASE DISMISSED

March 2018

Class 2 unlawful use of a weapon by a felon – NOT GUILTY

February 2018

Domestic battery – CASE DISMISSED

January 2018

Domestic battery – CASE DISMISSED

Testimonials

Click to Call 312-322-9000

Federal RICO Charges

Federal RICO Charges

 criminal-attorney-chicago-illinois

RICO is short for the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. The law provides for special conspiracy charges against persons suspected to be directly connected, though not directly involved in criminal offenses.

The RICO Act was a part of an effort by Federal law enforcement to fight organized crime. On October 15, 1970, the U.S. Congress passed the Act and the results have been nothing short of revolutionary. Almost immediately, the Federal government became involved in a number of high-profile cases involving organized crime families from New York City to L.A. The headlines were exactly what both politicians and the public wanted.

RICO Charges Include 35 Distinct Crimes to Form a Criminal Conspiracy Pattern

RICO charges are often simply referred to as Racketeering. However, there are actually 35 specific laws which encompass the overall RICO offense pattern. There must be two or more of the offenses present over a ten-year period for the Feds to charge someone with RICO. Some of these include…

  1. Acts of terrorism
  2. Arson
  3. Bankruptcy fraud or securities fraud
  4. Bribery
  5. Commission of murder-for-hire
  6. Counterfeiting
  7. Criminal copyright infringement
  8. Dealing in obscene matter
  9. Embezzlement
  10. Extortion
  11. Fraud
  12. Gambling
  13. Kidnapping
  14. Money laundering
  15. Murder
  16. Obstruction of justice
  17. Robbery
  18. Theft
  19. Trafficking a controlled substance

The reason the RICO Act was created was because law enforcement was unable to tie organized crime leaders to the crimes they ordered. The existing laws did not allow for such connections.

After passage of the RICO Act, the Federal government began to prosecute not only traditional organized crime heads, but also heads of church, activist leaders, and more. In fact, some of the RICO charges have been silly, others not so much. To date, RICO Charges have been leveled against,

  • Major League Baseball
  • The Latin Kings
  • Access Health Source
  • The Chicago Outfit
  • The Hell’s Angels
  • The Key West Police Department
  • Mohawk Industries
  • The Gambino Crime Family
  • The Drummond Company
  • The Lucchese Crime Family
  • The Catholic Church

…among others. In fact, anyone who holds a leadership position could potentially face RICO charges. Often, these charges are brought up on the slightest of evidence, but short of expert help, the charges could stick.

So, You’ve Been Charged with RICO. Now What?

Although evidence may be slight, the Federal prosecutors generally do not bring RICO charges unless they are fairly certain their case is strong. Thus, once you are charged there is usually enough evidence to convict unless a vigorous, expert defense is mounted.

If you have been brought into the station for questioning or are expecting to be brought in, call us immediately. If you believe that you are the target of the investigation, do not answer questions. That is the surest way to a conviction. That bit in the Miranda warning about “what you say can and will be used against you” is true. You may believe you are helping clear your name; what you are actually doing is helping build a case against you.

Give them the information to which they have a right: Your name, your date of birth, your address, perhaps your driver’s license number. Otherwise, keep silent. That is part of your defense strategy.

Pleading “Not Guilty” to RICO May be the First Step

After your arrest, you will then need to appear before a judge to be arraigned. This is the time to enter your plea of “Not Guilty, Your Honor.” Generally, your arraignment will occur within a few days, though sometimes a bit longer, depending on a number of factors. 18 U.S. Code § 3161 states that the general time frame requires an indictment within 30 days of arrest, barring valid reasons for an extension.

Regardless of when the arraignment is to occur, it is best to get started on a defense strategy right away. In fact, the more time between the arrest and indictment the better. At Robert J Callahan and Associates Criminal Defense Law Firm, we believe in conducting a thorough, independent investigation. During this time, it will be our hope to find exculpatory information which will persuade Federal prosecutor’s to drop the charges.

Thus, you may not even have to enter a plea. It happens.

Planning Your Defense to Federal RICO Charges

As stated, we start your defense the moment you call. If you refuse to answer police interrogation questions, all the better. You have taken a big first swing in your defense. Stay silent.

From the start, we are going to mount an investigation with a view to going to court. There will be motions along the way and if we can get charges dropped or reduced, we will. To that end, read about some of our victories here.

Our goal is to provide you with the most vigorous defense of your Constitutional rights possible. One of those rights, of course, being the right to liberty. We are going to do all in our power to keep you out of prison.

The Federal Prosecutor is going to have to prove five things to win a guilty verdict against you on RICO charges. These are:

  1. The existence of a criminal organization
  2. Your involvement (if any) within that organization; the ties must be clear
  3. Interstate commerce was negatively impacted by the crime
  4. At least two listed criminal acts were committed by the defendant or on behalf of
  5. These occurred no more than 10 years apart.

Finally, in order to prove RICO in court, Federal Prosecutor’s must demonstrate a conspiracy to commit criminal acts exists.

A key strategy then would be to test and retest every element in the government’s case. All parts must be aggressively challenged.

What Sort of Penalties Would You Face if Convicted of Federal RICO?

Generally, a conviction on Federal RICO/Racketeering charges carry a sentence from 20 years in a Federal Penitentiary to life. and a $25,000 fine for every count. Additionally, courts can order a forfeiture for property or assets obtained through illegal means.

It is not inconceivable that if you were to lose your Federal RICO case that you could be looking at a lifetime in prison and your family can be left without any property or assets. That is why in such situations, you need a legal team which understands the Federal system and has the ability to take the battle to them. This is a battle you must win.

If that were not enough, Civil lawsuits often follow. Win or lose, there could be plaintiffs seeking to recover damages. A victory for the Feds will allow for the recovery of triple damages in Civil suits. So there will need to be a double-edged strategy.

To Do or Not to Do When Charged with Federal RICO

Robert J Callahan and Associates understand what is needed to protect you not only in the case against the Feds, but also help insulate you in case others come after civilly. With nearly 20 years working in Chicago and nationwide, Robert J Callahan has gained a reputation for victories in both the state and Federal Courts.

What to do and not do he will advise. The most important thing to do is call. Call if you suspect the Feds are looking at you; call when you are arrested; or call after you bond out. Just call and let us get these Federal RICO/Racketeering charges handled the right way.

312-322-9000

Useful Resources

U.S. Justice Department RICO Conspiracy Charges

FBI – Organized Crime Glossary

United States Code 18:1961 – Time Limits and Exclusions

Robert J Callahan & Associates Case Victories

Location

Address and Phone

Robert J Callahan | Chicago Defense Lawyer
53 W JACKSON BLVD # 1615
CHICAGO IL 60604-3536

Phone: (312) 322-9000
Fax: (312) 427-1289



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Unmatched Legal Expertise

Robert J. Callahan

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