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Virginia criminal charge

Assisting individuals in unlawfully procuring prescription drugs in Virginia

Current through 2026 Virginia legislative session

Assisting individuals in unlawfully procuring prescription drugs is a criminal offense under Virginia law, defined by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-258.2. Its classification is not fixed: Virginia assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.

Defined by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-258.2.

What is the penalty for assisting individuals in unlawfully procuring prescription drugs in Virginia?

Penalties for Assisting individuals in unlawfully procuring prescription drugs
PenaltyRangeBasisAuthority
Jail / prisonup to 12 months (First offense — Applies to a first conviction for knowingly assisting another, for compensation, in unlawfully procuring prescription drugs from an unlicensed source.)discretionaryVa. Code Ann. § 18.2-11
Fineup to $2,500 (First offense — Applies to a first conviction for knowingly assisting another, for compensation, in unlawfully procuring prescription drugs from an unlicensed source.; either or both with confinement (§ 18.2-11(a)))discretionaryVa. Code Ann. § 18.2-11
Jail / prison1 years to 5 years (Second or subsequent offense — Applies upon a second or subsequent conviction for the same offense.; or, at the discretion of the jury or the court trying the case without a jury, confinement in jail for not more than 12 months and a fine of not more than $2,500, either or both (§ 18.2-10(f)))discretionaryVa. Code Ann. § 18.2-10
Fineup to $2,500 (Second or subsequent offense — Applies upon a second or subsequent conviction for the same offense.; with the jail-confinement alternative under § 18.2-10(f))discretionaryVa. Code Ann. § 18.2-10

Applies to current.

How is assisting individuals in unlawfully procuring prescription drugs classified in Virginia?

The classification depends on the circumstances:

Classification variants for Assisting individuals in unlawfully procuring prescription drugs
VariantClassificationWhen it appliesStatute
First offenseClass 1 MisdemeanorApplies to a first conviction for knowingly assisting another, for compensation, in unlawfully procuring prescription drugs from an unlicensed source.Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-258.2undefined
Second or subsequent offenseClass 6 FelonyApplies upon a second or subsequent conviction for the same offense.Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-258.2undefined

Common questions about assisting individuals in unlawfully procuring prescription drugs in Virginia

Is assisting individuals in unlawfully procuring prescription drugs a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

It depends on the circumstances: assisting individuals in unlawfully procuring prescription drugs ranges from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 6 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-258.2.

First offense: class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-258.2) · Second or subsequent offense: class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-258.2)

What are the penalties for assisting individuals in unlawfully procuring prescription drugs in Virginia?

Penalties for assisting individuals in unlawfully procuring prescription drugs in Virginia depend on how it is classified — from a class 1 misdemeanor up to a class 6 felony — with the ranges set by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11 and Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.

Which Virginia statute covers assisting individuals in unlawfully procuring prescription drugs?

Assisting individuals in unlawfully procuring prescription drugs is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-258.2 (Assisting individuals in unlawfully procuring prescription drugs; penalty).

Legal terms used in this law

This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.