Drug Diversion Case Database: Search 730 Documented Cases

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Showing 730 of 730 cases · page 14 of 15.

Case / When	Where	Setting	Drug	Method	Role	Prosecution status	Penalty	Source
Westchester pharmacy technician charged with trafficking oxycodone, hydrocodone and alprazolam after DEA parking-lot arrest 2011-12-21	New York	not stated	Over 350 oxycodone, hydrocodone and alprazolam tablets seized	not stated	Pharmacy technician at a pharmacy in Mohegan Lake, NY	not stated	none documented	source
Psychiatrist reprimanded for prescribing Ritalin to her spouse without medical justification 2011-12	California Ridgecrest, CA	Ridgecrest, CA	Ritalin	Admitted to prescribing Ritalin to her spouse without adequate documentation of medical necessity.	not stated	Reprimand by the Maryland Board of Physicians, taken reciprocally after the Illinois Board of Medicine fined her for the same conduct	none documented	source
Sisseton pharmacy technician pleaded guilty to health care fraud over hydrocodone theft 2011-11-28	South Dakota	Tribal health care center, Sisseton, South Dakota	Hydrocodone (approximately 10 pills)	not stated	Pharmacy technician	not stated	none documented	source
Internal medicine physician summarily suspended over chronic cocaine and opiate use 2011-11	Maryland Baltimore, MD	Facility	cocaine and opiates	The Board determined that the physician's chronic and active personal use of cocaine and opiates constituted a substantial likelihood of risk of serious harm to the public health, safety and welfare.	not stated	Summary suspension of medical license	none documented	source
Former state developmental center employee sentenced to prison for selling oxycodone in Cumberland County 2011-10-28	New Jersey	Street-level sales outside a convenience store in Millville; no evidence the drugs came from his workplace	Oxycodone (undercover purchases also included hydrocodone and diazepam)	not stated	Former training technician at a state developmental center, employed by the New Jersey Department of Human Services until his arrest	not stated	none documented	source
Four Connecticut pharmacy technicians charged with stealing and selling prescription drugs 2011-10-04	Connecticut	Pharmacies in Connecticut	Prescription drugs (not specified in extracted text)	not stated	Pharmacy technicians (four individuals)	not stated	none documented	source
Psychiatric Hospital Settles Unregistered Methadone Clinic Allegations — Massachusetts, 2011 2011-09-27	Massachusetts Georgetown, Massachusetts	Baldpate Hospital, a private psychiatric hospital in Georgetown, MA	Methadone	Operated an unregistered narcotic treatment clinic; failed to maintain required methadone records/inventories	not stated	Civil settlement with DEA/U.S. Attorney's Office	$29,500 (civil settlement)	source
Anesthesiologist admitted to repeatedly ingesting illicit substances and evading toxicology screens 2011-07	Maryland Baltimore, MD	Baltimore, MD	illicit substances	admitted to repeatedly ingesting illicit substances and deliberately evading detection on toxicology screens, in violation of a prior consent order	not stated	suspension	none documented	source
Physician assistant wrote unauthorized prescriptions for controlled dangerous substances for her own personal use 2011-07	Maryland Hagerstown, MD	Hagerstown, MD	Controlled Dangerous Substances	found to have written unauthorized prescriptions for Controlled Dangerous Substances for her own personal use, amid substance abuse issues	not stated	revocation	none documented	source
Hospital Nurse Sentenced for Siphoning Dilaudid from Patients' IV Bags — Minnesota, 2011 2011-06-29	Minnesota Coon Rapids, Minnesota	Mercy Hospital, Coon Rapids, MN	Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)	Used a syringe to withdraw Dilaudid from patients' IV bags	not stated	Pleaded guilty; sentenced to 3 years probation	none documented	source
Manhattan, Kansas registered nurse pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and obstruction 2011-06-13	Kansas	Manhattan, Kansas (facility not identified in the release)	Oxycodone	not stated	Registered nurse	not stated	none documented	source
South Dakota tribal health center pharmacy technician sentenced after hydrocodone theft plea 2011-05-16	South Dakota	Indian Health Service health care center, Sisseton, South Dakota	Hydrocodone	not stated	Pharmacy technician	not stated	none documented	source
Respiratory care practitioner took controlled dangerous substances from her workplace 2011-05	Maryland Frederick, MD	Workplace	controlled dangerous substances	found to have taken controlled dangerous substances from her workplace	not stated	reprimand with terms and conditions, upon applying for reinstatement	none documented	source
