Wigell Law Group

Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse Practice Area: Criminal defense Date: Sep 27, 2013 Outcome: Actual Result less than 6 months in prison. Sentence: 3 years IDOC with day for day good time resulting in 18 months in prison less credit for 12 months time served. Description: 30+ year old male charged in 5 count indictment with ongoing and repeated Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse of 15 year old female in Cook County, Illinois. State's witness provides statement that defendant was observed and interrupted during one of the "incidents". Each count has a potential sentence of 3-7 years in prison.

Aggravated Possession of Child Pornography Practice Area: Criminal defense Date: Jan 10, 2014 Outcome: PROBATION (30 months), NO Jail or Prison Sentence Description: A 34 year old male charged with 3 counts of Aggravated Possession of Child Pornography (Class 2 felonies subject to 3-7 years in prison to be served consecutively) and 4 counts of Possession of Child Pornography (Class 3 felonies subject to 2-5 years in prison). Client gave a statement admitting the allegations. Investigation was initiated by Internet Cyber crime task force. We developed extensive mitigation presentation to ameliorate the allegations. The Prosecution requested the sentence include significant (IDOC, Illinois Department of Corrections)Prison time consistent with the charges. Judge agrees with Raymond's argument that probation is the appropriate sentence.

Felony Dismissed - Possession of Controlled Substance, Cocaine Practice Area: Criminal defense Date: Jan 14, 2014 Outcome: CASE DISMISSED - Possession of Controlled Substance (PCS), Cocaine, Class 4 Felony Description: A 28 year old Female is stopped at 3:00AM for a bogus traffic stop in suburb of Cook County, Illinois. Questionable search of the vehicle yields baggie of white powder which field tests positive as cocaine. State offer of probation is rejected by our experienced defense lawyer. Judge after hearing evidence finds of No Probable Cause at Preliminary Hearing, felony case DISMISSED. Expungement of felony arrest is anticipated.

Felony Dismissed - Possession of Controlled Substance, Cocaine Practice Area: Criminal defense Date: Jan 14, 2014 Outcome: CASE DISMISSED - Possession of Controlled Substance (PCS), Cocaine, Class 4 Felony Description: A 28 year old Female is stopped at 3:00AM for a bogus traffic stop in suburb of Cook County, Illinois. Questionable search of the vehicle yields baggie of white powder which field tests positive as cocaine. State offer of probation is rejected by our experienced defense lawyer. Judge after hearing evidence finds of No Probable Cause at Preliminary Hearing, felony case DISMISSED. Expungement of felony arrest is anticipated. Aggravated Possession of Child Pornography Practice Area: Criminal defense Date: Jan 10, 2014 Outcome: PROBATION (30 months), NO Jail or Prison Sentence Description: A 34 year old male charged with 3 counts of Aggravated Possession of Child Pornography (Class 2 felonies subject to 3-7 years in prison to be served consecutively) and 4 counts of Possession of Child Pornography (Class 3 felonies subject to 2-5 years in prison). Client gave a statement admitting the allegations. Investigation was initiated by Internet Cyber crime task force. We developed extensive mitigation presentation to ameliorate the allegations. The Prosecution requested the sentence include significant (IDOC, Illinois Department of Corrections)Prison time consistent with the charges. Judge agrees with Raymond's argument that probation is the appropriate sentence. Possession of Child Pornography Practice Area: Criminal defense Date: Jan 08, 2014 Outcome: NO PRISON sentence, 180 days Work Release Description: A 26 year old male is charged with 12 counts of Possession of Child Pornography in DuPage County, Illinois. Two of the twelve counts were Class X felonies which are non-probationable and carry a mandatory minimum of 6 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections(IDOC). At the time of the execution of a search warrant our client waived his Miranda rights and gave a statement that admitted the allegations. After extensive negotiations and the preparation of a detailed mitigation presentation the prosecution agrees to go forward on one of the charges and dismisses the remaining 11 counts. No prison sentence ordered by judge with 180 days of work release and probation. Grooming and Indecent Solicitation of a Minor Practice Area: Criminal defense Date: Jan 06, 2014 Outcome: No Prison Sentence, 29 days in county jail and 30 months probation. I was interviewed by the local newspaper about this case. It was a featured news story by Investigative reporter Phil Rogers from NBC WMAQ, Chicago. Description: A 37 year old male charged with Felony Grooming(Class 4 subject to 1-3 years in Prison) and an Indecent Solicitation of a Minor(Class 3 subject to 2-5 years in Prison). Basis of allegations is recovered text messages on the "victim's" cellphone. Defend is found guilty of both charges after jury trial. We present a detailed and extensive mitigation presentation to the judge at the Sentencing hearing. Resulting in 29 days in county jail, NO prison sentence and 30 months probation. Identity Theft, Theft >100,000.00, Financial Loan Fraud, Forgery Practice Area: White collar crime Date: Dec 16, 2013 Outcome: NOT GUILTY on ALL Counts after 5+ day jury trial Description: Seller of Property accused of Count 1. Identity Theft, Counts 2 &3 Theft >100,000.00, Count 4 Financial Loan Fraud, and Count 5. Forgery. State has @1200 pages of documents and list of witnesses that implicate our client. Creative and aggressive Defense Motions in Limine restrict the State's ability to connect our client to the wrongdoing. Motion to sever our client's case from co-defendant's case is sustained. Defense's meticulous attention to detail and synopsis yields multiple demonstrative exhibits. Co-defendant found guilty of all counts

