Prescription Drugs Attorney in Westchester County, New York

Crimes involving prescription drugs are some of the most serious. There are good reasons why the state of New York has made sure these substances are not available to the public. Prescription drug fraud and related crimes contribute to an ongoing drug problem and betray the trust of the people of New York.

The state of New York specifies several different crimes related to prescription drugs. Most of them have to do with issuing false prescriptions or impersonating a medical professional—often with the intent of issuing a false prescription. The specific crimes and their penalties will be listed in the next section.

Prescription drug crimes in New York are serious crimes, and if you’ve been charged with a prescription drug-related offense you could be facing serious prison time. The state of New York takes these crimes seriously. Individuals who are charged with these crimes will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

If you’ve been arrested for a prescription drug-related crime, contact the Law Office of Michael D. Litman as soon as possible. The state of New York is already working on its case against you, so it’s time for you to get to work on your defense.

Contact us today by calling us or sending a message online to set up your free consultation.

Prescription Drug Charges and Penalties

• Criminal impersonation: Criminal impersonation includes a variety of specific instances, one of which includes impersonating a physician or pharmacist. The law specifies that impersonating any person “authorized to issue a prescription for any drug or any instrument or device used in the taking or administering of drugs for which a prescription is required by law” and then communicating a prescription to a pharmacist is criminal impersonation in the first degree. Criminal impersonation in the first degree is a class E felony, carrying a maximum sentence of four years in prison.

• Scheme to defraud the state by unlawfully selling prescriptions: This occurs when an individual executes a scheme to sell prescriptions illegally, with the intent to defraud the state. It includes making, selling, delivering, or offering prescription drugs for sale without the knowledge of the state. Scheme to defraud the state by unlawfully selling prescriptions is a class A misdemeanor, carrying a maximum sentence of one year.

• Criminal sale of a prescription for a controlled substance or of a controlled substance by a practitioner or pharmacist: As you’d expect, this covers cases where a physician or pharmacist writes a prescription or sells a prescription drug in a way other than in the proper course of medical practice. This includes the sale of any drugs that are restricted under law but can be sold legitimately by prescription. Criminal sale of a prescription for a controlled substance or of a controlled substance by a practitioner or pharmacist is a class C felony, carrying a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

If You’ve Been Arrested

If you are arrested for a prescription drug-related offense, the most important thing for you to do is cooperate with the officer arresting you. In the heat of the moment, it can be tempting for you to try to talk the officer out of making the arrest. This is a mistake. You are far more likely to say something that will further incriminate you than you are to convince the officer not to arrest you. You have the right to remain silent. This is the time to use it.

Once you’ve been arrested, it’s time for you to start thinking about how you’re going to defend yourself. The state of New York is already working on the case against you. It’s time for you to talk to a good attorney who can help you defend yourself. The right attorney knows the law and knows how to defend you against the charges you’re facing. That can mean the difference between a guilty verdict and a not-guilty verdict, or between receiving the maximum sentence and getting a mitigated sentence. Get in touch with the right attorney. It can make all the difference.

Contact Us

Since 2014, the Law Office of Michael D. Litman has been representing the criminal defense needs of the citizens of White Plains, Westchester County, and the New York Metro area. We have the knowledge and the experience to help with all your criminal defense needs.

If you have questions or need to set up a consultation, contact us online or call us today. Our firm will work with you from the arraignment all the way through to the trial.