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

Nurse (role unspecified)107
Registered nurse (RN)17
Physician / surgeon16
Not stated in the record or its title14
Nurse anesthetist (CRNA)9
Paramedic / EMT7
Pharmacy technician5
Nurse practitioner / APRN2
Surgical / OR technician2
Dentist / oral surgery1
Pharmacist1

From the Role field (19) or, where the record has none, the case title (148).

States with the most records

Iowa13
New Hampshire11
Colorado10
Massachusetts10
Oklahoma9
Connecticut8
South Dakota8
Wisconsin8

44 states and territories in all; every state.

Settings involved

Hospital / health system101
Other / not classified57
Ambulatory surgery / OR9
Emergency services / EMS4
Dental / oral surgery2
Fertility / reproductive2
Home health / hospice1
Long-term care1
Retail pharmacy1
No setting stated3

Other drugs and classes

Cases

Newest first · page 5 of 8, 101–125 of 181

  1. Iowa Nurse Pleads Guilty to Diverting Fentanyl From Elderly Patients' IV Pumps 2022-11-21 · Clear Lake, Iowa · Other / not classified
  2. South Dakota hospital ambulance fentanyl vials found filled with saline; no suspect identified 2022-11 · Hospital / health system
  3. Colorado Nurse Sentenced Over ICU Fentanyl Drip Diversion 2022-11 · Denver, Colorado · Hospital / health system
  4. DC nurse diverted fentanyl from two Washington hospitals 2022-10-27 · Washington, DC · Hospital / health system
  5. St. Louis County Hospital Nurse Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining Fentanyl 2022-10-27 · St. Louis County, Missouri · Hospital / health system
  6. Former Nurse Pleads Guilty to Diverting Opioids From Two Boston-Area Hospitals 2022-10-04 · Boston, Massachusetts · Hospital / health system
  7. Missouri nurse diverted fentanyl at two hospitals after being fired for the first diversion 2022-10 · Hospital / health system
  8. Hilo Hospital Nurse Charged With Stealing Fentanyl 2022-09-23 · Hilo, Hawaii · Hospital / health system
  9. Connecticut Outpatient Clinic Nurse Sentenced for Tampering With Fentanyl Vials 2022-09-22 · Hartford, Connecticut · Ambulatory surgery / OR
  10. Massachusetts Paramedic Pleads Guilty to Tampering With Ambulance Fentanyl Vials 2022-08-30 · Needham, Massachusetts · Emergency services / EMS
  11. Emergency room nurse sentenced to probation for diverting fentanyl from a Lincoln hospital pharmacy 2022-06 · Lincoln, NE · Other / not classified
  12. Missoula Hospital Nurse Sentenced for Diverting Fentanyl and Hydromorphone 2022-04-26 · Missoula, Montana · Hospital / health system
  13. Jacksonville Hospital ICU Nurse Pleads Guilty to Tampering With Patients' Fentanyl 2022-04-13 · Jacksonville, Florida · Hospital / health system
  14. Hilo Medical Center nurse charged with fentanyl theft and drug possession 2022-04 · Hilo, HI · Hospital / health system
  15. Danville Hospital Nurse Sentenced for Tampering with Fentanyl and Hydromorphone 2022-03-04 · Danville, Virginia · Other / not classified
  16. Illinois Dentist Charged with Tampering with Patients' Fentanyl 2022-02-10 · Rochester, Illinois · Dental / oral surgery
  17. Cedar Rapids Surgery Center Nurse Sentenced for Tampering With Fentanyl Vials 2022-01-21 · Cedar Rapids, Iowa · Ambulatory surgery / OR
  18. Louisiana Prescriber Charged in Controlled Substance Diversion Case (2022) 2022 · Louisiana · Other / not classified
  19. Iowa Nurse Sentenced in Opioid Diversion Case (2022) 2022 · Iowa · Ambulatory surgery / OR
  20. Hawaii Nurse Charged in Controlled Substance Diversion Case (2022) 2022 · Hawaii · Hospital / health system
  21. Connecticut Nurse Sentenced in Opioid Diversion Case (2022) 2022 · Connecticut · Other / not classified
  22. Colorado Nurse Sentenced in Opioid Diversion Case (2022) 2022 · Colorado · Other / not classified
  23. Ann Arbor VA Nurse Anesthetist Stole 2,000+ Vials of Opioids 2021-11-09 · Ann Arbor, Michigan · Hospital / health system
  24. Colorado Nurse Stole Fentanyl in Hospital Catheterization Lab 2021-09-18 · Colorado · Hospital / health system
  25. DC nurse license stays suspended after fentanyl and oxycodone relapse 2021-09-01 · Washington, DC · Hospital / health system

← Back to page 1 · ← All drugs and drug classes · Cases by state · Filter these cases in the case database · Check your own controls with the free assessment

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.

Would your controls have caught these?

The free self-assessment scores your own controls: 8 sections, 63 weighted items, a score for each section, and a PDF you can take to your committee. No account or login.

Start the free assessment