Links to Articles of Interest
Travel Nurse Admits to Drug Diversion Scheme at Raleigh Hospital
December 12, 2024 -- Tysonomo Multimedia, KN
Jacqueline Brewster, 54, of Belfry, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and wrongful disclosure of individually identifiable health information, the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of West Virginia announced today. >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE >>
DOJ Brings Nationwide False Claims Act Lawsuit Against CVS for Alleged Violations of Controlled Substances Act
December 23, 2025 -- JDSupra, DC
On December 13, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) intervened in a False Claims Act (FCA) lawsuit alleging that CVS Pharmacy Inc. and its subsidiaries improperly sought federal reimbursement for prescriptions filled in violation of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE >>
Nurse Accused of Using Dead Patient’s Name to get Narcotics
Jan. 30, 2025 — K8 News, AR
A woman faces felony drug charges after police said she used a dead man’s name to try and get oxycodone. Craighead County District Court Judge Tommy Fowler found probable cause Wednesday to charge Caitlin Carol Adams with three counts of fraud or deceit to procure a narcotic drug-forged prescription. >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE >>
NC Man Charged for Medication Fraud of Controlled Substances, Deputies say
Jan. 30, 2025 — FOX News Carolina, NC
The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office said it partnered with the U.S. Marshals Service to arrest a man involved in medication fraud of controlled substances. According to the sheriff’s office, Antonne Dewillard Smith Jr. was taken into custody at a home on Blanton Street in Asheville on Monday, Jan. 27.
Deputies charged Smith with six counts of trafficking Oxycodone and three counts obtaining a controlled substance by fraud/forgery. >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE >>
Former MVHS Resident Doctor Charged with Felonies for Prescription Medication Fraud
Feb 1, 2025 — Rome Sentinel, NY
On A now-former Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) resident doctor is accused of prescribing medication for personal use while impersonating another doctor.
Elham Neisani-Somani, a fourth-year resident doctor for MVHS, is facing charges of criminal impersonation in the first degree, identity theft in the first degree, falsifying business records in the first degree, forgery in the second degree, grand larceny in the third degree, unauthorized practice of a profession, and petit larceny. Out of the six charges, five are felonies. >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE >>
Diversion of prescribed opioids ‘out of control’: B.C. doctor
Feb 8, 2025 — Vancouver Sun
More than 60 pharmacies have allegedly offered incentives to encourage doctors and patients to use their services to maximize their dispensing fees. The diversion of opioids prescribed through the province’s safer supply program is raising concerns among local addiction experts. “It worries me a great deal that it has gotten so out of control,” said Dr. Caroline Ferris, an addictions physician with more than a decade of experience in Surrey and Victoria. >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE >>
Crackdown outside Prince George pharmacy leads to seizure of hundreds of pills, suspected cocaine and fentanyl
Feb 14, 2025 — Juno News
Prince George police have seized hundreds of pills and other illicit substances, including suspected fentanyl, cocaine, methadone, contraband cigarettes and illegal weapons in a crackdown on drug trafficking outside a pharmacy. >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE >>
Nurse prescribed using other clients' details, court told
February 11, 2025 — BBC News
An aesthetics nurse from County Down gave prescriptions to clients using the details of other clients, a court has heard. Nichola Hawes, 49, is on trial for alleged fraud and selling or supplying medicines, including weight-loss drugs and botox, without proper prescriptions. >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE >>
PHARMACIST PLEADS GUILTY TO DRUG THEFTS
February 25, 2025 — Daily News Headlines
For several years, a Nassawadox pharmacist stole prescription painkillers from the drugstore where he worked while fixing the books to avoid getting caught so he could continue to feed the drug habit he acquired after taking the pills for an ankle injury long before that. >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE >>
Alberta pharmacist suspended for diverting narcotics, forging prescriptions: hearing tribunal
Mar 19, 2025 — City News
Quebec — A pharmacist in Grande Prairie stole from his employer, forged prescriptions, created false transaction records and diverted drugs for family members and a friend, according to a hearing tribunal. >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE >>
B.C. ends take-home safer supply of opioids to stop criminal diversion
February 19, 2025 - The Canadian Press
VICTORIA — British Columbia Health Minister Josie Osborne has announced a major revamp of its safer-supply anti-addiction program, converting it to a “witnessed-only” model in which users are watched as they consume opioids they have been prescribed. >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE >>
Doctor stole colleague's prescription pad and forged her signature, VCAT hears
Mar 24, 2025 — 9 News
Victoria AU — AA doctor who stole a colleague's prescription pad and forged her signature had his tangled web of lies uncovered when he took his crimes interstate. >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE >>
Zombie drug threatens US as deadly fentanyl mix crosses southern border
Mar 25, 2025 — RBC-Ukraine
Los Angeles — A The veterinary tranquilizer xylazine, known as the "zombie drug," is increasingly being smuggled into the United States through the southern border and used in combination with fentanyl. >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE >>
Doctor stole colleague's prescription pad and forged her signature, VCAT hears
April 5, 2025 — Franklin County Free Press
Franklin County, PA — In a significant development in Franklin County, two healthcare workers are facing charges for allegedly diverting drugs intended for patients. Dr. Brian Holsinger, 33, of Shippensburg, and former registered nurse Carmen Bartoletti, 39, of Greencastle, were charged with multiple felonies related to controlled substances, according to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office. >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE >>
Records: Cheshire Medical sanctions were lifted amid more alleged drug diversion
April 5, 2025 — The Keene Sentinel
New Hampshire — Last summer, around the time Cheshire Medical Center nurse Steven Finnell allegedly began taking painkillers meant for patients, officials from the Keene hospital asked state regulators to lift sanctions put in place to prevent drug diversion, regulatory documents show. The state Board of Pharmacy agreed. >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE >>
New Jersey Man Sentenced for Prescription Opioid Conspiracy
April 8, 2025 — US DHHS
Washington — A New Jersey man was sentenced today to 16 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone, a highly addictive controlled substance. >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE >>
Four arrested and charged with sale of prescription medications
April 10, 2025 — Niagra Regional Police
CANADA — Since Oct. 2024, officers from the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) 1 District Community Oriented Response and Engagement (CORE) Unit have been investigating the illegal sale of controlled substances in the area of Queenston Street and Church Street in St. Catharines. >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE >>
Ex-Franklin pharmacist sentenced to three years, wife gets two years in federal case
May 4 2025 — US Attorney's Office Michigan
Detroit —A Grosse Pointe Park registered nurse, Travis Eskridge, pleaded guilty to tampering with a consumer product, specifically the Schedule II controlled substance fentanyl. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE >>
Nurse Admits Tampering With Vials Of Fentanyl
May 8 2025 — US Attorney's Office Michigan
Detroit —A Grosse Pointe Park registered nurse, Travis Eskridge, pleaded guilty to tampering with a consumer product, specifically the Schedule II controlled substance fentanyl. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE >>
Windrose doctor arrested after prescription fraud investigation
May 12, 2025 — Daily Journal
Franklin, IN — Windrose confirmed Tuesday that Hasenour was the chief medical director for the company, but he was immediately placed on unpaid leave when the company learned of his arrest. >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE >>
Sacramento Doctor Agrees to Pay $125,000 for Controlled Substances Act Violations at Sutter Imaging Capitol Pavilion
June 4, 2025 — US Attorneys Office, Eastern District of California
Sacramento —Philip Yen, M.D. has agreed to pay the United States $125,000 to resolve allegations that he failed to comply with federal statutory requirements related to his role as the Drug Enforcement Administration registrant at Sutter Imaging Capitol Pavilion, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced today. >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE >>
The Concerning Emergence of "Gas Station Heroin"
June 3, 2025 — Psychology Today
The term “gas station heroin” encompasses the drug tianeptine and other 7-OH drugs with dangerous opioid-like effects, but which may be purchased (for now) at smoke shops, gas stations, and other outlets. Typically synthesized in overseas labs (often in China or India), tianeptine has had an alarming rise in misuse >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE >>
Philly journalist pleads guilty to role in prescription fraud scheme at Broad Street Family Pharmacy
May 30, 2025 — Philly Voice
Philadelphia — A veteran Philadelphia journalist is among a group of seven people who pleaded guilty this week for their involvement in a $20 million Medicare and Medicaid fraud scheme at a former pharmacy in South Philly, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General said Friday. >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE >>
Utah pharmacist reacts to NBA YoungBoy’s presidential pardon
May 30, 2025 — East Idaho News
SALT LAKE CITY (KSL TV) — A Utah pharmacist is upset the man who admitted to breaking into his pharmacy has been let off the hook. On May 28, President Donald Trump pardoned 25-year-old rapper NBA YoungBoy, who had been sentenced to nearly two years in jail in Utah back in December 2024. >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE >>