Montgomery County Drug Crimes Lawyer

Experienced Pennsylvania Criminal Defense Attorneys Help Clients Fight Drug Charges in Bucks County and Montgomery County, PA

In today’s “war on drugs,” federal and state task forces, whose job it is to get drugs and drug traffickers off the streets, are often ruthless. It is not uncommon for police to exceed their legal powers and ignore an individual’s civil rights through illegal stops, surveillance, searches, planting of evidence, entrapment, and more. The end result can be an arrest, a conviction, and prison time for a person accused of possessing or distributing drugs in Pennsylvania.

The experienced criminal defense attorneys at Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford P.C. are dedicated to vigorously protecting the rights of those charged with drug possession, trafficking, manufacturing, illegal possession of prescription drugs, and prescription fraud in Pennsylvania.

With four former prosecutors and over 270 years of collaborative experience, our legal team has the skills, knowledge, and resources to provide an aggressive defense against your drug crime charges in Ambler, Chalfont, Telford, Hatfield, or anywhere else in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Our experienced Norristown criminal defense attorneys will do their utmost to defend you against your drug charges.

To start your defense, schedule a free initial consultation with one of our aggressive drug crime attorneys. You can call or email us anytime to arrange a meeting at one of our offices in Newtown or Colmar, PA.

Charged with Marijuana Possession or Prescription Drug Distribution in PA? Our Aggressive Drug Offense Attorneys Can Help You

We provide drug crime defense for all state and federal drug charges, including the following:

• Possession of drugs: including the possession of drug paraphernalia, marijuana, crack cocaine, methamphetamines (meth), heroin, club drugs (ecstasy), illegal prescription drugs, and other narcotics.
• Drug trafficking: including possession with intent to deliver marijuana, ecstasy, crystal meth, cocaine, prescription drugs, and designer drugs.
• Drug cultivation & drug manufacturing: including cultivating marijuana and manufacturing methamphetamines (meth lab).
• Prescription fraud & doctor shopping: including shopping for multiple doctors to write prescriptions for the same ailment and forging prescriptions to have filled at multiple pharmacies.

Common Types Of Prescription Drugs That Are Used Illegally In Pennsylvania

Heroin and fentanyl abuse has developed into a full-blown epidemic. Many of these hardcore opioid addictions once began as prescription painkiller use, and the drugs are rising in popularity. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that abuse of prescription drugs is on the rise among Americans. Teenagers have even been known to attend “prescription drug parties,” where they swipe pills from their family medicine cabinets and trade them amongst each other.

In an attempt to mitigate the opioid epidemic, many Pennsylvania law enforcement agencies are trying to go after the gateway drugs by cracking down on illegal prescription drug use. Abusing a prescription drug can involve buying, selling, or trading illegally obtained medications such as:

• Codeine
• Demerol (Meperidine)
• Morphine
• OxyContin (Oxymorphone)
• Percocet (Oxycodone)
• Valium (Diazepam)
• Vicodin (Hydrocodone)
• Xanax (Alprazolam)

The Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford P.C. prescription drug crimes lawyers have also successfully represented clients who had been charged with trading drugs used for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD prescription drugs that are regularly abused in Pennsylvania include:

• Ritalin (methylphenidate)
• Adderall XR (amphetamine)
• Concerta (methylphenidate)
• Strattera (atomoxetine)
• Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)

Our team has previously persuaded the court to handle prescription drug crime cases under Pennsylvania’s Pharmacy Act instead of the state’s Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act. We have found that having a drug crime handled under the state pharmacy act usually results in a better overall outcome for the accused party. We have also obtained favorable outcomes for many clients through the Pennsylvania Section 17 first offenders’ program.

Drug Crime Penalties in Pennsylvania

A recent United States Sentencing Commission report outlined mandatory minimum penalties for federal drug offenses, many of which are extremely harsh. According to the report, drug offenses account for approximately two-thirds of all criminal offenses carrying a mandatory minimum penalty. For Pennsylvania state drug offenses, the penalties can be equally unjust. But under mandatory sentencing laws, even judges who understand the absurdity of some of the sentences, especially for non-violent offenders, must hand them down.

In Pennsylvania, penalties range from 30 days to one year in jail for marijuana possession, depending upon the amount of marijuana. Repeat convictions for possession of marijuana can lead to multiple years in a state prison. (35 Pa. Con. Stat. § 780-113.)

For state drug offenses in Pennsylvania involving possession of heroin, powdered cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamines, and other non-prescribed controlled substances, as well as the compounds to manufacture them, the sentences may be harsher. First-time offenders can be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison, while repeat offenders could be sentenced to decades more behind bars.

Drug trafficking, distribution, and manufacturing have even stiffer penalties under PA law, which may even lead to a life sentence, depending on the circumstances of the case.

Are You A Healthcare Professional Who Is Facing A Charge For A Prescription Drug Crime In Pennsylvania?

Some people may picture the stereotypical image of a jobless junkie abusing drugs when they think of drug crimes, but even trusted healthcare professionals can face charges in Pennsylvania.

Only when a licensed professional gives prescription drugs to a person with a valid prescription is a prescription drug transaction legal in Pennsylvania. In any other scenario, the person distributing or taking the drugs could be arrested. Even pharmacists with a license to dispense drugs can be convicted of a crime if they distribute to someone without an authorized prescription.

Whether you are a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, paramedic, or another medical professional, Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford P.C. can build a strong defense for whatever prescription drug crime you have been accused of, including:

• Illegal possession
• Possession with intent to deliver
• Selling prescription drugs under the table
• Selling designer drugs concocted from over-the-counter medications

Medical professionals facing a charge for billing an insurance company, Medicare, or Medicaid for bogus prescriptions will likely face felony fraud charges.

Professionals who have been convicted of a prescription drug crime may have their license revoked and their reputation irreversibly damaged, permanently preventing them from continuing in their chosen careers. Our prescription drug attorneys have represented healthcare professionals in prescription drug cases. Nobody will fight as hard as Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford P.C. to protect your professional license, driver’s license, freedom, and reputation.

Former Prosecutors Will Help You Fight Drug Crime Charges in PA

If you have been charged with a drug crime in Southeastern PA, your entire life may be on the line. The Norristown criminal attorneys at Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg, and Gifford oppose unfair mandatory sentencing guidelines and will aggressively, skillfully fight for your rights. As experienced criminal defense attorneys, we’ve gotten our clients’ drug charges reduced, withdrawn, or dismissed.

In other cases, we have negotiated with prosecutors to agree to lesser charges. For some clients, we have had their cases transferred to drug courts that focus more on treatment and rehabilitation instead of punishment. Also, when the police have illegally conducted an arrest, or when the district attorney cannot prove a case beyond a reasonable doubt, many of our clients have been acquitted of all drug charges at trial.

When you meet with our experienced Norristown drug crime lawyers during your free consultation, we will evaluate your case, analyze it from the district attorney’s perspective, and explain what our firm can do in your defense. If you are in jail, we will meet with you there.

Contact Our Experienced PA Criminal Defense Attorneys to Discuss Your Drug Crime Charges in Pennsylvania

The Norristown drug crime defense attorneys at Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford P.C. have successfully won trials and negotiated plea bargains for clients accused of drug crimes in state and federal courts throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania.

To arrange a free, confidential consultation with an experienced PA drug crime defense lawyer, please call us or contact us online via our intake form and we will be in touch immediately. We have offices located in both Colmar, PA and Newtown, PA, and can make special arrangements to meet with you if you are unable to travel to one of our locations.