A Milwaukee couple is facing criminal charges after being arrested on Feb. 26. According to reports, the 21-year-old woman and the 26-year-old man were allegedly forging prescriptions in attempt to get OxyContin, a prescription painkiller similar to heroin that is known for being abused by addicts. The two were arrested in Menomonee Falls after a pharmacist realized they were trying to use the fraudulent prescriptions.
According to reports, the pharmacist informed the officers that several prescriptions bearing the name of a doctor from Prospect Medical Commons were flagged as having been forged at pharmacies in New Berlin, Wauwatosa, and Brown Deer. The doctor named on the prescriptions is reported to have been unaware of the forgeries. The flagging at other pharmacies made it easier for the Walgreens pharmacist to identify the 21-year-old’s prescription for oxycodone as fake and alert authorities.
Both the 21-year-old and the 26-year-old were charged in Waukesha County with felony forgery. The woman was released on an undisclosed bail amount but declined to talk to reporters. Both of them could be sentenced to up to six years in prison each if convicted.
In a situation like this, the defense is often interested in factors such as how the couple came into possession of the alleged forged prescriptions, any prior history of criminal activity and whether the oxycodone was for personal use or intended to be distributed. A thorough understanding of these factors can help an attorney develop a criminal defense strategy that may be able to reduce charges, lessen penalties and prevent damage to the accused’s reputation.
Source: WISN, “Couple arrested, accused of forging prescriptions for painkillers” Nick Bohr, Feb. 28, 2014