West Hartford physician settled civil claims over prescriptions not dispensed to named patients 2011-04-20	Connecticut	Private medical office	Vyvanse and Subutex	not stated	Physician	not stated	none documented	source
Vermont psychiatric-facility nurse accused of diverting narcotics; consent order later contested through state supreme court 2011-04	Vermont	In-patient mental health facility, Brattleboro	Narcotic drugs (unspecified)	not stated	Registered nurse	not stated	none documented	source
Nursing Home Nurse Sentenced for Diluting Hospice Patients' Morphine with Tap Water — Washington, 2011 2011-03-07	Washington Snohomish, Washington	Merry Haven Care Center, a nursing home/hospice in Snohomish, WA	Morphine sulfate	Removed morphine from prescription vials, replaced it with tap water	not stated	Sentenced to 1 year in federal prison, 3 years supervised release	none documented	source
California hospital lead pharmacy technician diverted over 6,000 controlled-substance tablets from dispensing system 2011-02-07	California	University medical center hospital pharmacy, Loma Linda	Several controlled substances; accusation alleged 6,540 tablets, evidence established over 6,000	not stated	Lead pharmacy technician	not stated	none documented	source
Registered nurse signed out extra OxyContin, Percocet, and oxycodone not given to residents and forged a narcotic sheet 2011-01	Alaska	Long-term care facility for residents (not named in the Alaska board summary)	OxyContin, Percocet, oxycodone	signed out extra doses not given to residents and forged another registered nurse's initials on a narcotic sheet	not stated	consent agreement with five years probation, chemical dependency treatment, random drug screening, and employment restrictions	none documented	source
Former nurse pleads guilty to stealing hydromorphone from Mayo Regional Hospital 2010-11	Maine Dover-Foxcroft, ME	Mayo Regional Hospital	hydromorphone	stole about $8,000 worth of drugs from her employer, took the drugs, did not administer them to patients, injected them into her body to dull pain from a previous injury	not stated	pleaded guilty to Class C theft; sentencing continued; district attorney recommended two years in prison with all but 90 days suspended and two years of probation	none documented	source
New Jersey physician's license revoked for prescribing Percocet without medical justification 2010-10-12	New Jersey	Private medical office, North Wildwood	Percocet (oxycodone/acetaminophen)	not stated	Osteopathic physician (pain management)	not stated	none documented	source
Diagnostic radiologist prescribed controlled substances in the names of others for his own use 2010-07	Maryland Annapolis, MD	private medical practice	Controlled Dangerous Substances (CDS)	The Board found that the physician prescribed CDS and other prescription medications in the names of other people for his own personal use.	not stated	Suspension for a minimum of 6 months, immediately stayed; Probation for a minimum of 5 years subject to terms and conditions.	none documented	source
Surgical Technician Diverts Fentanyl, Triggers Multistate Hepatitis C Outbreak — Colorado, 2010 2010-02-24	Colorado Denver, Colorado	Rose Medical Center (Denver, CO) and Audubon Surgery Center (Colorado Springs, CO)	Fentanyl	Stole patient-intended fentanyl syringes, self-injected, refilled syringes with saline	not stated	Sentenced to 360 months (30 years) in federal prison	$506,935 (restitution)	source
Tulsa hospital pharmacy operator paid civil penalty after employees stole hundreds of thousands of hydrocodone and alprazolam doses 2010-02-19	Oklahoma	Two hospital pharmacies in Tulsa run by an outside pharmacy management company	Hydrocodone, alprazolam and phentermine	not stated	Pharmacy employees, including one responsible for invoices and medication purchasing	not stated	none documented	source
Nurse practitioner self-administered controlled substances taken from office stock 2010-01	Alaska	Practice	controlled substances	took controlled substances from her office stock without a prescription and self-administered them	not stated	consent agreement with five years probation, drug rehabilitation counseling, psychiatric/psychological therapy, random testing, and restrictions on controlled-substance access and practice	none documented	source
Registered nurse had Schedule II drugs removed from an automated dispensing cabinet and unaccounted for 2010-01	Alaska	Practice	Schedule II drugs	removed Schedule II drugs from an automated dispensing cabinet; 184 incidents were unaccounted for	not stated	consent agreement with three years probation, public reprimand, chemical/alcohol assessment, counseling, supervision, and limits on controlled-drug access	none documented	source
Rutland pharmacy technician's registration revoked after alleged theft and consumption of a narcotic cough syrup 2009-10-08	Vermont	Pharmacy, Rutland, Vermont	Tussionex (schedule III narcotic mixture)	not stated	Pharmacy technician	not stated	none documented	source
Respiratory care practitioner took controlled substances from a hospital's automated dispensing cabinet dispensing system without authorization 2009-10	Maryland Baltimore, MD	hospital	controlled dangerous substances (CDS)	Took CDS from a hospital's automated dispensing cabinet system without authorization amid impairment issues	not stated	Reprimand; probation for a minimum of 1 year subject to terms and conditions	none documented	source
Anesthesiologist diverted controlled substances from his workplace for personal use 2009-06	Maryland	workplace	controlled dangerous substances (CDS)	Diverted CDS from his workplace for his personal use amid substance abuse issues	not stated	Reprimand; suspension until the physician's license is activated by the Oregon Medical Board	none documented	source
Tucson hospital reached civil settlement with the United States after DEA investigation of missing controlled substances 2009-03-27	Arizona	Hospital in Tucson	Controlled substances (several doses reported missing; specific drugs not identified in the source)	not stated	Hospital (institutional controlled-substance registrant)	not stated	none documented	source
Delaware nurse used a physician's DEA number to obtain Xanax for herself; licenses later permanently revoked 2009-02-12	Delaware	Outside any facility: prescriptions ordered in her own name using a physician's DEA registration	Xanax	not stated	Licensed nurse holding Delaware nursing licenses	not stated	none documented	source
General practice physician accused of self-administering narcotics and writing prescriptions to family and staff without medical records 2009-02	Maryland Bowie, MD	General practice office	controlled dangerous substances (CDS)/narcotics	Board investigative findings alleged the physician was addicted to CDS, overdosed on narcotics in December 2008, and wrote multiple prescriptions to family members and office staff without maintaining medical records, while allowing patients to keep their own medical records.	not stated	Summary suspension	none documented	source
Gaston County general practitioner's license revoked after felony conviction for prescribing controlled substances without a legal medical purpose 2008-11-20	North Carolina	Medical practice, Bessemer City, Gaston County	Controlled substances (not specified)	not stated	Physician (general practice)	not stated	none documented	source
A physician assistant was accused of unauthorized prescribing of Schedule II narcotics to family members 2008-02	Maryland Annapolis, MD	Annapolis, MD	Schedule II narcotics	alleged unauthorized prescribing of Schedule II narcotics to family members, cited as part of the basis for an emergency public health and safety action	not stated	Summary suspension	none documented	source
Vermont-licensed nurse charged over diversion of opioids prescribed to a New Hampshire nursing home resident 2008-01-30	Vermont	Nursing center, Jaffrey, New Hampshire	Opioids prescribed to a resident	not stated	Nurse (Vermont licensee)	not stated	none documented	source
Unlicensed resident removed narcotic patches from nursing home patient 2007-07	Maryland Baltimore, MD	nursing home	narcotic-eluding patches	unlawfully removed narcotic-eluding patches from a ventilator-dependent patient at a nursing home. He posed as a licensed physician and entered the nursing home's premises on several occasions before the patches were removed.	not stated	Permanent Revocation; any application for licensure, registration, or certification will not be accepted	none documented	source
Registered nurse diverted a Schedule II controlled substance from the workplace 2007-06	Alaska	Workplace	Schedule II controlled substance	diverted a Schedule II controlled substance from the workplace	not stated	amended memorandum of agreement; relocated to Nebraska	none documented	source
Pennsylvania practical nurse's license revoked for misappropriating drugs 2007-05-10	Pennsylvania	Armstrong County, Pennsylvania; practice site not identified in the notice	not stated	not stated	Licensed practical nurse	not stated	none documented	source
Pennsylvania nurse disciplined for misappropriation and non-medical use of a controlled substance 2007-05-08	Pennsylvania	Bucks County, Pennsylvania; practice site not identified in the notice	not stated	not stated	Nurse holding both practical and professional nursing licenses	not stated	none documented	source
Nevada pharmacy technician refilled hydrocodone prescriptions for herself; registration revoked 2007-02-22	Nevada	Pharmacy (employer not named in report)	Hydrocodone	not stated	Pharmaceutical technician	not stated	none documented	source
Nevada hospital pharmacy technician created fictitious nurse account to pull narcotics from dispensing cabinets 2007-02-22	Nevada	Hospital pharmacy and automated dispensing cabinets	Schedule II and III narcotic drugs	not stated	Pharmaceutical technician	not stated	none documented	source
Hospital anesthesiologist diverted controlled dangerous substances from medication management system and falsified patient records 2006-10	Maryland Berlin, MD	hospital	controlled dangerous substances (unspecified)	diverted controlled dangerous substances from a hospital medication management system and placed false information in patient medical records to conceal the diversion	not stated	Summary Suspension	none documented	source
Radiation therapy technologist forged prescriptions to obtain pain medication 2006-10	Maryland Eldersburg, MD	Eldersburg, MD	prescription pain medicine	forged prescriptions in her own name and in other names to obtain prescription pain medicine	not stated	Summary Suspension	none documented	source
Internist fraudulently wrote prescriptions for controlled substances and misrepresented having them filled 2006-09	Maryland Clinton, MD	Clinton, MD	controlled substances (unspecified)	fraudulently wrote prescriptions for controlled substances and made misrepresentations in having prescriptions filled	not stated	Suspension immediately stayed; probation for a minimum of 3 years; $10,000 fine	none documented	source
Virginia-licensed pharmacist self-administered diverted phentermine on duty; suspension stayed by consent order 2006-05	Virginia	not stated	Phentermine HCl 37.5 mg (Schedule IV)	not stated	Pharmacist	not stated	none documented	source
Kansas practical nurse convicted of obtaining prescription drug by fraud; license reinstated under stayed suspension 2006-01-04	Kansas	Kansas nursing employment (employer not identified in excerpt); criminal case in Johnson County District Court	Prescription-only drug (not named in the order)	not stated	Licensed practical nurse	not stated	none documented	—
General practice physician summarily suspended after admitting cocaine use in violation of probation 2006-01	Maryland Columbia, MD	private medical practice	cocaine	Tested positive for cocaine in violation of a prior consent order and admitted to using cocaine on the occasion that produced the positive test.	not stated	Summary suspension	none documented	source
Illinois hospital bacteremia outbreak linked to nurse drug diversion 2006	Illinois	Hospital in Illinois	not stated	not stated	Nurse	not stated	none documented	source
Internist's reinstatement denied over past substance abuse and fraud in obtaining controlled dangerous substances 2005-09	Maryland Annapolis, MD	Not specified	controlled dangerous substances	past misconduct concerning substance abuse and fraud in obtaining controlled dangerous substances and submitting false statements when he obtained licensure in Maryland	not stated	Reinstatement Denied; the Board will not accept any further applications for reinstatement for 5 years	none documented	source
Pathologist suspended for narcotic/CDS abuse and illegal prescribing 2005-08	Maryland Owings Mills, MD	Not specified	narcotic or controlled dangerous substances (CDS)	being addicted to or habitually abusing any narcotic or CDS; willfully making or filing a false report in the practice of medicine and when making application for licensure; and prescribing drugs for illegal or illegitimate medical purposes	not stated	Suspension for 5 years with terms and conditions; should the suspension be stayed, probation for 5 years with terms and conditions	none documented	source
Nursing home nurse took Percocet from a resident's medication supply for personal use 2005-06	Maine Kennebunk, ME	Kennebunk Nursing Center	Percocet	Took 72 Percocet pills from a resident's supply of medication under the guise of medicating the resident, taking the pills for her own use, between February 7, 2004 and May 8, 2004.	not stated	Found guilty by a York County Superior Court jury; sentenced to 9 months in jail with all but 5 days suspended, plus two years of probation with random searches and drug testing.	none documented	source

