Diversion Case Studies

Registered nurse obtained Vyvanse from workplace without authorization and self-administered

A registered nurse admitted to obtaining a generic equivalent of Vyvanse from their workplace without a medical order or authorization, taking it home, and administering it to themselves. The Board placed the nurse's license on a 36-month probation.

Detroit-area emergency room nurse pleads guilty to tampering with fentanyl vials

A registered nurse who worked in the emergency room of a Detroit-area hospital pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan to tampering with a consumer product, fentanyl. In the plea the nurse admitted removing fentanyl from vials intended for emergency room patients, refilling them with another liquid, returning them to the locked drug storage system, and stealing fentanyl vials over several months. The hospital removed the nurse in August 2022 after discovering the tampering and thefts, and sentencing was scheduled for September 11, 2025.

Southern Colorado pharmacy paid $250,000 to resolve allegations of years of unlawful controlled-substance dispensing

The corporate operator of a pharmacy in Trinidad, Colorado agreed to pay $250,000 to resolve allegations by the U.S. Attorney's Office that it unlawfully dispensed controlled substances over a period of years. The government alleged the conduct violated the Controlled Substances Act and contributed to public harms including the unlawful diversion of drugs. The matter was investigated by the DEA's Rocky Mountain Division and was resolved through a civil settlement, which is not a finding of liability.

New Haven retail pharmacy paid $192K over controlled substance recordkeeping failures

A New Haven retail pharmacy entered into a civil settlement with the federal government and paid $192,000 to resolve allegations that it violated civil provisions of the Controlled Substances Act. The government alleged that between January 2022 and May 2024 the pharmacy failed to keep complete and accurate records of the receipt and dispensing of controlled substances, failed to perform a biennial inventory, allowed an unauthorized individual to sign DEA order forms on at least eight occasions, and did not retain required order forms and invoices. The pharmacy agreed to a three-year memorandum of agreement with the DEA. The settlement is not a finding of liability.

Michigan Registered Nurse Summarily Suspended Over Canton Drug Diversion

Canton, Michigan

A Michigan registered nurse in Canton was summarily suspended after the state licensing bureau's disciplinary action report cited drug diversion, along with impaired conduct/practice/condition and substance use disorder, as the basis for action.

Michigan Pharmacy Technician Surrenders License Over Westland Drug Diversion

Westland, Michigan

A Michigan pharmacy technician in Westland voluntarily surrendered a license after the state licensing bureau's disciplinary action report cited drug diversion, incompetence, and lack of good moral character as the basis for action.

Michigan Registered Nurse Summarily Suspended Over Chesaning Drug Diversion

Chesaning, Michigan

A Michigan registered nurse in Chesaning was summarily suspended after the state licensing bureau's disciplinary action report cited drug diversion as the basis for action.

Traveling Nurse Sentenced for Tampering With Morphine at Massachusetts Rehabilitation Facility

Danvers, Massachusetts

A traveling nurse assigned by a healthcare staffing company to nursing and rehabilitation facilities across Massachusetts diverted morphine from patient medication bottles, diluting the contents so bottles appeared full. She had previously surrendered her New Hampshire nursing license after a similar tampering investigation but continued practicing under her Massachusetts license. At a rehabilitation center in Danvers, staff noticed a leaking, discolored morphine bottle in April 2022, and law enforcement ran a controlled operation comparing sealed versus tampered bottles before and after her shift, confirming she was the only person with access. She pleaded guilty in November 2024 and was sentenced in April 2025.

Hospital pharmacist diverted ketamine and falsified destruction records at Mercy Hospital Anderson Pharmacy

Cincinnati, OH

The Board found that a pharmacist at Mercy Hospital Anderson Pharmacy in Cincinnati, Ohio, diverted ketamine from his employer. The Board found he stole the ketamine over about six months, sold two bottles for $100 each, and provided ketamine to a drug dealer. The Board also found he falsified drug destruction records by showing a vial to a witness, having the form signed, then leaving without destroying the drugs. The Board permanently revoked the pharmacist license.

Pharmacist diverted phentermine and other prescription drugs from a pharmacy using fictitious patient profiles

Wicomico County, MD

Investigative findings state that a pharmacist at a pharmacy in Wicomico County, Maryland, created fictitious patient profiles and used them to fill and purchase prescriptions for herself, including phentermine, a Schedule IV controlled substance, and other prescription drugs. The pharmacist admitted creating a fictitious patient profile and using it to fill and purchase prescriptions, and the Board found reason to believe the pharmacist diverted multiple prescription drugs and/or CDS. The pharmacist's license was summarily suspended, and the pharmacist was charged with three counts of obtaining a prescription drug by fraud.

Nevada registered nurse reprimanded for drug diversion in spring 2025 board actions

A registered nurse entered an Agreement for Reprimand and Continuing Education with the Nevada State Board of Nursing during the reporting period of February 3 through April 10, 2025. The cited grounds were unprofessional conduct, diverting supplies, equipment or drugs for personal or unauthorized use, and departure from customary standards of practice. The published list does not state the drug, the facility or how the diversion was detected.

Nebraska Nurse Charged Over Surgery Center Propofol and Fentanyl Theft

North Platte, Nebraska

A former registered nurse at North Platte Surgery Center was charged in federal court with acquiring a controlled substance by fraud after admitting to his employer that he took propofol and fentanyl from the facility for personal use.

Michigan Nurse Practitioner Summarily Suspended Over Bay City Drug Diversion

Bay City, Michigan

A Michigan registered nurse and nurse practitioner in Bay City was summarily suspended after the state licensing bureau's disciplinary action report cited drug diversion, incompetence, and mental/physical inability to practice as the basis for action.

