Port St. Lucie Opioid Defense Attorney

Opioids are powerful pain medications that have been overproduced and criminally marketed by various pharmaceutical companies, particularly Perdue Pharma, which has led to millions of Americans becoming addicted. Opioid addiction is difficult or impossible to overcome, and hundreds of thousands of Americans have died in the last few years alone due to overdoses.

Possession, Distribution, or Trafficking of Oxycodone 

Oxycodone is one of the most powerful and addictive pain treatment medications available. Brand names for oxycodone include OxyContin, Xtampza ER, Roxicodone, and Oxaydo, though the most common brand of oxycodone is, by far, OxyContin—produced by Purdue Pharma. Under statute 893.135, manufacturing, delivering, selling, trafficking, or possessing oxycodone (including in a mixture of oxycodone) results in the following offenses:

• Seven grams or more but less than 14 grams: Mandatory minimum prison sentence of three years and a fine of $50,000;
• 14 grams or more but less than 25 grams: Mandatory minimum prison sentence of seven years and a fine of $100,000;
• 25 grams or more but less than 100 grams: Mandatory minimum prison sentence of 15 years and a fine of $500,000; and
• 100 grams or more but less than 30 kilograms: Mandatory minimum prison sentence of 25 years and a fine of $750,000.
• 893.135, Fla. Stat. Ann.

Possession, Distribution, or Trafficking of Fentanyl

An even more potent opioid narcotic is fentanyl or  fentanyl derivatives. Manufacturing, delivering, selling, trafficking, or possessing fentanyl (or alfentanil, carfentanil, sufentanil, or a fentanyl derivative) or a mixture of fentanyl is penalized as follows:

• Four grams or more but less than 14 grams: Mandatory minimum prison sentence of three years and a fine of $50,000;
• 14 grams or more but less than 28 grams: Mandatory minimum prison sentence of 15 years and a fine of $100,000; and
• 28 grams or more: Mandatory minimum prison sentence of 25 years and a fine of $500,000.
• 893.135, Fla. Stat. Ann.

Federal and State “Pill Mill” Violations

Doctors—and particularly pain management doctors—are under more scrutiny than ever as the opioid epidemic continues to take tens of thousands of lives each year. 47,000 people die from opioid overdoses alone each year, up by more than two-fold just a decade ago according to Drugabuse.gov. Federal and state prosecutors are cracking down on anyone deemed suspicious. Recently, a South Florida doctor was convicted of eleven counts of dispensing opioid pain medications without a legitimate medical purpose, according to the DOJ Southern District of Florida. She wrote close to 14,000 prescriptions for a total of nearly 1.5 million units of Hydromorphone, Oxycodone, and/or Oxycodone-Acetaminophen, and was sentenced to 210 months in prison. The practices of such physicians are labeled “pill mills,” and if you have been charged with distribution of opioids without a legitimate purpose, you too will be labeled a “pill mill” doctor, and you need experienced legal assistance to not only save your practice, but to stay out of state or federal prison.

Our Port St. Lucie Attorneys Are Here to Help

Opioids are commonly prescribed for work injuries, traffic injuries, and post surgery. Once the patient recovers from their injuries and their prescription runs out, they are often chemically forced to feed their addiction by buying opioids off the street, or turning to heroin—another type of opioid. If you have been caught up in illegal opioids in any way, you need experienced legal assistance. Call  our Port St. Lucie criminal attorneys at Baginski Brandt & Brandt today at 772-466-0707 to schedule a free consultation.

Resource:

justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/south-florida-pain-management-doctor-sentenced-17-years-prison-illegally-dispensing

https://www.bbblegal.com/lewdness-and-indecent-exposure/