DEA Archived Press Releases

Press Releases before January 20, 2025
15 Results - Showing 1 to 10
PRESS RELEASE

West Haven Woman Who Diverted Narcotics from Dying VA Medical Center Patients is Sentenced

HARTFORD, Conn. - Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TARA SEVERINO, 58, of West Haven, has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to two years of probation, the first six months of which Severino must serve...
PRESS RELEASE

Hospital in Washington Agrees to Pay $15,000 Penalty and Implement Corrective Actions to Address Theft of Controlled Substances

Spokane, Wash. - Mid-Valley Hospital and Clinic in Omak, Washington, agreed to pay a $15,000 Controlled Substances Act penalty and to institute corrective actions in regard to its pharmacy and controlled substances policy and procedures. To protect the public, the Controlled Substances Act and its implementing regulations place legal responsibilities...
PRESS RELEASE

Former Nurse Pleads Guilty in Connection to the Diversion of Dangerous Narcotics by Medical Professionals

CONCORD, N.h. – A Newbury woman pleaded guilty in federal court in connection to the diversion of dangerous narcotics by medical professionals, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Robin Nichols, 63, pleaded guilty to Tampering with Consumer Products. U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott scheduled sentencing for September 24, 2024...
PRESS RELEASE

Former Alaska Advanced Nurse Practitioner Sentenced to 30 Years for Illegally Prescribing Millions of Opioids Causing Five Deaths

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA—Former Advanced Nurse Practitioner Jessica Joyce Spayd (52) was sentenced in U.S. District Court yesterday to 30 years (360 months) imprisonment for illegally prescribing and dispensing opioids outside the scope of legitimate medical practice that resulted in the deaths of five people between 2014 and 2019. United States District...
PRESS RELEASE

Nurse Who Stole Painkillers, Replacing Them with Saline and Putting Surgical Patients at Risk, Sentenced to Four Years

RALEIGH, N.C. – A former Fuquay-Varina nurse was sentenced today to 48 months in prison and three years of supervised release for tampering with painkillers intended for surgery patients. On March 9, 2022, Melissa Elizabeth Chacona pled guilty to the charges. “Surgical patients trust healthcare providers to give them the...
PRESS RELEASE

Former Nurse Indicted for Drug Diversion from Boston Hospital

BOSTON – A former nurse has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for allegedly diverting opioids from a Boston-area hospital. Andrea Falzano, 38, of Winchester, was indicted on three counts of unlawfully obtaining controlled substances by fraud, deception and subterfuge. Falzano was arrested this morning and will...
PRESS RELEASE

Former Nurse Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Tampering with Morphine Medications at Moses Lake Clinic

SPOKANE, Wash. – Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that Esther Rae Tuller, age 41, of Moses Lake, Washington, was sentenced today in federal court in Spokane for tampering with morphine medication while working as a registered nurse. Chief United States...
PRESS RELEASE

Oklahoma City Hospital Pays $120,000 to Settle Civil Penalty Claims

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – INTEGRIS ProHealth, Inc., and its parent, INTEGRIS Health, Inc. (collectively, “INTEGRIS”) paid $120,000 to settle civil penalty claims stemming from allegations that Integris Baptist Medical Center Pharmacy (“Integris Pharmacy”), which is owned and operated by INTEGRIS ProHealth, Inc., violated the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control...
PRESS RELEASE

Sovah Health to Pay United States $4.36 Million to Settle Claims of Controlled Substance Act Violations

ABINGDON, Va. – Sovah Health has agreed to pay the United States $4.36 million to settle claims that the hospital system violated the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) on numerous occasions between 2017 and 2020. As part of the resolution, Sovah Health further agreed to be subject to a period of...
PRESS RELEASE

Richland Physician Sentenced for Conspiring to Distribute Medically Unnecessary Fentanyl Patches, Opioid Pills and Other Controlled Substances

SPOKANE, Wash. – Senior U.S. District Judge Edward F. Shea has sentenced Dr. Janet Sue Arnold, age 63, of Benton City, Washington, to 48 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute opioid pain medications and other controlled substances without a legitimate medical purpose...