A shocking case of product tampering has come to light in Janesville, Wisconsin. Dawn Drum, a 54-year-old former licensed registered nurse, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for her role in tampering with fentanyl vials at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in November 2021.
According to court documents, Drum pleaded guilty to one count of product tampering after an audit revealed an excessive pattern of fentanyl overrides and wastes in her name. The investigation found that Drum would withdraw the fentanyl from the vials, replace it with saline, and then reseal the vials with what appeared to be superglue before putting them back into the Pyxis machine.
Drum’s actions were discovered after hospital management confronted her with the discrepancy and asked her to take a drug test. Instead of complying, Drum resigned from her position at the hospital.
At today’s sentencing hearing, Drum expressed remorse for her actions and acknowledged that her addiction to opioids drove her to commit the crime. She also stated that the harm she caused to her patients will haunt her for the rest of her life.
U.S. District Judge William M. Conley imposed the sentence, noting that while Drum acted out of character due to her addiction, her actions still harmed others and she needed to face the consequences. Conley emphasized that Drum’s decision to steal fentanyl and tamper with the vials put patients at risk and eroded the trust in healthcare professionals.
Special Agent in Charge Ronne G. Malham with the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Chicago Field Office, highlighted the dangers of this type of crime, stating that healthcare professionals who tamper with medications put patients at risk and undermine the trust in the medical community.
The investigation was conducted by the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Diversion Control Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Graber handled the prosecution of the case.
Drum was also fined $30,000, which is due and payable immediately. She will serve 1 year of supervised release after her prison term.
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Key Facts
- State: Wisconsin
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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