A New York City Defense Attorney Explains Counterfeit Prescription Drug Crimes
Seniors may have a difficult time affording medical care and may turn to the Internet to obtain specialized medication. Many other patients who take medications will also end up going online to try to get the best possible deal. When seniors or other patients end up ordering drugs over the Internet, however, there is a very real chance they will end up with counterfeit prescription drugs instead of the medications that they really need.
If you are involved with manufacturing, marketing, selling, transporting, or distributing counterfeit prescription drugs
Scams Involving Counterfeit Pharmaceuticals
Fraud.org warns that fake drugs are common and can present a risk to purchasers. Counterfeit pharmaceuticals are usually marketed to seniors through websites and Internet ads. Seniors will search for common medications and websites will come up that purport to offer these drugs at a lower cost. When the senior makes a purchase, however, counterfeit drugs are sent instead of the medications that the senior was actually expecting to receive. The senior pays for drugs that he or she does not get, and those who run the scam will benefit from getting the money while sending cheaper (and often non-functional) medication.
Seniors may also be targeted for scams involving counterfeit prescription drugs via telephone or via email. Spam emails are routinely sent by those with fake drugs to sell and when seniors see the email and believe their medications may be cheaper, they can follow the email link to order or can sometimes call to make a purchase. Lists of seniors can also be obtained from market research companies and seniors may be called on the phone and told about the potential for savings on prescriptions.
Seniors do not always realize that they have received fake drugs and, in fact, some of the defendants who end up being accused of involvement with counterfeit drugs may not be aware of what they were actually providing to the seniors.
However, if a prosecutor can prove intent to market, manufacture, sell, or distribute fake drugs, this provides probable cause to move forward with a criminal case and, depending upon the strength of the evidence, there is potentially enough information to convict.
A prosecutor can also make a criminal case by showing willful disregard for the truth about the counterfeit drugs and the potential impact on people’s lives. A defendant, for example, cannot turn a blind eye and refuse to “see” that the pills being sold don’t work.
Getting Help If You’re Accused of Crimes Involving Fake Drugs
If you are accused of any involvement with fake drugs, you need to understand what this means for your future. There is the very real possibility of incarceration, fines and penalties, required restitution, and other criminal consequences. If a senior or other patient suffered physical injury or a worse prognosis due to the problem with the medications, it may also be possible for a defendant to be sued for willfully or negligently causing the senior to experience health issues by providing the wrong drugs.
You need to be ready to respond to all of your legal problems when accusations arise related to counterfeit drugs. Give us a call as soon as you can for help fighting charges.