Contract Nurse Sentenced for Tampering With Morphine at Kentucky Elder-Care Facility

Lawrenceburg, Kentucky

A contract registered nurse working at a health care facility in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, that treats elderly and infirm patients stole morphine prescribed for three patients she was treating, replacing it with water and blue food coloring to mimic the real medication. She took at least seven syringes of stolen morphine and administered the tampered substance to at least one patient. She was sentenced in March 2025 to 60 months in federal prison for tampering with a consumer product.

Kentucky Nurse Sentenced Over Elder-Care Morphine Substitution

Lawrenceburg, Kentucky

A contract registered nurse was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for stealing morphine prescribed to three elderly, seriously ill patients at an Anderson County, Kentucky healthcare facility and replacing it with a mixture of water and blue food coloring made to resemble the real medication.

Cardiac Catheterization Lab Nurse Sentenced for Tampering With Fentanyl at Miami Hospital

Miami, Florida

A registered nurse working in a Miami hospital's cardiac catheterization lab used a syringe to extract medical-grade fentanyl and midazolam from vials for his own use during procedures such as catheterization and stent placement, replacing the contents with saline. He also retrieved empty vials from a biohazard waste bin, filled them with saline, and swapped them in to cover the theft, exposing patients to possible bloodborne-disease contamination from waste-bin material. The hospital fired him, notified affected patients, and offered free blood testing; no acute infections were found. He pleaded guilty in December 2024 and was sentenced in March 2025.

South Carolina Practical Nurse Charged Over Nursing Home Tramadol Theft

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

The South Carolina Attorney General's office announced charges against a licensed practical nurse at Angel Oak Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Myrtle Beach, accused of stealing Tramadol belonging to two residents for her own use while depriving them of prescribed medication.

UCSF pediatric anesthesiologist arrested after being found unconscious with a propofol syringe

A UCSF pediatric anesthesiologist was arrested on March 5, 2025, after reportedly being found unconscious at the facility with an IV needle and a syringe containing propofol, according to a San Francisco Chronicle report relayed by a law-firm blog. The physician's attorney said she had been suspended for 10 days in January, transferred campuses, and later took a voluntary leave to enter residential treatment. UCSF declined to comment, citing personnel confidentiality. No charges or licensing outcome were described in the source, and the report does not state how the propofol was obtained.

Tennessee Board of Pharmacy revokes pharmacy technician over Goodlettsville diversion

Goodlettsville, Tennessee

The Tennessee Board of Pharmacy disciplined a pharmacy technician in Goodlettsville over controlled-substance diversion, according to the March 2025 disciplinary action report. The order records that the licensee diverted controlled substances from their employer, and the board revoked the license. A board order is an administrative finding on the board's own investigation, not a criminal conviction, and the report states no quantity.

Tennessee Board of Pharmacy suspends pharmacist over Knoxville diversion

Knoxville, Tennessee

The Tennessee Board of Pharmacy disciplined a pharmacist in Knoxville over controlled-substance diversion, according to the March 2025 disciplinary action report. The order records that the licensee diverted controlled substances from their employer, and the board suspended the license. A board order is an administrative finding on the board's own investigation, not a criminal conviction, and the report states no quantity.

Tennessee Board of Pharmacy revokes pharmacy technician over Lafayette diversion

Lafayette, Tennessee

The Tennessee Board of Pharmacy disciplined a pharmacy technician in Lafayette over controlled-substance diversion, according to the March 2025 disciplinary action report. The order records that the licensee diverted controlled substances from their employer, and the board revoked the license. A board order is an administrative finding on the board's own investigation, not a criminal conviction, and the report states no quantity.

Tennessee Board of Pharmacy revokes pharmacy technician over Memphis diversion

Memphis, Tennessee

The Tennessee Board of Pharmacy disciplined a pharmacy technician in Memphis over controlled-substance diversion, according to the March 2025 disciplinary action report. The order records that the licensee diverted controlled substances from their employer, and the board revoked the license. A board order is an administrative finding on the board's own investigation, not a criminal conviction, and the report states no quantity.

Registered nurse admitted obtaining and consuming oxycodone without a prescription and had controlled-substance administration and documentation errors involving two patients; voluntarily surrendered license

A registered nurse admitted obtaining and consuming oxycodone without a prescription and subsequently signed a Board order for 24 months of monitored practice probation. The employer later reported controlled-substance administration and documentation errors involving two patients, and the nurse could not account for what medications were administered or why documentation was made. The nurse also admitted administering medication without a provider order and later admitted obtaining and consuming two oxycodone pills. The nurse voluntarily surrendered the registered nurse license, which the Board accepted.

Nursing home nurse accused of stealing Tramadol and oxycodone/acetaminophen from residents

Myrtle Beach, SC

A nurse at Angel Oak Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Myrtle Beach was accused of stealing pain medication from residents in October 2024. State officials alleged the nurse took Tramadol from two patients for personal use, and warrants stated oxycodone/acetaminophen was also taken from a patient. The nurse was charged with two counts of exploitation of a vulnerable adult and two counts of theft of a controlled substance, and was booked into the Horry County jail in March 2025 before being released on bond.

ICU Nurse Arrested for Stealing 17 Fentanyl IV Bags at Brandon Hospital

Brandon, Florida

A 55-year-old ICU nurse at Brandon Hospital was arrested after a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office investigation found she stole 17 fentanyl IV bags and refilled the tampered bags with an unknown substance before returning them to circulation. She later pleaded guilty to federal counts of tampering with a consumer product and acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation.