Early this month, a police officer conducted a traffic stop; during the stop, the officer located several varieties of prescription pills, possible illegal drugs, and over $18,000 in cash, according to the Westminster Police Department.

The suspect was arrested and booked at Orange County Jail for transportation.

Penalty for Unlawfully Selling Prescription Drugs in California

Depending on the facts of your case, you could be charged with “possession of controlled substances for sale” if there is evidence that you meant to sell the illicit drugs in your possession.

This is a much more serious charge. It is a felony with no option for pretrial diversion. If convicted, you could face up to two, three or four years in county jail and up to a $20,000 fine.

If you are arrested in the act of selling prescription drugs, you could be charged with “sale or transportation of a controlled substance,” which is the most serious of California’s controlled substance laws.

This is also a felony, and it carries a sentence of up to a year of probation or three, four or five years in county jail (up to nine years if you crossed at least two county lines).

These is some nuance that comes into prosecuting and defending these cases. The presence of items like scales, packaging or cash can trigger these charges from an overzealous prosecutor, and because they are so serious, this is why it is so valuable to have a skilled criminal defense attorney to help you build your defense.

Source: Helfend Law Group