Codeine diversion cases
16 documented cases, 2012–2026.
Figures are derived from the 931 case records collected on this site, not from any official total. A record counts here when its Drug field names codeine; it also appears on the opioids page.
Monetary penalties stated
Median: $200,000
Smallest $593 · largest $1,200,000
Median of 3 amounts in US dollars (civil settlements and penalties, criminal fines, restitution, forfeiture) stated in 3 of 16 records. 13 records state no dollar amount.
Custodial sentences stated
Shortest: 1 month
Longest: 216 months (18 years)
6 prison or jail terms stated in 5 of 16 records. Probation, supervised release, home confinement and suspended terms are not counted.
Roles named in the records
| Role | Records |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy technician | 7 |
| Not stated in the record or its title | 3 |
| Pharmacist | 2 |
| Physician / surgeon | 2 |
| Nurse (role unspecified) | 1 |
| Registered nurse (RN) | 1 |
From the Role field (3) or, where the record has none, the case title (10).
States with the most records
| State | Records |
|---|---|
| Arizona | 2 |
| Georgia | 2 |
| Iowa | 2 |
| Illinois | 2 |
| Arkansas | 1 |
| District of Columbia | 1 |
| Maryland | 1 |
| Michigan | 1 |
12 states and territories in all; every state.
Settings involved
| Setting | Records |
|---|---|
| Other / not classified | 6 |
| Retail pharmacy | 6 |
| Hospital / health system | 3 |
| Long-term care | 1 |
Other drugs and classes
Cases
Newest first
- Registered nurse alleged to have obtained controlled substances from a Texas pharmacy using unauthorized prescriptions and co-worker prescriber numbers 2026-02 · Retail pharmacy
- Oklahoma Prescriber Charged in Opioid Diversion Case (2026) 2026 · Oklahoma · Other / not classified
- Pharmacist Sentenced for Diverting Controlled Substances From Mason City Pharmacies 2025-06-17 · Mason City, Iowa · Other / not classified
- District of Columbia Physician Sentenced in Opioid Diversion Case (2025) 2025 · District of Columbia · Other / not classified
- Pharmacy technician charged with taking Promethazine-Codeine syrup from pharmacy 2024-05 · King County, Washington · Retail pharmacy
- Central Illinois pharmacy technician sentenced to 30 months for diverting hydrocodone and other controlled substances 2023-09-13 · Retail pharmacy
- Michigan Pharmacist Sentenced for Selling 25,000+ Opioid Pills from His Own Pharmacy 2023-02-09 · Madison Heights, Michigan · Retail pharmacy
- Le Roy pharmacy technician pleaded guilty to diverting hydrocodone and other controlled substances 2022-11 · Retail pharmacy
- Rawlins physician charged with prescribing oxycodone and other controlled substances outside legitimate medical practice 2020-02 · Rawlins, WY · Other / not classified
- Iowa Nursing Home Nurse Sentenced for Stealing Patients' Pain Medication 2020-01-28 · Manchester, Iowa · Long-term care
- Arizona pharmacist and technician sentenced for diverting over 200,000 opioid tablets through two Phoenix-area pharmacies 2018-11-30 · Other / not classified
- Phoenix-Area Pharmacist and Technician Diverted More Than 200,000 Opioid Tablets from Two Pharmacies 2018-11-28 · Peoria / Phoenix, AZ · Other / not classified
- VA Hospital Pharmacy Employees Charged with Stealing and Selling Opioids 2017-02-08 · Little Rock, Arkansas · Hospital / health system
- Emory Hospital Pharmacy Technicians Diverted More Than 1 Million Doses of Controlled Substances 2016-02-01 · Atlanta, GA · Hospital / health system
- University hospital employees fired for diverting controlled substances including alprazolam and hydrocodone 2016-02 · Hospital / health system
- Pharmacy technician admitted diverting Valium, Promethazine/Codeine Syrup, Vicodin, Loratadine, and Soma from Pharmacy A 2012-07 · Retail pharmacy
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Disclaimer
Case summaries are based on public records (DOJ press releases, court documents, licensing-board orders, news reports). Charges are allegations unless a conviction is noted. Analysis is educational, not legal advice.
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