Federal Drug Diversion Attorneys
The effects of the war on drugs can still be felt today in neighborhoods and cities across America. One of the places this is most prominent is in the DEA’s pursuit of charges relating to federal drug diversion. While this is an increasingly common charge for doctors, pharmacists, and others, it’s still not widely known or understood by the general public.
Along with medical professionals, members of the general public are starting to see charges of drug diversion as well. In situations like these, it’s important for individuals facing these charges to have proper legal representation. Not every legal firm is equal, and even those that have years of experience at the state level will not necessarily have the experience or skill required to mount an effective defense at the federal level. With a combined 70 years of experience representing cases of all sizes and complexities at both the state and federal level, the Norman Spencer Law Group is the right choice for cases like these.
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What is Drug Diversion?
Drug diversion at its base refers to the act of improperly using prescription drugs for illegal purposes. It’s important to note here, too, that multiple parties can be charged all at once for drug diversion. So for example, a pharmacist who’s working in conjunction with a physician and a patient to secure prescription drugs for illegal use or sale could lead to charges against the pharmacist, the physician, and the patient, regardless of who initiated the scheme. Another aspect that’s important to know is that charges can be combined in federal court, as with all other drug charges.
What Happens During a Federal Drug Diversion Investigation?
During a drug diversion investigation, other law enforcement agencies might be contacted, and the suspect or suspects may be monitored for a long period of time before any action is taken. Each case is unique, however, and procedure can vary widely depending on the agency or agencies involved, the severity of the crime, the number of suspects involved, etc.
The next stage of the investigation will typically either go one of two ways. The first way is that the authorities will acquire what they believe is sufficient evidence to bring formal charges. The second way this could go would be for authorities to perform a sting operation in which they pose as either drug dealers or users in order to justify an arrest, seizure, or both.
What Happens at the State Level?
Some states have enacted laws that allow them to deal with drug diversion at the state level. Some examples include statutes that allow for evidence to be secured when there’s suspected wrongdoing. There are right now 23 states that make it impossible for patients to acquire more than a 30-day supply of their medications in an attempt to curb drug diversion. Many of these states even have limits on emergency dispensing, which can put an undue strain on patients who just need to get their medications.
The result of all of this is that the DEA will sometimes try to perform sting operations where they pose as a patient attempting to get more than a 30-day supply of their medication. A pharmacist who is only trying to help a patient could then face criminal charges of drug diversion.
Another tactic used by the DEA is to target individuals who have a drug problem and are doing what’s known as “doctor shopping,” which is trying to get multiple prescriptions filled around the same time by multiple doctors. They may also get individuals to make statements that are not in their legal best interest, bringing charges, penalties, and possible jail time in the process. When multiple charges are brought up at once, like drug diversion, conspiracy, and drug distribution, defendants will often accept plea deals that are not favorable to them, giving prosecutors another mark in their resumes and often landing the defendant in jail. Having the right legal counsel can make all the difference and can help charges get reduced or even dropped altogether.
How to Handle Criminal Charges of Federal Drug Diversion?
Drug diversion is a serious criminal charge, and it should be treated as such by any defendant. What sets these charges apart from your average criminal case is that all too often, the person being charged likely suffers from a drug problem that a hefty fine or lengthy prison sentence is simply not going to help. Instead of focusing on getting the person the help they need, the state will focus on punitive measures like prison sentences, which does nothing to address the core issue, the root cause.
The first and most important thing for someone facing criminal charges of drug diversion to do is to get in touch with legal counsel. Before saying anything that can be used against you, you should secure a competent defense attorney, layout your entire situation, and work with them on mounting an effective defense strategy.
With how highly publicized and misunderstood drug crimes have been in recent years, it’s absolutely vital that individuals facing charges seek out legal help as soon as they can. Even if charges haven’t yet been brought and there’s only an investigation into criminal wrongdoing, it would still greatly benefit you to hire a skilled defense lawyer.
Why the Norman Spencer Law Group?
When you’re facing a criminal investigation or charges stemming from drug diversion, you want to know that the firm you’ve chosen has the experience and knowhow to properly defend your case. At the Norman Spencer Law Group, our defense attorneys have a combined 70 years of experience defending cases just like yours. So get in touch today, let us know what your situation is and drop your contact information, and someone from our team will be in touch right away to get you the help you need.