Fentanyl diversion cases
181 documented cases, 2000–2026.
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 fentanyl; it also appears on the opioids page.
Monetary penalties stated
Median: $10,000
Smallest $1,000 · largest $4,500,000
Median of 34 amounts in US dollars (civil settlements and penalties, criminal fines, restitution, forfeiture) stated in 31 of 181 records. 150 records state no dollar amount.
Custodial sentences stated
Shortest: 3 months
Longest: 468 months (39 years)
43 prison or jail terms stated in 43 of 181 records. Probation, supervised release, home confinement and suspended terms are not counted.
Roles named in the records
| Role | Records |
|---|---|
| Nurse (role unspecified) | 107 |
| Registered nurse (RN) | 17 |
| Physician / surgeon | 16 |
| Not stated in the record or its title | 14 |
| Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) | 9 |
| Paramedic / EMT | 7 |
| Pharmacy technician | 5 |
| Nurse practitioner / APRN | 2 |
| Surgical / OR technician | 2 |
| Dentist / oral surgery | 1 |
| Pharmacist | 1 |
From the Role field (19) or, where the record has none, the case title (148).
States with the most records
| State | Records |
|---|---|
| Iowa | 13 |
| New Hampshire | 11 |
| Colorado | 10 |
| Massachusetts | 10 |
| Oklahoma | 9 |
| Connecticut | 8 |
| South Dakota | 8 |
| Wisconsin | 8 |
44 states and territories in all; every state.
Settings involved
| Setting | Records |
|---|---|
| Hospital / health system | 101 |
| Other / not classified | 57 |
| Ambulatory surgery / OR | 9 |
| Emergency services / EMS | 4 |
| Dental / oral surgery | 2 |
| Fertility / reproductive | 2 |
| Home health / hospice | 1 |
| Long-term care | 1 |
| Retail pharmacy | 1 |
| No setting stated | 3 |
Other drugs and classes
Cases
Newest first · page 2 of 8, 26–50 of 181
- Stamford Nurse Tampered with Hydromorphone and Fentanyl Vials 2025-08-12 · Stamford, Connecticut · Other / not classified
- Lakeland Nurse Sentenced to 5+ Years for Stealing Fentanyl at Five Tampa Bay Hospitals 2025-08-08 · Lakeland, Florida · Hospital / health system
- Facility Administrator Sentenced for Diverting Opioids From Five Senior-Care Facilities 2025-05-28 · Iowa · Other / not classified
- Illinois nursing-facility administrator sentenced to probation for diverting opioids from emergency kits and medication carts 2025-05-28 · Other / not classified
- Detroit-area emergency room nurse pleads guilty to tampering with fentanyl vials 2025-05 · Hospital / health system
- Nurse Anesthetist Sentenced for Diverting Fentanyl from ~50 Patients 2025-04-02 · Dubuque, Iowa · Hospital / health system
- Nebraska Nurse Charged Over Surgery Center Propofol and Fentanyl Theft 2025-04 · North Platte, Nebraska · Ambulatory surgery / OR
- Cardiac Catheterization Lab Nurse Sentenced for Tampering With Fentanyl at Miami Hospital 2025-03-18 · Miami, Florida · Hospital / health system
- ICU Nurse Arrested for Stealing 17 Fentanyl IV Bags at Brandon Hospital 2025-02-24 · Brandon, Florida · Hospital / health system
- Virginia Physician Sentenced in Controlled Substance Diversion Case (2025) 2025 · Virginia · Other / not classified
- Virginia Nurse Convicted in Controlled Substance Diversion Case (2025) 2025 · Virginia · Hospital / health system
- Ohio Pharmacy Technician Sentenced in Opioid Diversion Case (2025) 2025 · Ohio · Hospital / health system
- New Hampshire Nurse Charged in Opioid Diversion Case (2025) 2025 · New Hampshire · Other / not classified
- Nebraska Nurse Charged in Opioid Diversion Case (2025) 2025 · Nebraska · Other / not classified
- Michigan Nurse Sentenced in Opioid Diversion Case (2025) 2025 · Michigan · Other / not classified
- Maine Physician Sentenced in Opioid Diversion Case (2025) 2025 · Maine · Other / not classified
- Iowa Nurse Sentenced in Controlled Substance Diversion Case (2025, case 2) 2025 · Iowa · Hospital / health system
- California Nurse Sentenced in Opioid Diversion Case (2025) 2025 · California · Other / not classified
- Osage Beach Nurse Anesthetist Diverted Fentanyl from Hospital Operating Rooms 2024-12-16 · Osage Beach, Missouri · Hospital / health system
- Berlin pain practice, physician and physician assistant settled claims over prescribing after inconsistent drug tests 2024-10-23 · Other / not classified
- Concord Hospital Nurse Diverted Fentanyl from ICU Patient's IV Line 2024-10-07 · Concord, New Hampshire · Hospital / health system
- WakeMed nurse charged with stealing fentanyl from IV bag 2024-10 · Raleigh, NC · Other / not classified
- VA Nurse Diverted Narcotics from Dying Veterans at West Haven VA 2024-09-12 · West Haven, Connecticut · Hospital / health system
- Former nurse accused of replacing fentanyl with tap water in IV drips at Oregon hospital 2024-09 · Medford, OR · Hospital / health system
- Oklahoma City Anesthesiologist Convicted of Diverting Hospital Opioids 2024-07-11 · Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · Hospital / health system
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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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