Worcester Nurse Roberge Gets 20 Months for Morphine Theft

BOSTON – A Worcester nurse traded patient care for personal gain, and now she’s facing the consequences. Lea Roberge, 33, was sentenced today to 20 months behind bars for a calculated scheme to steal morphine from the Holy Trinity Eastern Orthodox Nursing and Rehabilitation Center where she worked. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman, also includes three years of supervised release.

Roberge isn’t accused of a momentary lapse in judgment. The evidence shows a deliberate pattern of theft, occurring on two separate occasions in March 2015. As a registered nurse, Roberge had privileged access to emergency narcotic kits – vials and bottles of morphine sulfate intended for critical patient needs. Instead of safeguarding those supplies, she systematically siphoned off the powerful painkiller for her own purposes.

The details are chilling. Roberge used a syringe to extract morphine from six vials and one entire bottle. But she didn’t just leave empty containers. In a cynical attempt to cover her tracks, she replaced the stolen morphine with saline solution – effectively diluting the potency of the emergency medication and potentially jeopardizing the health and well-being of vulnerable patients. This wasn’t a mistake; it was a calculated cover-up.

Federal investigators uncovered the tampering, leading to Roberge’s January 2017 guilty plea to two counts of tampering with a consumer product. The Schedule II controlled substance, morphine, is a highly regulated drug, and any manipulation of its supply is taken extremely seriously. The FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations played a key role in building the case against Roberge, alongside the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

“This case demonstrates the serious consequences for those who abuse their positions of trust and tamper with medications intended for patient care,” stated Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb. Jeffrey Ebersole, Special Agent in Charge of the FDA’s New York Field Office, echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to protecting the integrity of the drug supply. Commissioner Monica Bharel, MD, MPH, of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, also contributed to the announcement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Lauren Dineen Jerrett, of Weinreb’s Worcester Branch Office, skillfully prosecuted the case, bringing Roberge to justice. The 20-month sentence sends a clear message: healthcare professionals who betray their oath and put patients at risk will be held accountable. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments.