Prescription drug fraud charges can arise from situations far more complex than prosecutors acknowledge—legitimate pain management, pharmacy errors, or desperate attempts to treat chronic pain transformed into felony prosecutions carrying years in prison.
Available 24/7 - Investigators Are Building Cases Before You Realize It
Law enforcement throughout Columbia, South Carolina, including SLED's Prescription Monitoring Program investigators, Columbia Police Department, and Richland County Sheriff's Office aggressively pursue prescription drug fraud cases. Whether you're accused of forging prescriptions, doctor shopping across multiple Columbia physicians, obtaining controlled substances through fraud, or illegally possessing prescription medications, these charges destroy medical careers, professional licenses, and your ability to receive legitimate pain treatment.
Matt McGuire has defended prescription drug cases throughout all 46 South Carolina counties for over 30 years, understanding that many prosecutions stem from addiction diseases requiring treatment rather than incarceration. Pharmacies report suspicious activities immediately, prosecutors access your complete prescription history statewide. Call (888) 499-5738 immediately—McGuire Law operates 24/7/365 because prescription fraud allegations require urgent defense.
Prescription drug fraud prosecutions involve complex medical records, pharmacy data, and the SC Prescription Monitoring Program. Winning requires an attorney who understands healthcare law, addiction medicine, and sophisticated defense strategies.
Challenging Prescription Monitoring Program data accuracy by exposing database errors, timing discrepancies, or missing information about cancelled or transferred prescriptions.
Proving legitimate medical need through comprehensive medical records, pain management documentation, and expert testimony from physicians treating your conditions.
Demonstrating lack of fraudulent intent when you reasonably believed prescriptions were valid, properly transferred, or obtained through legitimate medical consultations.
Attacking illegal searches when police obtained prescription records, searched vehicles, or entered homes without proper warrants or probable cause.
Proving addiction is a medical disease requiring treatment rather than incarceration, advocating for drug court, treatment programs, or conditional discharge options.
South Carolina aggressively prosecutes prescription drug fraud under multiple statutes. Understanding the charges you face helps build the strongest defense.
Criminalizes obtaining or attempting to obtain controlled substances through fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, or forgery with intent to defraud.
Includes altering legitimate prescriptions, creating fake prescriptions, or using stolen prescription pads from Columbia-area medical offices.
Occurs when you obtain overlapping prescriptions from multiple physicians without disclosing other prescriptions to each provider.
SC Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) tracks all controlled substance prescriptions statewide, allowing prosecutors to identify patterns across Columbia providers.
Penalties depend on drug schedule and quantities—Schedule II drugs like oxycodone, hydrocodone, and Adderall carry harsher sentences than lower schedules.
Federal charges possible when fraud involves Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, or crosses state lines visiting providers outside South Carolina.
CVS, Walgreens, Publix, and independent Columbia pharmacies flag suspicious prescriptions and report immediately to SLED and local law enforcement.
Prescription drug fraud accusations often criminalize medical conditions and addiction diseases. Our values ensure compassionate representation that fights for treatment alternatives while aggressively defending your rights.
We recognize that many prescription fraud cases stem from undertreated pain, addiction struggles, or desperation—not criminal intent. Your circumstances matter.
Coordinating with addiction medicine specialists, pain management experts, and mental health professionals to build comprehensive defense strategies.
Fighting to prevent convictions that destroy healthcare careers, professional licenses, and your ability to receive legitimate medical treatment.
Pursuing drug court, PTI, conditional discharge, and treatment alternatives that address underlying issues rather than simply imposing punishment.
Challenging illegal searches, improper record access, Miranda violations, and every constitutional breach that taints the prosecution's case.
Prescription fraud charges arise from diverse circumstances. Understanding how these cases develop helps identify defense opportunities.
Visiting multiple Columbia doctors at Prisma Health, Palmetto Health, and private practices seeking adequate pain relief when providers under-prescribe.
Patients whose legitimate prescriptions run out, leading to desperate attempts to obtain refills through emergency rooms or walk-in clinics.
Those who began with legitimate injuries but developed dependencies, then resorted to fraud to maintain prescriptions after doctors cut them off.
Family members using elderly relatives' prescriptions, identification, or insurance cards to obtain medications without the relative's knowledge.
Medications dispensed incorrectly get attributed to you, or computer systems show prescriptions you never actually received.
Columbia hospital and medical office employees accused of diverting prescription medications, forging patient prescriptions, or stealing prescription pads.
Prescription fraud prosecutions rely on complex medical data, pharmacy records, and the Prescription Monitoring Program. Matt McGuire's detailed investigative approach exposes weaknesses in the state's evidence.
Exposing errors, timing discrepancies, and missing information in Prescription Monitoring Program data that creates false appearances of doctor shopping.
Retaining pain management specialists and addiction medicine experts who testify about legitimate medical needs and the disease of addiction.
Establishing pharmacy errors in dispensing, record-keeping, or communications that created the appearance of fraud where none existed.
Filing motions to suppress statements made to investigators, pharmacists, or medical providers without proper Miranda warnings.
Negotiating drug court admission, PTI, conditional discharge, or treatment-focused resolutions that avoid felony convictions and prison time.
Prescription drug fraud convictions create permanent collateral consequences that affect every aspect of your life long after any sentence is served.
Drug Court programs in Richland County offer treatment-focused alternatives. Pretrial Intervention allows first-time offenders to complete probation resulting in charge dismissals.
Prescription drug fraud charges raise critical questions about your rights, potential defenses, and future. Here are direct answers to common concerns.
Doctor shopping occurs when you obtain overlapping prescriptions from multiple physicians without disclosing other prescriptions. The SC Prescription Monitoring Program tracks all prescriptions statewide.
Yes. Prosecutors often charge chronic pain patients who sought adequate treatment from multiple providers. We prove legitimate medical need through records and expert testimony.
Penalties vary by drug schedule and quantities. Schedule II drugs like oxycodone carry harsher sentences. Federal charges apply when Medicare, Medicaid, or interstate conduct is involved.
Healthcare workers, nurses, pharmacists, and other licensed professionals face automatic license reviews. Fighting to avoid conviction or achieve treatment alternatives protects your career.
Yes. Drug Court, Pretrial Intervention (PTI), and conditional discharge options exist for many prescription fraud defendants, especially those with addiction issues.
Absolutely. We investigate pharmacy dispensing errors, record-keeping failures, and communication breakdowns that created false appearances of fraud.
No. Anything you say to investigators, pharmacists, or medical providers gets used against you. Contact Matt McGuire immediately before making any statements.
With over 30 years of experience defending South Carolina, McGuire Law provides elite legal representation with national recognition. McGuire Law has grown from a small practice into one of the most trusted law firms in South Carolina. We understand that legal issues can be overwhelming, whether you're facing criminal charges, dealing with injuries from an accident, or navigating family law matters.
McGuire Law is committed to each client's unique situation, and we don't believe in boilerplate solutions. Every case requires careful analysis, strategic planning, and aggressive representation. Our firm combines over 30 years of experience with cutting-edge legal strategies to achieve the best possible outcomes for our clients.
McGuire Law serves all 46 South Carolina counties. We know these counties, their courts, their legal communities, and most importantly, the people who live here. This local knowledge, combined with our legal expertise, gives our clients a significant advantage.
Matt McGuire received his B.A. from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill and his J.D. from the University of South Carolina.
Matt has served as a law clerk for a State Circuit Judge, an Assistant Attorney General for the State of South Carolina, and an Assistant Solicitor in the Fifth Circuit Solicitor's Office.
Matt is a proud husband, father of two, and a long-time resident of Richland County, South Carolina.
Don't let prosecutors criminalize your medical conditions or addiction struggles. Our firm has defended prescription fraud cases throughout all 46 South Carolina counties for over three decades with a reputation for achieving treatment alternatives and dismissals.
If you're facing prescription drug fraud charges anywhere in Columbia or South Carolina, contact Matthew M. McGuire immediately at (888) 499-5738 for experienced defense representation. With over three decades defending drug cases in all 46 counties and deep understanding of prescription fraud prosecutions, our firm protects your freedom, career, and access to legitimate medical treatment. Don't speak to investigators or pharmacists without counsel—call now, chat online, or schedule your confidential consultation. We're available 24/7/365 because your defense cannot wait.