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What each column does and doesn't cover

Every case states When (date) and Where (state) — 730 of 730. Beyond that, a blank cell means the source record does not state that fact, not that it did not happen:

Setting: stated in 649 of 730 cases (89%)
Drug: stated in 657 of 730 cases (90%)
Method: stated in 474 of 730 cases (65%)
Prosecution status: stated in 474 of 730 cases (65%); a documented penalty (fine, settlement, or restitution) exists for 77 of 730 cases (11%)
Role: stated in only 255 of 730 cases (35%) — filtering or sorting by role silently hides the rest of the registry, which may still describe the same role in prose without a structured field

Why: documented failure modes

A separate text analysis of the 723 case summaries found 371 cases (51.3%) matching at least one named failure-mode pattern below. 352 cases (48.7% of 723) matched none of these categories - most of these are short board-order summaries ("licensee diverted controlled substances from their employer") that state an outcome without describing a mechanism, not cases where no failure occurred. A case can match zero, one, or several categories — these are corpus-level counts, not a per-case tag, and are not used as a row filter above: reproducing the exact category membership per case from the stored patterns did not exactly match this file's hand-curated counts on independent re-check, so no individual case here is labeled with a "why" that this code cannot verify.

Drug swapped for a substitute and the container returned to circulation 137 of 723

Text names an act of replacing/refilling the drug with a named substitute (saline, water, an OTC pill, a cleaning product, etc.), OR uses swap/dilute/tamper to describe the same act, so the altered container went back into use looking unchanged.

Outright theft or embezzlement of stock (no substitution described) 120 of 723

Text uses stole/stealing/embezzled to describe removal of controlled substances.

Records, charts, orders, inventories, or receipts falsified to conceal the diversion 58 of 723

Text uses a form of "falsif-" within 60 characters of a record-type noun (chart, inventory, transaction, receipt, prescription, etc.).

Prescriptions fraudulent, forged, invalid, or written outside legitimate medical practice 53 of 723

Text explicitly characterizes the prescription(s) as fraudulent, forged, invalid, or issued outside legitimate medical practice (including "pill mill" language).

Automated dispensing cabinet used as the point of exploitation 30 of 723

Text names an automated dispensing cabinet/machine, or the acronym ADC, as part of the mechanism.

Waste/wastage claim used to cover the diversion, or wastage not witnessed 38 of 723

Text describes recording or claiming drug as "waste" (when it was not), pulling drug from a waste stream, or wastage that was not independently witnessed.

Cancelled, voided, or falsely entered dispensing-system transactions to hide the removal 11 of 723

Text describes cancelling, voiding, or falsely entering a system transaction (an order, a return-to-stock entry, a cancel entry) specifically to conceal a removal.

Facility-level failure to maintain accurate inventory or required records (not one employee concealing a theft) 24 of 723

Text states the FACILITY (not an individual concealing personal use) failed to maintain required inventory/records, or names a recordkeeping violation/negligent recordkeeping as the basis for the government action.

Drug obtained using a false identity, a fictitious patient, or impersonation 11 of 723

Text describes using a fictitious patient profile, a false name/identity, stolen patient information, or impersonating a licensed prescriber to obtain the drug.

Known or suspected loss/theft/diversion not reported to DEA or a licensing board 10 of 723

Text states a failure to notify or report a loss, theft, or suspected diversion to a regulator.

Disclaimer

Case summaries are based on public records (DOJ press releases, court documents, news reports). Charges are allegations unless a conviction is noted. Analysis is educational, not legal advice.

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Last reviewed: September 2026 · Content is educational, not legal advice.

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