Marisha Winiarczyk, 31, of Erie County, is behind bars after being caught forging prescriptions for 450 opioid and Alprazolam pills. The so-called nurse used fake credentials to work at Regency at South Shore, then exploited her position to illegally obtain controlled substances, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced Thursday.
Winiarczyk, employed as a registered nurse at the facility, wasn’t qualified to hold the job—she forged her nursing certificate. Despite lacking credentials, she operated under the guise of medical legitimacy, writing unauthorized prescriptions that were faxed to Frontier Pharmacy in Erie. The ruse unraveled when the office manager at Westminster Family Practice flagged suspicious orders issued in a doctor’s name without their consent.
Investigators traced the fraudulent prescriptions back to Winiarczyk, who admitted to creating them in a patient’s name. She claimed she destroyed the drugs instead of selling or using them, but authorities stress that the act of diversion itself is a felony. She faces charges including obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, insurance fraud, theft by deception, and related offenses.
“You can’t get away with forging and illegally filling prescriptions without facing justice,” Attorney General Shapiro said. “We’re committed to prosecuting drug dealers, whether they’re on street corners or staffing doctors’ offices.” The case underscores the state’s aggressive push to combat prescription drug diversion from within healthcare settings.
The AG’s office has ramped up enforcement. In 2017, agents charged 216 individuals with illegal diversion—a 72% jump from the year before. Shapiro appointed Bob Smulktis as Director of Diversion to centralize efforts. Winiarczyk’s case is the latest example of that crackdown. Her bail is set at $25,000, and she’s due in court April 12 for a preliminary hearing.
Deputy Attorney General Roger Bauer will prosecute. Authorities urge medical staff and pharmacists to report suspicious activity. Tips can be sent to drugdiversion@attorneygeneral.gov. “If you see something, say something,” Shapiro warned. “My office will act.”
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: Pennsylvania AG
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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