Dodge County Nurse Dopes Patients, Self: Guilty Plea in Opioid Diversion Scheme

MINNEAPOLIS – In a shocking betrayal of the public’s trust, Jennifer Lee Garrison, a 40-year-old Dodge County nurse, pleaded guilty to obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.

Garrison, a post-anesthesia care nurse at a hospital, had access to a treasure trove of controlled and uncontrolled substances stored within an automated dispensing cabinet. But instead of using her privileged position to heal patients, she opted to dope herself, diverting oxycodone pills for her own use.

According to court documents, Garrison began her diversion scheme in August 2022, initially taking two oxycodone pills per patient and keeping one for herself. She would then falsify patient pain reports to cover her tracks. But as the scheme progressed, she escalated her thievery, diverting up to six oxycodone pills per day by July 2023.

Garrison’s method of operation was ingenious, yet brazen. She would enter a transaction on the automated dispensing cabinet for oxybutynin, a medication that has little to no street value. When the drawer opened, she would remove an oxybutynin pill and then cancel the transaction, making it appear as though she had simply accessed the wrong drawer by accident. With the cabinet still accessible, she would then open a drawer for oxycodone and remove a pill for herself.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Campbell Warner is prosecuting the case, which was the result of a thorough investigation conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Drug Enforcement Administration. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time.

Garrison’s guilty plea serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of opioid diversion and the devastating consequences it can have on individuals and communities. As the Grimy Times continues to expose the dark underbelly of America’s healthcare system, one thing is clear: those who abuse their power and prey on the vulnerable will be held accountable.