How Prescription Fraud is Charged in Wyoming
The Wyoming Controlled Substances Act and other laws deal with prescription fraud in Wyoming. It includes a number of actions, such as getting a controlled substance by lying, fraud, forgery, or deception; changing or using a forged prescription; getting multiple prescriptions from different providers without telling them (called “doctor shopping”); and pretending to be a doctor or other licensed prescriber.
A lot of prescription fraud cases involve people who are addicted to controlled substances and did what they did because of that addiction, not because they planned to commit a crime. That context is important, and so is how it is shown to the court. We look at these cases with a full understanding of the facts, and we look for treatment-based solutions when they are available and make sense.
Penalties for Prescription Fraud in Wyoming
In Wyoming, prescription fraud is usually a felony if it involves Schedule II or III controlled substances, which includes most opioids and benzodiazepines. Fines and prison time of up to seven years are possible punishments. A conviction almost always leads to an investigation by the licensing board and the possible loss of the professional license for licensed healthcare professionals. This can be worse than the criminal penalty.
Defense Strategies in Wyoming Prescription Fraud Cases
In cases of prescription fraud, defenses include questioning the evidence of fraudulent intent, showing that the prescription was obtained legally, proving that the person didn’t know the behavior was fraudulent, and, in cases where the person is dependent on drugs, showing a treatment history and commitment to recovery that supports other options. We look at each case on its own.
Penalty Grid
| Felony Exposure | Fine | License | Drug Charges |
| Up to 7 years | Significant | Investigation likely | May accompany |
Related Charges We Also Defend
Why Clients in Wyoming and South Dakota Choose Just Criminal Law
Our attorneys spent years working for the state before switching sides. We know exactly how prosecutors build cases and exactly where to find the holes.
We do not split our focus between practice areas. Every attorney, every resource, every minute is focused on one thing: your criminal defense.
We know the courts, the judges, and the prosecutors across Wyoming and western South Dakota. Local familiarity shapes strategy and strategy shapes outcomes.
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Real Results for Wyoming & South Dakota Clients
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OtherSuppression Appeal — Wyoming Supreme CourtDistrict Court denied motion to suppress. Wyoming Supreme Court accepted certiorari on appeal.
Barney v. State of Wyoming — Wyoming Supreme Court
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CASE DISMISSEDReckless Endangering / Domestic Battery / Child Endangering — Wyoming
Client charged with reckless endangering, domestic battery, and child endangering. All charges dismissed.
State v. Quezada-Lopez — Wyoming Circuit Court
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CASE DISMISSEDDUI / DWUI — Wyoming
Client charged with DUI. State unable to lay foundation for the breath test. Case dismissed.
State v. Von Olnhausen — Wyoming Circuit Court
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CASE DISMISSEDFelony Child Abuse — Wyoming
Client charged with accessory after the fact and aggravated child abuse — a felony. State unable to meet its burden of proof at preliminary hearing. Felony count dismissed.
State v. Bullinger — Wyoming District Court
Charged with a crime in Wyoming? Time is critical.
The sooner you have an attorney, the more options you have.
What Clients Say About Just Criminal Law
Frequently asked questions about prescription fraud in Wyoming
Wyoming Criminal Defense — Communities We Serve
We are based in Gillette, Wyoming, and serve clients across the state and into western South Dakota. Our team knows the local courts, prosecutors, and judges in every community we serve — and that local knowledge makes a real difference in criminal defense.
- Deadwood
- Sturgis (Rally)
- Custer County
- Lawrence County
- Meade County
- Pennington County
We provide on-call criminal defense for Rally-related arrests including DUI, drug charges, weapons offenses, and assault. Call us 24/7 during Rally week.