Grooming and Indecent Solicitation of a Minor Practice Area: Criminal defense Date: Jan 06, 2014 Outcome: No Prison Sentence, 29 days in county jail and 30 months probation. I was interviewed by the local newspaper about this case. It was a featured news story by Investigative reporter Phil Rogers from NBC WMAQ, Chicago. Description: A 37 year old male charged with Felony Grooming(Class 4 subject to 1-3 years in Prison) and an Indecent Solicitation of a Minor(Class 3 subject to 2-5 years in Prison). Basis of allegations is recovered text messages on the "victim's" cellphone. Defend is found guilty of both charges after jury trial. We present a detailed and extensive mitigation presentation to the judge at the Sentencing hearing. Resulting in 29 days in county jail, NO prison sentence and 30 months probation.

Identity Theft, Theft >100,000.00, Financial Loan Fraud, Forgery Practice Area: White collar crime Date: Dec 16, 2013 Outcome: NOT GUILTY on ALL Counts after 5+ day jury trial Description: Seller of Property accused of Count 1. Identity Theft, Counts 2 &3 Theft >100,000.00, Count 4 Financial Loan Fraud, and Count 5. Forgery. State has @1200 pages of documents and list of witnesses that implicate our client. Creative and aggressive Defense Motions in Limine restrict the State's ability to connect our client to the wrongdoing. Motion to sever our client's case from co-defendant's case is sustained. Defense's meticulous attention to detail and synopsis yields multiple demonstrative exhibits. Co-defendant found guilty of all counts; our client is found NOT GUILTY on ALL COUNTS.

