A drug crime conviction in Seattle can lead to many steep penalties including long jail sentences and high fines. Even minor crimes are often charged as felonies and many are tried in federal court. In Washington, a person can be charged with a VUCSA (Violation of The Controlled Substance Act) offense in a number of circumstances. While many people associated drug crimes only with illegal drugs like cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine, many VUCSA offenders are charged with crimes relating to prescription drugs.

Though these drugs are legal for use when prescribed by a doctor, many people attempt to obtain these drugs through illegal practices. This includes anything from doctor shopping, to forging prescriptions to buying leftover pill from others. Prescription drug abuse is of growing concern in the United States. News outlets like the Daily Beast report that prescription drug abuse is responsible for a large number of deaths in the country and “more people die every day from that addiction than gunshot wounds, car accidents, or suicide”. Because of this, law enforcement push to punish those accused of prescription drug fraud harshly.

The State Journal talks about 2 people who were recently sentenced for charges of forging prescriptions for oxycodone. The article states that 31 year old Raymond Duncan and 38 year old Jeremy Blankenship both plead guilty to charges relating to prescription drug charges in West Virginia. Duncan was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison and pled guilty to using a stolen prescription pad to write prescriptions for oxycodone. His accomplice, Blankenship was sentenced to 10 months of probation for filling the false prescriptions.

The case was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the offenders were charged with federal offenses. If you are facing drug crime charges of any variety in Seattle, it is imperative that you call an experienced defense attorney right away. The Law Offices of Steve Karimi can help you fight your charges and avoid the penalties of a conviction.