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Dedicated Legal Defense and Skilled Advice for Protecting Your Best Interests in DEA Disciplinary Actions
If you find yourself in the middle of a DEA investigation, or if you’re facing a possible federal enforcement action related to your medical practice’s prescription history, you’re in a difficult situation. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is a vast and powerful federal force, and it can move swiftly and effectively against you and your clinic even if you truly believe you have done nothing wrong.
Far from a slap on the wrist, DEA disciplinary actions can be harsh, severe, unfair, and long-lasting. Truly, punishment by the DEA has the capacity to end a career that has taken decades to build. And it has done just that for health care providers who found themselves on the wrong end of a thorny investigation.
Just as it pursues street dealers aggressively for federal drug offenses, the DEA goes after doctors, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, and anyone else suspected of unlawful prescription activity.
The agency is chiefly concerned with potential infractions under the Controlled Substances Act, or CSA, which can lead to your DEA Certificate of Registration being suspended or permanently revoked. Because DEA registration is required for prescribing or dispensing medications in the United States, and because it can be impossible to re-register or reapply in some situations, revocation could mean the end of a career.
Other DEA disciplinary actions include the agency’s ability to bring federal felony charges against doctors and other health care providers or even business executives. a conviction can lead to federal imprisonment an unthinkable outcome for the respected medical professionals who are often targeted in DEA enforcement actions.
Understandably, the mere possibility of those outcomes is enough to make many doctors nervous when the DEA shows up. The best response to the agency, however, is not to accept their interventions or recommendations at face value out of fear or a misunderstanding of the law, but rather to contact an experienced DEA defense lawyer as soon as possible.
A defense attorney can help you develop a strong legal strategy, decide whether to cooperate with an inspection, negotiate with DEA agents on your behalf, and prepare a persuasive defense for your hearing or trial.
Don’t make the mistake of underestimating the severity of a potential DEA disciplinary action. These are incredibly serious matters. The DEA can and will use any available evidence against you. Be prepared. Get aggressive DEA disciplinary actions attorneys or legal defense on your side.
The Criminal Defense Firm is a federal defense firm dedicated to defending you against suspicion of wrongdoing. From the moment an inspection or investigation begins until the day the matter is resolved, we will fight tirelessly to get your charges dropped, maintain your license and DEA registration, and keep your practice in business. Contact us today.
Put our highly experienced team on your side
Brian J. Kuester
Former U.S. Attorney
Former DA
Amanda Marshall
Former U.S. Attorney
Local Counsel
Joe Brown
Former U.S. Attorney
& Former District Attorney
Local Counsel
John W. Sellers
Former Senior Trial Attorney
U.S. Department of Justice
Local Counsel
Linda Julin McNamara
Former Chief, DOJ Appeals
Local Counsel
Joanne Fine DeLena
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney
Local Counsel
Aaron L. Wiley
Former Federal Prosecutor
Local Counsel
Roger Bach
Former Special Agent (OIG)
Chris Quick
Former Special Agent (FBI & IRS-CI)
Kevin M. Sheridan
Former Special Agent (FBI)
Ray Yuen
Former Supervisory Special Agent (FBI)
Dennis A. Wichern
Former Special Agent-in-Charge (DEA)
Frequently Asked Questions
What Kinds of Disciplinary Actions Can the DEA Take?
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has a wide array of potential enforcement actions against health care professionals at its disposal. Depending on the circumstances, these might include:
- Assessing monetary fines (including “special assessments”)
- Conducting DEA audits and inspections
- Conducting DEA raids
- Criminal charges or imprisonment (often done in concert with other law enforcement agencies)
- Probation
- Requesting voluntary surrender of your DEA Certificate of Registration
- Suspending or revoking your DEA registration
- Suspending your medical license (through your state’s licensing board)
How Should Doctors Prepare for Potential DEA Disciplinary Actions Lawyer Procedures?
Most DEA inspections are routine and straightforward. Nevertheless, we caution everyone working in the pharmaceutical or health care industries to regard any DEA encounter with caution.
DEA agents might arrive at any time. Frequently, they begin a new audit or inspection with very little warning for the physician, pharmacy, or clinic. That’s why it is a good idea to stay prepared. By maintaining thorough documentation and being careful to follow the law with every patient and every prescription, you can strategically position yourself against potential DEA disciplinary actions attorney in the future.
If you have already been contacted by a DEA agent, we urge you to contact an experienced DEA defense lawyer right away even if no charges have been filed, and even if their visit to your clinic seems routine.
Routine DEA audits can lead to larger investigations, even when the providers have not done anything wrong.
Health care providers should:
- Be careful about what you say to any DEA representative
- Never agree to a voluntary surrender without first consulting a DEA disciplinary actions lawyer
- Never admit fault
- Ask a DEA disciplinary actions lawyer before signing written, informed consent for a warrantless search
- Call an experienced DEA defense attorney as early in the process as possible
When Does the DEA Take Enforcement Action?
The DEA has sole or concurrent jurisdiction over many legal offenses related to controlled substances, including:
- Conspiracy to dispense a controlled substance
- Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance
- Conspiracy to possess a controlled substance
- Dispensing drugs without the proper or necessary labels
- Drug diversion
- Drug trafficking
- Paperwork & filing violations (e.g. failure to maintain records as required)
- Prescribing medications to drug-addicted patients
- Prescribing medications outside of their medically accepted use (or outside the scope of your practice)
- Violations of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA)
Contact the DEA Defense Lawyers at The Criminal Defense Firm If Disciplinary Actions Are Proceeding Against You
If you are concerned that the DEA might initiate enforcement actions in your case or if you are already facing DEA disciplinary actions now we encourage you to contact our office right away.
Remember: the federal government takes these cases very seriously, and you should expect them to proceed aggressively. In fact, by the time you learn you are under investigation, the government may already be building a case against you or your practice. Your best strategy is to get an aggressive veteran team of DEA disciplinary actions lawyers in your corner right away.
We offer free, confidential consultations. To speak with a health care defense attorney about your DEA matter, please call The Criminal Defense Firm at 866-603-4540 or contact us online today.