our client is found NOT GUILTY on ALL COUNTS. Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse Practice Area: Criminal defense Date: Sep 27, 2013 Outcome: Actual Result less than 6 months in prison. Sentence: 3 years IDOC with day for day good time resulting in 18 months in prison less credit for 12 months time served. Description: 30+ year old male charged in 5 count indictment with ongoing and repeated Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse of 15 year old female in Cook County, Illinois. State's witness provides statement that defendant was observed and interrupted during one of the "incidents". Each count has a potential sentence of 3-7 years in prison. Possession of Child Pornography Practice Area: Criminal defense Date: Sep 11, 2013 Outcome: Probation Description: Cyber crime multi-jurisdictional task force investigation and search warrant yields a Grand Jury Indictment charging our client with (4) counts of Possession of Child Pornography. Each count is a Class 2 felony that carries a potential sentence of 3-7 years in prison. The sentencing statute applicable in this case requires that if convicted and sentenced to prison the sentence on each of the four counts must be served consecutively. In this case that would require a minimum of 3 years followed by 3 years for each count of conviction. (That is 3 years in prison, then 3 years in prison, then 3 years in prison and then 3 years in prison if convicted on all four(4) counts.) At the time of the execution of search warrant and after receiving Miranda warnings our Client gave a detailed statement admitting Possession of Child Pornography to law enforcement officers. A rigorous review of the forensic evidence indicated that the state would able to meet it's burden of proving the elements of each of the four (4) counts in the Indictment beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecution argues that our client should be sentenced to prison consistent with the statute. After obtaining a Psycho-Sexual Evaluation I argue and advocate for our client requesting that he not go to prison but rather be placed on Probation. United States of America v. Musiliu Balogun Practice Area: Federal crime Date: Sep 05, 2013 Outcome: Potential sentence of 30+ years to life. Mr. Balogun was sentenced to 108 months in prison with potential credit of 63 months. Preliminary calculations indicate that he will serve less than 29 months. Description: Our Client was characterized as the leader of an International Heroin Drug Conspiracy extending throughout South East Asia, Africa, Europe, Central America and U.S.A. The organization was said to be 1 of the world's largest heroin networks. Court documents state that the network extended from Thailand to Chicago. He was extradited from Holland(Netherlands) and was facing 30+ years to life in prison on a multi-defendant, multi-count U.S. Indictment. I was interviewed by the local and international press about this case. My comments were published internationally by the Associated Press (AP). Possession of Child Pornography Practice Area: Criminal defense Date: Aug 28, 2013 Outcome: Probation Description: Man charged in what the media characterized as one of the largest Child Pornography cases to date. Reports that as much as 3 terabytes of suspect contraband media was found at our client's residence pursuant to a search warrant. Several computers, cell phones, thumb drives, DVDs, and other electronic devices were seized. The search warrant was executed by a multi-jurisdictional task force. Our client was initially sentenced to 4 years in prison and placed in custody. My law firm's defense team of lawyers, paralegals and forensic experts prepared, filed and argued a Motion to Reconsider the Sentence. After several months the court allowed the Motion to Reconsider, set a release from jail date of 09/09/2013 and placed our client on Intensive Probation. Never, Never, Never Give Up.

Possession of Child Pornography Practice Area: Criminal defense Date: Aug 28, 2013 Outcome: Probation Description: Man charged in what the media characterized as one of the largest Child Pornography cases to date. Reports that as much as 3 terabytes of suspect contraband media was found at our client's residence pursuant to a search warrant. Several computers, cell phones, thumb drives, DVDs, and other electronic devices were seized. The search warrant was executed by a multi-jurisdictional task force. Our client was initially sentenced to 4 years in prison and placed in custody. My law firm's defense team of lawyers, paralegals and forensic experts prepared, filed and argued a Motion to Reconsider the Sentence. After several months the court allowed the Motion to Reconsider, set a release from jail date of 09/09/2013 and placed our client on Intensive Probation. Never, Never, Never Give Up.

Possession of Child Pornography Practice Area: Criminal defense Date: Jan 08, 2014 Outcome: NO PRISON sentence, 180 days Work Release Description: A 26 year old male is charged with 12 counts of Possession of Child Pornography in DuPage County, Illinois. Two of the twelve counts were Class X felonies which are non-probationable and carry a mandatory minimum of 6 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections(IDOC). At the time of the execution of a search warrant our client waived his Miranda rights and gave a statement that admitted the allegations. After extensive negotiations and the preparation of a detailed mitigation presentation the prosecution agrees to go forward on one of the charges and dismisses the remaining 11 counts. No prison sentence ordered by judge with 180 days of work release and probation.

