big city
Prescription Fraud/Forgery

Northwest Indiana Prescription Fraud Attorney

Not all recreational drugs are illegal per se. Some are legal prescription drugs that users obtain by creating fraudulent prescriptions or by persuading a medical professional to write unnecessary prescriptions for them. 

Stracci Law Group has represented many individuals facing prescription fraud charges, and we have helped many of our clients secure favorable outcomes. If you are facing charges for any type of prescription drug fraud, contact a prescription drug fraud lawyer at Stracci Law Group by calling (219) 525-1000 for a free consultation. We serve clients throughout Northwest Indiana, including Hammond, Crown Point, and Valparaiso.

What Is Prescription Fraud?

Prescription fraud is the unauthorized provision or receipt of prescription drugs through some form of deceit. It can take many forms. The people who commit prescription fraud include users, patients, and doctors. The most commonly abused prescription drugs include:

  • Hydrocodone;
  • Valium;
  • Morphine;
  • Codeine;
  • Vicodin;
  • Adderall;
  • OxyContin;
  • Xanax;

Many other prescription drugs are commonly abused as well.

Types of Prescription Fraud

Prescription fraud takes many forms, including (but not limited to) the following scenarios:

  • A patient gives or sells prescription medication to someone who they know has no medical need for it
  • “Doctor shopping,” where someone visits several doctors to obtain multiple prescriptions
  • Lying to the doctor to obtain a prescription (known as “malingering”)
  • Stealing prescription pads to forge prescriptions
  • A doctor who writes a prescription for a patient with no medical need
  • A doctor who writes excessive prescriptions for a patient

All of these activities are serious crimes under Indiana law.

Penalties for Prescription Drug Fraud

The penalties for prescription drug fraud are quite serious. Penalties include:

  • Up to 30 months in prison for a first offense and up to six years for a second offense
  • Fine of up to $10,000 for first and second offenses, not including court costs and other fees
  • The minimum sentence for a first offense is set at six months

Other Crimes Associated With Prescription Fraud

Many prescription drug fraud offenses are inextricable from other crimes. If you obtain morphine without a prescription, for example, you can also be charged with illegal possession of a controlled substance since possession of morphine without a prescription or some other authorization is illegal. Other charges that prosecutors often impose in conjunction with prescription fraud include:

  • Identity theft
  • Theft, and
  • Forgery

How Do We Defend You Against Prescription Drug Charges in Northwest Indiana?

You might be able to use a number of possible defenses against prescription drug fraud:

  • You had a valid medical need for the substance in question. Testimony from your doctor might help here
  • An informant who provided evidence in your case is untrustworthy
  • The police obtained evidence against you in violation of your Fourth Amendment rights against illegal search and seizure
  • The police failed to “read you your rights” (resulting in the invalidation of any confession
  • You did not intentionally misrepresent your medical condition to your doctor
  • The prosecutor did not prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt (insufficient evidence)

Dozens of more possible defenses might be available, depending on the specific facts of your case.

Need a Prescription Fraud Defense Lawyer? Call Stracci Law Group!

The experienced Indiana criminal defense lawyers at Stracci Law Group have successfully represented thousands of criminal defendants. We offer relentless, aggressive representation to get you the best possible outcome.

No items found.

Exceeding
Expectations

"If you got legal issues I highly recommend this company. They got me out of a jam! With all charges dropped. And reasonably priced."
Cliftin Branch, Criminal Case
"I can actually say that Paul is a GREAT LAWYER!! Takes care of business. He got a very big felony dismissed that was hovering over my life for a couple of years and stopped me from doing many things freely, He also got a Dui Dismissed as well as a few other things! My record is now clean. Thank you Paul Stracci!"
Timmy ShellToe, Criminal Case
arrow prev
arrow next
How can we help?

Committed professionals providing unmatched service for your personal injury and criminal defense needs.

Stracci Law Group is proud of the multifaceted team it has assembled and looks forward to putting its combined talents and resources to work on your case.
How can we help?
Trusted and Featured
Average rating 4.9 based on 213 client reviews
FAQ

Can a pharmacist question a doctor's prescription?

A pharmacist cannot second-guess a doctor’s decision to prescribe a particular medication for you unless they have good reason to believe that the medication would harm you (through drug interactions, for example).  Pharmacists can refuse to fill an obviously forged prescription, and they can report a doctor for a pattern of prescription abuse.

What happens if you forge a prescription?

If you forge a prescription and the pharmacist realizes it, they will probably refuse to fill it and call the police. Forging a prescription is a felony in Indiana.

What do you call a fake prescription?

A fake prescription is a forged prescription or a prescription written by someone not qualified to write a prescription.

What makes a prescription invalid?

A prescription may be invalid if:

  • It is forged;
  • Someone tries to fill it in another country;
  • It is expired;
  • It is altered;
  • if the person who tries to fill it is not the person the doctor wrote the prescription for;
  • It contains insufficient information about the prescriber, including the name, address, and prescriber number;
  • It contains insufficient item details, including the name of the drug, form, strength, quantity, instructions, and number of repeats, etc.

Pharmacists are trained to spot forged prescriptions.

Contact an Indiana Auto Accident Lawyer Today for Help

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Menu
Close Menu