Benjamin K. Albert, Fentanyl Theft, Iowa 2022

A chilling tale of corruption within the healthcare system has unfolded in Dubuque, Iowa, where a certified nurse anesthetist has been found guilty of stealing fentanyl from a local hospital.

Benjamin K. Albert, a 53-year-old resident of Round Lake, Illinois, admitted to acquiring fentanyl through fraud during a five-day period between January 13 and 27, 2022. Albert worked as a certified registered nurse anesthetist at a Dubuque hospital, where he administered anesthesia and provided pain management to patients undergoing surgical procedures.

According to the plea agreement, Albert drew extra fentanyl from the hospital pharmacy in patients’ names and only administered a portion of the medication, stealing the rest for his own use. This deplorable act resulted in several patients exhibiting signs of feeling significant pain during surgery, as documented in Albert’s charts.

The case has sparked widespread concern about the integrity of the healthcare system and the potential for similar incidents to occur. As a certified nurse anesthetist, Albert held a position of trust, and his actions have compromised that trust.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa has taken swift action, prosecuting Albert on three counts of acquiring fentanyl through fraud. Under the plea agreement, Albert faces a possible maximum sentence of four years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and one year of supervised release following any imprisonment.

As part of the sentencing, Albert has agreed to forfeit his Iowa nursing license to the United States. Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared, and Albert remains free on release pending sentencing.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick J. Reinert and Timothy Vavricek and was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Investigative Division of the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals.