Prescription Drug Convict Loses Mansion and High Flying Ways
The mansion that convicted Austin Internet drug dealer Rakish Saran used to call home is up for auction, four years after his conviction. While he currently resides in a Texas prison cell, his former 22,000 square-foot mansion had all the amenities anyone could want. To earn his wealth, Saran made it easy for people with prescription drug addictions to feed their habits through more than 20 illegal Internet pharmacies he owned. While this method of earning quick money is quite lucrative, it also has a hefty price.
Flying High
Rakish Saran’s chosen profession of Internet prescription drug dealer landed him 12 years in prison and a hefty $68 million restitution fine. Saran was charged with, and pled guilty to, one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, two counts of mail fraud and one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. These charges followed a 2005 arrest and subsequent investigation, which also led to the seizing of his lavish residence that is now up for bid.
Popping Pills
A large section of the medical market today is driven by pharmaceutical companies and their need to push pills on both physicians and patients alike. It is no wonder that this push has resulted in the rising addiction to, and popularity of, illegal possession and use of prescription drugs. According to a website dedicated to prescription drug abuse, prescription drugs “are the second most commonly abused category of drugs, behind marijuana and ahead of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and other drugs.”
The National Institutes of Health has published findings in recent years that almost 20 percent of U.S. inhabitants admit to popping prescription pills without a medical cause to do so. This practice can lead to addictive habits, especially with drugs like OxyContin, Vicodin, Xanax, Valium, Dexedrine and Adderall. Illegal Internet pharmacies, like the many that Saran ran, make it easier for people who are hooked to locate and purchase prescription drugs.
Landing Hard
It is rare that someone will successfully sustain an illegal Internet pharmacy like Saran did. However, it is quite common for otherwise law-abiding citizens to become addicted to prescription drugs that they should not be taking, especially with convenient Internet access. Even the charges for illegal possession of a small amount of prescription drugs are serious and the charges for using or distributing them are severe. If you are arrested for possession of a controlled substance, whether illegal or commonly prescribed, it is crucial to promptly contact an experienced criminal defense lawyer. Your freedom, reputation, assets and relationships may depend on it.