Prescription Fraud

Prescription Fraud and Forgery Charges in Philadelphia Pennsylvania | Harrisburg PA Prescription Forgery | Addiction based crimes in West Chester, PA | Advice on Prescription Fraud Arrests | Facing Forgery Arrest in Villanova Pennsylvania 

Prescription Drug Fraud in Pennsylvania

Prescription fraud is defined as the illegal acquisition of prescription drugs for personal use or profit. This phenomenon is an increasing problem in Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania PA community.   The alarming increase in prescription fraud has led to more and more prescription drug arrests recently.  Prescription Fraud is often charged as Forgery, which is a Felony offense with significant possible state jail time. 

Prescription fraud can take place in various ways, such as:

  • Stealing a real physician’s legitimate prescription pad to write a prescription for a fictitious patient.
  • Altering a physician’s prescription in order to increase the quantity of the prescription drug that will be delivered.
  • A fake prescription is created using a computer, either using a false physician name or copying an existing prescription from a real physician
  • Calling in your own prescription and giving your own number for callback confirmations.

These, of course, are only some of the more known ways in which prescription fraud is committed. It is hard to determine the extent to which this problem has evolved.  This is a problem that transcends social class and education, and threatens every household. With the increase in prescription drug availability in the market, it is obvious that prescription fraud will increase along with it. And, as a result, more arrests will be made as long as law enforcement officials are on the lookout for this crisis.  Many times, the individual who is facing an arrest for prescription fraud or forgery has never been arrested in their life and the charges are the result of an addition to pain medication from a legitimate injury or medical condition. 

Don’t spend time in jail if you don’t need to. 

Even when the evidence is so strong that a conviction is inevitable, our law firm uses effective strategies to minimize the negative consequences. Alternatives to jail or a permanent criminal record may include: Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD), community service followed by expungement, Section 17, Section 18, and Intermediate Punishment (IP).  Many times we can take an individual who is facing these serious criminal charges and avoid the stigma of a felony or incarceration and have them admitted to an alternative disposition program like Recovery Court.  If you have been arrested or are under investigation for a drug crime in Pennsylvania, contact the Ciccarelli Criminal Defense Team to ensure your rights are protected. 

We make your choice all the clearer with locations throughout the metropolitan Philadelphia Pennsylvania, including Center City Philadelphia, West Chester PA, Downingtown/Exton PA, Kennett Square PA, Lancaster PA, King of Prussia PA, Plymouth Meeting PA, Radnor and Springfield PA.  We serve Downingtown, Paoli, Media, Norristown, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lebanon, Reading and Allentown.  For more information or to schedule an appointment with an experienced Pennsylvania criminal defense lawyer, please contact us.