Possession of Child Pornography Practice Area: Criminal defense Date: Sep 11, 2013 Outcome: Probation Description: Cyber crime multi-jurisdictional task force investigation and search warrant yields a Grand Jury Indictment charging our client with (4) counts of Possession of Child Pornography. Each count is a Class 2 felony that carries a potential sentence of 3-7 years in prison. The sentencing statute applicable in this case requires that if convicted and sentenced to prison the sentence on each of the four counts must be served consecutively. In this case that would require a minimum of 3 years followed by 3 years for each count of conviction. (That is 3 years in prison, then 3 years in prison, then 3 years in prison and then 3 years in prison if convicted on all four(4) counts.) At the time of the execution of search warrant and after receiving Miranda warnings our Client gave a detailed statement admitting Possession of Child Pornography to law enforcement officers. A rigorous review of the forensic evidence indicated that the state would able to meet it's burden of proving the elements of each of the four (4) counts in the Indictment beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecution argues that our client should be sentenced to prison consistent with the statute. After obtaining a Psycho-Sexual Evaluation I argue and advocate for our client requesting that he not go to prison but rather be placed on Probation.

United States of America v. Musiliu Balogun Practice Area: Federal crime Date: Sep 05, 2013 Outcome: Potential sentence of 30+ years to life. Mr. Balogun was sentenced to 108 months in prison with potential credit of 63 months. Preliminary calculations indicate that he will serve less than 29 months. Description: Our Client was characterized as the leader of an International Heroin Drug Conspiracy extending throughout South East Asia, Africa, Europe, Central America and U.S.A. The organization was said to be 1 of the world's largest heroin networks. Court documents state that the network extended from Thailand to Chicago. He was extradited from Holland(Netherlands) and was facing 30+ years to life in prison on a multi-defendant, multi-count U.S. Indictment. I was interviewed by the local and international press about this case. My comments were published internationally by the Associated Press (AP).

AVVO Legal Guides | Truth in Sentencing: Ways to Reduce Prison Sentences | 2016
AVVO Legal Guides        | Truth in Sentencing: Receiving Credit for Time Served Outside of Jail-EHM v. Pretrial Services | 2016
AVVO Legal Guides        | Truth in Sentencing: Consecutive vs. Concurrent Sentencing | 2016
AVVO Legal Guides        | Conditions of Bond | 2016
AVVO Legal Guides        | Hearsay | 2016
AVVO Legal Guides        | Age in Criminal Law | 2016
AVVO Legal Guides        | The Entrapment Defense | 2015
AVVO Legal Guides        | Illinois CYBER CRIME - Defense approaches & stratigies - CYBER CRIME IS DIFFERENT | 2015
AVVO Legal Guides        | Sentence Parameter Calculations in Illinois | 2014
AVVO Legal Guides | CYBER CRIME DEFENSE STRATEGIES | 2013
AVVO Legal Guides        | “How Many Years Am I Looking At?” – Why A Sentence Calculation Is Not That Simple | 2013
AVVO Legal Guides        | Importance of Second Legal Opinion | 2013
AVVO Legal Guides        | How Judges get to be Judges. A General Overview | 2013

Speaking Engagements:  
DIVERSITY Ethics - Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education - Diversity - 2015
White Collar Crime Symposium, IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law - White Collar Crime - 2014
CLE- AFDA-Association of Federal Defense Attorneys 7th Circuit - Federal Criminal Case Law 2014 Update - 2014
Clarence Darrow Death Penalty Defense College, Faculty & Small Group Leader - Defense Attorney Preparation for Death Penalty Cases        - 2014
Clarence Darrow Death Penalty Defense College, Faculty & Small Group Leader - Defense Attorney Preparation for Death Penalty Cases        - 2013
Clarence Darrow Death Penalty Defense College, Faculty & Small Group Leader - Defense Attorney Preparation for Death Penalty Cases        - 2011
Clarence Darrow Death Penalty Defense College, Faculty & Small Group Leader - Defense Attorney Preparation for Death Penalty Cases - 2010
Clarence Darrow Death Penalty Defense College, Faculty & Small Group Leader - Defense Attorney Preparation for Death Penalty Cases        - 2009
Clarence Darrow Death Penalty Defense College, Faculty & Small Group Leader - Defense Attorney Preparation for Death Penalty Cases        2008
Continuing Legal Education-Illinois - Jury Selection Strategies - 2007
The Peoples Law School - Criminal Law and Procedure - 2005