Former Paramedic Supervisor Convicted of Fentanyl Tampering
A former paramedic supervisor in the St. Louis area has been convicted of fentanyl tampering, wire fraud, and other charges related to the theft of addictive painkillers from ambulances.
Jason Laut, 40, of O’Fallon, Illinois, was found guilty of 38 counts by a jury in East St. Louis, Illinois, on January 12, 2018.
The jury convicted Laut on six counts of wire fraud, 29 counts of making false statements on narcotics logs, two counts of aggravated identity theft, and one count of tampering with a consumer product, specifically fentanyl.
Evidence presented at trial showed that Laut tampered with at least 85 vials of fentanyl on active duty ambulances by removing the medication and replacing it with water or saline.
Laut also altered and falsified documents and records between January 2013 and May 2015 to conceal his theft of fentanyl and morphine, which he stole a total of 91 times.
As a result of his crimes, Laut faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each of the six wire fraud counts, as well as fines of up to $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release.
Laut also faces up to five years in prison for each of the 29 counts of making false statements, fines of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.
The two counts of aggravated identity theft carry a mandatory two-year prison sentence, a fine of up to $250,000, and one year of supervised release.
Laut’s sentencing has been set for March 2, 2018, in U.S. District Court in East St. Louis, Illinois.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Sparta Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation into Laut’s crimes.
MedStar Ambulance of Sparta, Illinois, was also involved in the investigation.
Laut’s crimes resulted in significant financial losses for Memorial Hospital in Belleville, which supplied the morphine and fentanyl used in the ambulances.
The total amount of the financial loss was not specified in the press release.
Laut’s conviction is a significant blow to the medical community in the St. Louis area, where the theft of addictive painkillers has been a growing concern in recent years.
Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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