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If you have been charged with the possession or sale of prescription drugs in Arlington Heights, you could be looking at either a misdemeanor or a felony: These charges vary a great deal in Illinois. But one thing you can be certain of is that you are facing the prospect of prison, fines, and life with a criminal record.
At Wierenga | Chiapelli, you can face the prosecutor with confidence, because you'll have a former prosecutor on your side. Our dedicated criminal defense attorney has the experience you need and has been named among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Illinois by The National Trial Lawyers. We are committed to planning your personalized defense strategy that can help uphold rights.
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What are Illinois' penalties for prescription drug crimes?
The consequences you could face depend on the amount of the drug, and more importantly, on the type of prescription painkiller or sedative. Prescription medications can be listed as anything from a Schedule II to a Schedule V controlled substance, a list that categorizes drugs according to their chances of triggering dependency or leading to abuse.
Schedule II drugs, such as oxycodone, fentanyl, and OxyContin, serve medical purposes but have high rates of addiction and abuse. On the other end of the spectrum, Schedule V drugs may include cough medication. Schedule III prescriptions include Vicodin, Codeine, ketamine, and anabolic steroids, while Schedule IV drugs include Xanax and Valium.
In Illinois, the penalties for Schedule II prescription drugs could include:
- 4 to 15 years' prison and a $25,000 fine for prescription drug possession
- 5 to 60 years in prison for sale or trafficking of prescription drugs
For Schedule III and many other prescription drug charges, penalties could include:
- Up to 30 days in jail and a $1,500 fine for a possession conviction
- 2 to 5 years' prison, $75,000 to $150,000 in fines for sale or trafficking
Clearly, there is quite the disparity between different charges. Every situation is different and our Arlington Heights criminal defense lawyer is equipped to find your individualized defense by determining a specific strategy just for you. As a skilled advocate in trial, our attorney can provide highly rated representation that you can depend on, even in difficult circumstances.