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Prescription Drug Charges in New Jersey
One mistake could change the rest of your life. If you or a loved one was arrested on prescription drug charges in New Jersey, your whole future could now be called into question. Will you have to serve jail time? What will your criminal record look like? You likely have many concerns about how the case will proceed and what the criminal justice system is like in New Jersey. Don’t worry. You don’t have to go it alone.
Aiello Harris Abate, Law Group PC offers hard-hitting, aggressive representation for those arrested on controlled drug and prescription drug charges. We create the most effective defense possible to help minimize the negative effect a drug conviction could have on your life.
Controlled & Prescription Drug Charges in NJ
Illegal narcotics in New Jersey are frequently classified as “controlled substances.” The law breaks them into five “Schedules” – these are classes based on how dangerous the drugs are perceived to be. Schedule I substances – including heroin – are regarded as having the highest potential for abuse, addiction, and harm to the user and the community. As the list moves down from Schedule II to V, the drugs are considered less harmful, and therefore the punishments are less severe.
Aiello Harris Abate, Law Group PC has helped countless people just like you fight Schedule I-V class substance charges. We take an innovative approach to the law, utilizing our legal expertise and practical negotiation skills to resolve your case successfully. We help clients charged with infractions involving heroin, cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy, and more.
Experienced attorneys defend you against harsh criminal allegations
There are numerous charges of prescription drugs that an individual can face in New Jersey.
- Theft of prescription drug pads – A person charged with stealing a prescription drug pad is most likely charged with other crimes, such as prescription fraud and forgery. When these charges are filed together, they are Third-Degree crimes that can result in more than $100,000 in fines and up to 5 years in jail.
- Prescription drug possession – A person who knows they possess a prescription drug in five or more doses without a valid prescription can face Fourth-degree charges. A disorderly persons’ charge is filed if the individual has the prescription drug in an amount less than four doses.
- Illegal prescription drug use – Per law, an individual may only possess and use prescription drugs with a valid prescription from a licensed physician, dentist, pharmacist, or veterinarian. If an individual is under the influence of prescription medication for which he or she does not have a prescription, he or she can face charges of illegal prescription drug use.
- Prescription drug forgery – If an individual makes or executes a writing and claims it to be the act of a medical professional who did not authorize the act with the intent to injure or defraud anyone, he or she may be charged with a third-degree crime of prescription forgery. The individual who has been accused of the crime may have stolen the prescription pads and then illegally filled the prescriptions to obtain the drugs without authorization or a license. The individual may have changed an existing prescription to get a larger dosage or a stronger strength of the prescription.
- Prescription drug fraud – If an individual has been charged with obtaining prescription drugs by fraud, misrepresentation, forgery, or deception, he or she can be charged with a Third-Degree crime and fined as much as $50,000.
- Prescription drug possession and distribution – If an individual is accused of distributing a prescription drug without a license to prescribe such medications, they can be charged with prescription drug possession and distribution. If the individual distributes or possesses four or fewer doses, he or she can face a disorderly persons’ charge or a Fourth Degree crime. If the individual is charged with a crime involving five or more doses, he or she can be charged with a third-degree crime and face up to $100,000 in fines. If he or she has 100 or more doses, the charge is a Second Degree crime, and the fine can be as high as $300,000.
Penalties for controlled substance possession and distribution in New Jersey
The penalties imposed by the courts for drug charges depend on the circumstances surrounding the arrest:
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- Were you using the substances?
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- What quantity of drugs were you found with?
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- Were you selling the substances?
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- Were you located in a school zone with illegal drugs?
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- What schedule of drugs were you found with?
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- Were you growing or cultivating the substances?
The penalties you face after an arrest could be as minor as a fine, or you could face multiple years in prison. Our attorneys help reduce or dismiss your drug charges, opting for alternative punishments such as probation, drug and alcohol treatment, a reduced fine, or community service in place of harsher punishments. Whether you are looking at a misdemeanor or felony, the New Jersey drug crimes lawyers are Aiello, Harris, Abate, Law Group PC are ready to fight for you.
New Jersey’s prescription drug laws and charges
As prescription drug use and abuse become more and more prevalent, New Jersey law enforcement cracks down harder and harder on offenders. Since certain prescription drugs, such as morphine, Xanax, OxyContin, and Adderall, are powerful, they are often difficult to obtain without a valid prescription. If you or a loved one is facing prescription drug charges in New Jersey, contact one of our attorneys right away.
Your charges often depend on a) how you obtained the drugs, b) whether you were using and/or selling the drugs. Let our New Jersey criminal defense lawyers guide you through the charges you may be facing.
Prescription drug fraud or forgery
Suppose you or the person charged with possession of a prescription drug through “misrepresentation, prescription drug fraud, forgery, deception, or subterfuge” faces these charges. In that case, you could be looking at prescription drug fraud or forgery charges. This means the Defendant may be accused of misrepresenting themselves to a doctor or pharmacist, forging a doctor’s signature on a prescription, or committing another related offense.
Possession
Being arrested on possession of prescription drugs means you were found holding the substances without having a valid prescription from a doctor. Generally, it is presumed you are using the drugs for recreational purposes.
Distribution
A drug distribution charge means the police believe you were selling prescription drugs illegally for a profit. The severity of your particular charges depends on such facts as whether or not you were in a school zone, the amount of drugs found in your possession, and whether you were caught in the act of selling. In some cases, you might be charged with “intent to distribute.”
To learn more about your specific charges and how you can fight them, speak with a New Jersey drug crimes lawyer today.
Can I effectively fight prescription drug charges?
If you are charged with any prescription drug crimes in New Jersey, you need to consult with an experienced prescription drug lawyer as quickly as possible. The criminal law team at Aiello, Harris, Abate Law Group PC has helped numerous clients who have faced prescription drug charges throughout the years.
We can devise a tough defense strategy to help you fight the charges. Often, an effective defense can reduce the charges or have them completely thrown out.
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Contact us today
For decades, Aiello Harris Abate, Law Group PC has been one of the premier criminal defense law firms in NJ From our multiple office locations, we serve clients throughout the state of New Jersey. To arrange a consultation for yourself or on behalf of a loved one,.
Call us today at (908) 561-5577 or contact us. Your initial consultation will take place over the phone, and you can schedule an appointment at one of our office locations across New Jersey.
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