Prescription Meds Trafficking Lawyer in St. Louis

Prescription Meds Trafficking Charges in St. Louis and Across Missouri: Know The Facts

Prescription medication trafficking is a serious charge in Missouri, carrying the possibility of severe legal penalties and long-lasting consequences. Allegations of trafficking prescription drugs like opioids such as OxyContin, Percocet, Codeine, or fentanyl; benzodiazepines like Xanax, Valium, or Klonopin; or stimulants like Adderall, Ritalin, or Dexedrine can quickly spiral into complex, long-term legal battles.

If you're facing prescription meds trafficking charges in St. Louis or anywhere else in Missouri, you need a criminal defense attorney on your side as soon as possible.

Under Missouri law, trafficking prescription drugs involves the unauthorized distribution, sale, or transport of controlled prescription medications. This can include situations where an individual:

• Prescribes or fills fraudulent prescriptions or forges documents.
• Supplies medications to others without a valid prescription.
• Exceeds law possession limits of controlled medications.

What are the Penalties for Prescription Meds Trafficking in Missouri?

In Missouri, drug trafficking offenses are broken into two degrees:

Prescription Meds Trafficking, Second Degree

An individual commits drug trafficking in the second degree if they knowingly possess or control, purchase or attempt to purchase, or bring into the state:

• More than 30 grams of a mixture or substance containing heroin
• More than 30g of amphetamines or methamphetamines
• More than 30g of MDMA
• More than 30g of PCP
• More than 8g of cocaine base
• More than 500 milligrams of LSD
• More than 10mg of fentanyl

Trafficking drugs in the second degree is a Class C felony, which carries 3 to 10 years in prison. It becomes a Class B felony, with 5 to 15 years in prison, if the substance is:

• 90g or more of heroin
• 90g or more of PCP
• 90g or more of meth
• 90g or more of MDMA
• 24g or more of cocaine base
• 1g or more of LSD
• 20mg or more of fentanyl

It becomes a Class A felony, carrying 10-30 years or life in prison, when the controlled substance is:

• 450g or more of amphetamine
• 450g or more of MDMA

Prescription Meds Trafficking, First Degree

An individual commits drug trafficking in the first degree if they knowingly distribute, deliver, manufacture, produce, or attempt to distribute, deliver, manufacture, or produce:

• Any amount of GHB (Gamma-Hydroxybutyric Acid)
• Over 30g of heroin
• Over 30g of PCP
• Over 30g of amphetamines
• Over 30g of MDMA
• Over 8g of cocaine base
• Over 500mg of LSD
• Over 10mg of fentanyl

Trafficking drugs in the first degree is a Class B felony. However, it increases to a Class A felony when the controlled substance is:

• 90g or more of heroin
• 90g or more of amphetamines
• 90g or more of PCP
• 24g or more of cocaine base
• 1g or more of LSD
• 20mg or more of fentanyl

Recent Statewide Cases of Prescription Meds Trafficking

According to the Missouri Department of Health, an estimated 235,000 Missourians have misused prescription drugs in the past year. The cases of prescription meds trafficking occur more and more frequently in our state. Here just a few examples of recent cases:

• St. Louis Area Pediatrician Indicted, Accused of Exchanging Prescriptions for Sex Acts
• Independence Man Sentenced to 19 Years for Drug Trafficking, Illegal Firearms
• 15 More Defendants Indicted for Meth and Fentanyl Trafficking
• 12 Kansas City-Area Men Indicted for Fentanyl Trafficking, Illegal Firearms

What are Some Common Strategic Defenses to Prescription Meds Trafficking in Missouri?

When defending against prescription medication trafficking charges, a variety of legal strategies can be used to challenge the prosecution’s case against you. Every case is different and each defense strategy depends on the specific circumstances of the case. A skilled criminal defense attorney can evaluate the evidence, identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, and build a robust defense tailored to your situation.

Here are some key defenses the Combs Waterkotte drug trafficking attorneys have seen and used in these type of cases:

• Illegal Search & Seizure: The Fourth Amendment protects you from unlawful searches and seizures. If law enforcement conducted a search without a proper warrant or probable cause, any evidence obtained may be deemed inadmissible, which can lead to charges being dropped.
• Chain of Custody Errors: Law enforcement officials and prosecutors must maintain a clear and documented chain of custody for evidence. Any break in this chain raises questions about the authenticity and integrity of the evidence, possibly weakening the case.
• Miranda Rights Violation: If officers failed to inform you of your Miranda rights during an arrest or interrogation, any resulting evidence or statements may not be admissible in court.
• Lack of Knowledge or Intent: Your defense attorney might argue that you were unaware of the prescription meds’ presence or did not intend to traffic them. For instance, if the drugs were hidden in property you didn’t control, a lack of intent defense could cast doubt on your culpability.
• Insufficient Evidence: Your lawyer may argue that the prosecution has not met its burden of proof, pointing to a lack of concrete evidence tying you to the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.
• Coercion, Entrapment, or Duress: Your defense attorney might claim you were coerced into trafficking prescription medications under threat or induced by law enforcement to commit the crime. Entrapment, where law enforcement convinces someone to commit a crime they otherwise would not have, is also a viable defense.
• Medical Necessity: This could be a particularly useful defense for prescription medications, particularly in smaller amounts. You might argue that possession or distribution was necessary for a friend’s or loved one’s medical reasons.
• Mistaken Identity:This defense applies if you’re wrongly accused or misidentified as the perpetrator, whether through witness error or deliberate false accusations.