DETROIT – A former Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist at the Ann Arbor VA Hospital is facing the consequences after a brazen scheme to steal powerful opioids. Elizabeth Prophitt, 39, of Saline, Michigan, was sentenced today to 3-years’ probation for pilfering more than 2,000 vials of Schedule II and Schedule IV controlled substances from the hospital, federal authorities announced.
The case, spearheaded by Acting United States Attorney Saima S. Mohsin, reveals a calculated betrayal of trust. Prophitt exploited her position, using protected patient information and forging medical documents to fraudulently obtain fentanyl, hydromorphone, morphine, and midazolam. Instead of administering the drugs to those in need, she diverted them for her own personal use – a dangerous and illegal act that put vulnerable veterans at risk.
Investigators discovered Prophitt wasn’t just stealing during work hours. She routinely accessed the hospital, even on days she wasn’t scheduled or after normal business hours, to directly swipe the vials from hospital dispensing systems. This wasn’t a momentary lapse in judgment; it was a sustained, deliberate effort to fuel a personal addiction. U.S District Court Judge Robert H. Cleland handed down the sentence after Prophitt pleaded guilty to five counts of obtaining controlled substances by fraud, misrepresentation or deceit.
“In order to protect the health and safety of our citizens, we take crimes like this seriously and will not hesitate to prosecute health care workers whose theft of drugs put patients in harm’s way,” stated Acting United States Attorney Mohsin. The sentiment was echoed by Gavin McClaren, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Central Field Office, who declared, “We will not tolerate medical professionals stealing controlled substances intended for the care of our nation’s veterans.”
The investigation was a joint effort between the Department of Veteran Affairs – Office of Inspector General and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Brandy R. McMillion prosecuted the case. McMillion isn’t just handling this one; she serves as the District’s Opioid Fraud Abuse and Detection Prosecutor and Deputy-Chief of the Health Care Fraud Unit – a key player in the Department of Justice’s national initiative to combat the opioid crisis.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing opioid epidemic and the lengths to which some individuals will go to feed their addiction. While a three-year probation sentence may seem lenient to some, it represents a federal conviction and a stain on Prophitt’s professional record. The Grimy Times will continue to track this case and expose those who prey on the vulnerable for their own selfish gain.
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Key Facts
- State: Michigan
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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