New Jersey Prescription Drug Crimes Lawyer

Prescription drugs can provide much-needed relief from a variety of painful and potentially debilitating illnesses, injuries, and chronic health conditions. However, when a person obtains these drugs without a prescription or uses them improperly, they can face serious criminal charges. It is important to get aggressive legal representation right away. At The Law Office of Jason A. Volet, we have offices in Freehold and Neptune and work with clients throughout New Jersey who have been charged with prescription or other drug crimes in New Jersey. Our experience with drug defense makes a difference for our clients. You can trust us to provide the strong legal defense you need and to protect your rights at every stage in your case. Call or reach us online today to learn more.

What Are the Types of Prescription Drug Crimes In New Jersey?

While drug crimes are often associated with illegal “street” drugs, the reality is that potential penalties for improper use or possession of prescription medications can be just as severe in New Jersey. Prescription medications are classified as controlled dangerous substances (CDS) under New Jersey law, and as a result, they are subject to tight regulation. At The Law Office of Jason A. Volet, we represent those who are accused of prescription drug-related offenses such as:

• Illegal use of prescription drugs – Using pharmaceutical medications without a prescription from a doctor or using them in any way other than prescribed could result in a disorderly persons offense, or a misdemeanor criminal charge.
• Unlawful possession of prescription drugs – Even if you are not under the influence of a medication, you can still face criminal charges if illegally obtained prescription drugs are found in your possession. Depending on the amount in your possession, you could be charged with a fourth-degree crime, with penalties that include fines of up to $10,000 and up to 18 months in prison.
• Distribution of prescription drugs – Distribution of any illegal substance is a serious crime, and this includes illegally obtained prescription medications.
  • Possessing anywhere between five and 100 doses could result in third-degree charges, resulting in fines up to $200,000 and up to five years in prison.
  • Possessing more than 100 doses is charged as a second-degree offense, increasing both the fines and your potential jail sentence to up to 10 years.
• Theft of prescription drug pads, blanks or forms – Stealing prescription drug pads, blanks and forms for the purpose of either selling them or using them for your own use can be charged as a third-degree offense when combined with other types of prescription drug crimes. As a result, you could be sentenced to anywhere between three and five years in prison.
• Prescription forgery – Forging a prescription for your personal use or as a means of obtaining pharmaceuticals which you then intend to sell could leave you facing fines of $50,000 or more and a potentially lengthy jail sentence.
• Prescription drug fraud – This type of crime often involves other types of prescription drug charges such as illegal use and distribution. In addition to your fines and the potential jail sentence you face, professionals charged with prescription drug fraud could end up losing their license to practice. Our New Jersey fraud lawyers can help if you’ve been accused of this.

What Are the Federal Penalties for Prescription Drug Crimes?

In some situations, a person can be charged with a federal rather than a state criminal offense for use, possession or distribution of prescription drugs.

The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) takes an aggressive stand in prosecuting cases involving drug fraud and the possession or distribution of prescription medications. If you possess large quantities of prescription drugs, transport them over state lines or offer them for sale via the internet, you could face penalties on a federal level. These penalties often involve heavy fines and mandatory minimum prison sentences, along with the seizure of property and assets.

When facing these types of serious charges, you need an experienced New Jersey prescription drug lawyer on your side – one who is knowledgeable on both state and federal laws and how they may apply in your particular case.

At The Law Office of Jason A. Volet, we focus exclusively on helping clients in criminal matters. As a former assistant prosecutor in Monmouth County with more than 15 years of experience defending people in New Jersey on a variety of misdemeanor and felony charges, attorney Jason A. Volet provides the trusted, highly effective legal representation you need to seek the best possible outcome in your prescription drug case.

How Can a New Jersey Prescription Drug Lawyer Help You?

As a criminal trial attorney certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey, Jason A. Volet can help you to strategize a strong defense. Along with the rest of our team, he will thoroughly investigate your case and review all of the evidence against you.

Through aggressive negotiations with prosecuting attorneys, he may be able to get your charges dropped or reduced. He can also gather the evidence needed to take your case to trial and make compelling arguments in your favor.

Common defenses against prescription drug charges in New Jersey include whether:

• The police violated your constitutional rights when you were stopped and/or searched, and the prescription drugs were discovered
• You were actually under the influence of the prescription drug
• The police and/or drug lab correctly identified the drugs in your case and/or determined the proper amount
• Whether you obtained the prescription drugs through legal means
• Whether you acted in your capacity as a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, drug manufacturer or distributor in obtaining drugs for yourself or others.

Another common defense in prescription drug cases is known as the de minimis defense. This defense may apply in cases where someone obtained prescription drugs under legal means and offered a smaller quantity to you for personal use.

Get Help from an Experienced NJ Prescription Drug Defense Attorney Today

At The Law Office of Jason A. Volet, we will act as a strong ally on your side when you face charges related to prescription drug use, possession, or distribution. We will use our legal knowledge and our years of experience to help you to fight the charges and pursue the best possible outcome. To discuss your specific situation and how we can help, contact us today for a consultation about your case.

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