Texas imposes serious consequences for the use, possession and distribution of controlled substances, including many prescription drugs. In addition to legal penalties, health care providers may also suffer loss of licensure and professional reputation. Read on to understand the different types of prescription drug crimes and the state penalties for these convictions. Categories of illegal prescription drugs Texas divides controlled substances into four categories called p

Being charged with a drug crime can be hard for anyone, whether they are a minor currently living with their parents or an older adult. For some people, such as parents, drug charges can bring up many other concerns. For example, those who are going through a dispute over child custody may be adversely affected from a family law standpoint. Moreover, drug charges can interfere with a parent’s ability to raise their children even if they are not dealing with divorce issues. F

Banks, credit unions and other financial institutions in Texas are on the lookout for applicants that may have a record of bank account abuse. If you are marked as having mismanaged your bank account on a consumer report, many banks and credit unions will not do business with you. Additionally, account abuse can involve transgressing laws governing bank fraud and could open you up to legal consequences. According to Bankrate, account abuse occurs when a person who owns a ban

Texas state authorities may investigate potential violations of state laws. When it comes to federal violations, though, various federal government agencies step in to investigate, enforce and prosecute. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is the agency most likely to investigate an accusation of securities fraud. The Enforcement Division of the SEC has the authority to recommend investigations and civil or administrative

Bank fraud can lead to criminal charges for a person or company in Indiana. Wire transfer fraud is one form of bank fraud, and it is a federal criminal offense. Wire transfer fraud can also result in civil lawsuits, both against the person who is perceived as responsible and the company he or she owns or works for. KeyBank is claiming that a payroll processing company made multiple fraudulent wire transfers, The Goshen News reports. The lawsuit claims both fraud and breach o

Health care professionals regularly face a myriad of challenges, from disputes involving patients to financial hardships and complicated health problems. These professionals have a great deal of responsibility, and many have been charged with prescription fraud in recent years. Allegations of prescription fraud can bring on a wide range of serious repercussions which could lead to serious financial problems and ultimately derail one’s career. As a result, it is imperative for

Healthcare fraud falls under the umbrella of standard fraud crimes in Texas. A healthcare fraud conviction in the Lone Star State could mean severe criminal consequences. You could face hefty fines, jail time and penalties such as losing a license to practice medicine. If you are dealing with healthcare fraud charges or accusations in Austin, a lawyer could help you craft a defense and minimize the penalties you face. Healthcare fraud punishments in Texas A healthcare frau

Over the last few years, the Texas government and the US government have become more vigilant when it comes to handling white collar crime. White collar crime is difficult to define because it is a blanket term. White collar crime refers to federal tax offenses, embezzlement, fraud, cybercrime and much more. All of the charges that fall under this umbrella tend to be nonviolent and financially driven crimes. The repercussions, however, after sentencing may be higher than you

Many times, when you get a prescription from a doctor in Texas, you do not end up using all of the medication. You may wonder if you can share it with someone else who needs it. This is a common tactic that many people use to share antibiotics and other medications with friends and family who maybe cannot afford their own prescription, but it is a dangerous practice, and according to Pharmacy Times, an illegal one, too. Often, sharing medications leads to abuse. It is common

One form of bank fraud can occur when a bank account is opened in your name without authorization. An unauthorized bank account is serious business because a fraudulent party can use the account to open up new credit cards and rack up other expenses in your name. That is why it is important to keep on top of your Texas bank activity and be aware of anything that looks suspicious. In some cases, victims of unauthorized accounts stumble upon evidence out of the blue. For examp

Due to the opioid epidemic and prescription fraud, state and federal governments are seeking ways to further control Schedule II controlled substances. Texas has made changes to this effect, as well, through official prescription forms. According to the Texas Medical Association, these new forms have been available since Sept. 1, 2018. However, up until June 1, 2019, older forms were acceptable. After this date, only the new forms will be legal for Schedule II drugs. Another

The Texas Medical Board oversees a disciplinary panel that, without notice, can temporarily suspend a Texas medical license when it determines the licensee's continued practice of medicine threatens public welfare. A Texas physician received an unannounced suspension in January 2019 for allegedly caring for patients while he was under the influence of unspecified controlled substances. The doctor's suspected abuse of illegal drugs came to the attention of the Texas Medical B

In recent years, many states have changed drug laws to legalize marijuana for medical purposes. However, it is important to know that Texas still severely limits the legal uses of medical marijuana. Under state law, you may only consume certain types of marijuana as part of a treatment plan for a specific medical condition. According to FindLaw, the Texas Compassionate Use Act may allow you to use medical marijuana to treat intractable epilepsy. According to the law, you mus

Texas residents on Medicare should be careful to guard their identification number and any personal information carefully. If this data falls into the hands of certain parties, they can use it to charge Medicare for unwanted and unnecessary medical equipment, which they then allegedly ship to unsuspecting consumers, who often feel puzzled and inconvenienced at receiving back, knee or shoulder braces that they did not order. Earlier this month, federal authorities started cra

It is not only big cities that face challenges in regard to drug offenses and other crimes. Texarkana, Texas, located on the border with Arkansas, is a relatively small community of 37,389 people. Nevertheless, its total crime rate is 128 percent higher than the national average and 108 percent higher than in the rest of Texas. Numerous reports to law enforcement regarding alleged drug activity at a residence in Texarkana led to a search warrant for the address on Bowie Stre

As a medical professional, you studied long and hard to prepare for a career in your chosen field. The training you have received has prepared you for a wide variety of situations. And when patients come to you, they put their trust in your knowledge, experience and best judgment. You probably remember how as a new doctor, you took an oath, or made a declaration. You promised to serve others as best you can. You swore not to intentionally harm your patients. And you vowed to

Because drug laws and regulations are controlled by state law, some states have very different laws in how they view and see drug use and possession for personal use. More states tend to be moving away from decriminalizing marijuana, although it hasn't happened in Texas yet. However, a bill to decriminalize personal use amounts of marijuana is getting a hearing, known as House Bill 63. While the bill doesn't suggest zero penalties for those found to have possession of marijua

From a young age, most of us have been taught not to take things that don't belong to us. While we may know this on the most basic level, sometimes things happen that can cause a person to be put in a situation in which they are accused of theft or a theft-related crime. Understanding the severity of the charge presented before a person means understanding Texas state law on the subject. So what does your theft charge mean in terms of the charge and the potential consequences

Whether you were on your way home from a friend's, the bar or doing your everyday commute, a law enforcement officer may decide to pull you over while you're behind the wheel. Being accused of DUI looks a little different for everyone. Maybe the officer requested you perform a field sobriety test or maybe the officer reached straight for the breathalyzer in attempts to measure your BAC. However it happened, you may decide that a criminal defense strategy is suitable when faci

There were many reasons you became a doctor or a worker in the vast healthcare system. Helping people is a passion of yours as is having work that is stimulating and challenging. While being in the medical field can be very rewarding, it can also involve more risk on behalf of the medical worker. If you or a loved one is facing accusations related to prescription fraud, read on. It isn't just doctors that write prescriptions these days. Nurse practitioners and other medical w