A registered nurse at a medical facility in Roanoke, Virginia has pleaded guilty to tampering with fentanyl, a powerful opioid.
Kevin Carter, 28, of Roanoke, Va., waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty to a one-count information charging him with tampering with a consumer product, fentanyl, that affects interstate or foreign commerce, with reckless disregard for the risk that another person be placed in danger of death or bodily injury.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations and the Virginia State Police, Carter tampered with liquid syringes of fentanyl by removing a syringe of liquid fentanyl from the anesthesia cart in an operating room for his own use and replacing the stolen syringe with another syringe, labeled fentanyl, which contained no fentanyl.
The investigation revealed that Carter’s actions occurred on or about December 15, 2016.
Carter faces a maximum statutory penalty of up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for September 20, 2017, at 11:00 a.m.
Acting United States Attorney Rick A. Mountcastle said, "In the face of an increasing number of overdoses involving fentanyl across the country and the Commonwealth, prosecuting individuals who divert fentanyl and other opioids is a top priority of the United States Attorney’s Office."
Mark S. McCormack, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations’ Metro Washington Field Office, added, "FDA oversees the U.S. supply of medicines to ensure that they are safe and effective, and those who knowingly tamper with medicines for patients put their health at risk."
Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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