Prescription Fraud Defense Lawyer in Orlando, FL

Aggressive Advocates for Your Rights

At the Law Offices of Horwitz & Citro, P.A., our Orlando criminal defense attorneys are prepared to assist a wide range of clients, including:

• Patients who obtain prescription narcotics by faking symptoms or by "doctor shopping."
• Patients accused of altering a legitimate prescription to increase the quantities of medication received.
• Doctors accused of writing phony prescriptions for themselves or others.
• Health care providers who are accused of stealing a doctor's prescription pad and writing counterfeit prescriptions.

However, it happened that you were accused and arrested for obtaining an improper prescription or distributing pain medication, your legal prospects are critical. The sooner you take action to find and work with a zealous criminal defense lawyer, the greater are your chances of obtaining a favorable outcome in your case, such as dismissal of charges, reduction of charges, reduction of penalties or acquittal at trial. For best results, consult with a lawyer while your case is still in an investigation stage — before charges have been formally filed.

Doctor Shopping

Florida is known throughout the nation as America's prescription drug capital. Recent news reports show that more than 80 percent of Oxycodone prescriptions — one of the nation's most addictive prescription painkillers — are filled in the state of Florida.

Other prescription medications that are the subject of concern include:

• Codeine
• Vicodin
• Lortab
• OxyContin
• Percocet
• Ritalin
• Fentanyl
• Roxicodone
• Xanax
• Valium
• Lorazepam
• Demerol

While drug dealers used to sell illegal drugs on street corners, in apartment buildings and in hidden locations, prescription drug crimes are committed at a doctor's office, over the Internet or even in a strip-mall. To put a stop to prescription drug crimes, Florida now has some of the toughest drug laws in the country, with a special focus on Oxycodone charges and other common prescription drug offenses.

What Is Doctor Shopping?

Doctor shopping occurs when a person goes to several doctors to obtain multiple prescriptions, often overlapping, without informing the doctors that he or she already has an existing prescription. Specifically, the Florida Statute states that it is a crime to conceal from your doctor the fact that you have recently received a prescription drug from another medical professional.

Doctor shopping is a third-degree felony in Florida, punishable by up to five years in state prison. If you are facing charges for doctor shopping, you will need a skilled criminal defense lawyer who is committed to protecting your rights.

When you work with our law firm, our attorneys will aggressively challenge the prosecution's case on your behalf.

There are a number of defenses we may raise on your behalf:

• No proof of withholding information: The prosecutor must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you failed to notify your doctor that you had received another prescription.
• Time defense: You must have failed to notify your doctor about a prescription that you received within the last 30 days.
• Like therapeutic use: You are not required to inform your doctor about all prescription medications, just those you recently received that are of "like therapeutic use." In some cases, there may be a gray area that we can exploit to your advantage.
• Constitutional violations: If the police have obtained evidence through an illegal search or seizure or by other unconstitutional means, we can seek the suppression of evidence obtained as a result of the search.

We can fight your charges at trial, or if you prefer we can negotiate with the prosecution to seek a favorable plea agreement on your behalf. Depending on the facts of your case, we may be able to use our knowledge of Florida pretrial diversion programs, pretrial intervention programs, drug court or other creative measures to help you minimize any negative consequences arising from a doctor shopping charge.

Contact Our Florida Drug Crimes Defense Attorneys

We defend clients throughout Florida who have been charged with prescription drug crimes. To schedule a consultation with one of our Orlando criminal defense attorneys, call (407) 901-5852. You may also contact us by e-mail.