A clerk at a St. Lucie food market is facing charges for illegally selling products that contain a prescription medication. Because of the unusual nature of the offense, the defendant will require the assistance of an attorney with experience in such specialized cases. He will need the help of a St Lucie drug defense lawyer.
The arrest of the clerk ended an investigation that was conducted by specialists employed by Florida’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco and lasted nearly a year. Using both conventional and undercover techniques, investigators had on eight separate visits identified illicit items. These included male sexual enhancement products that were determined to have contained the drug sildenafil. Positive identification of the substance was made at the Indian River Crime Laboratory, after which the clerk was formally charged. Under the drug laws of Florida, the illegal sale of a prescription drug is considered a misdemeanor. Defending such a charge is the specialty of a St Lucie prescription drug fraud attorney.
Florida’s drug laws vary in scope and severity of punishment. Although some of these offenses are treated as misdemeanors, others can result in felony charges. One serious type of drug fraud involves the acquisition of a prescription drug from a doctor after the same or a similar substance has been obtained elsewhere, with the second doctor unaware of the first prescription. This offense has for more than 15 years been classified as a third degree felony, which means that a conviction can result in a fine or a prison sentence of up to five years, or perhaps both. There are defenses for these crimes, but those charged will require intervention by a St Lucie drug defense lawyer.
Understanding the laws of the state and the workings of the criminal justice system, a defense attorney can counter drug charges in many ways. A St Lucie prescription drug fraud attorney will serve as an advocate for the defendant throughout the legal process, arguing the case before a jury if necessary. In some cases, an attorney may work out an arrangement in which the defendant pleads guilty to a different offense for the purpose of receiving a lesser penalty.
Jonathan Jay Kirschner is considered one of the leading practitioners in drug cases, and can help those facing even the most unique charges. If you or someone you know needs legal assistance due to a drug charge, contact his firm at 772-489-8501.
