Worcester, Massachusetts – In a shocking case of medical malfeasance, a 32-year-old nurse has been indicted on two counts of tampering with a consumer product, specifically the Schedule II controlled substance morphine, used for pain relief.
Lea Roberge, a registered nurse at Holy Trinity Eastern Orthodox Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Worcester, Massachusetts, was indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with stealing painkillers from the nursing home where she worked. The indictment alleges that on two separate occasions in March 2015, Roberge tampered with morphine sulfate contained in emergency narcotic kits.
According to the indictment, Roberge used a syringe to extract morphine from six vials and one bottle. In an attempt to avoid detection, she replaced the extracted medication with saline, thereby decreasing the potency of the drug. This heinous crime has sent shockwaves through the medical community and has raised questions about the safety and integrity of our healthcare system.
The charging statute provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz, Russell Hermann, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, New York Field Office, and Commissioner Monica Bharel, MD, MPH, of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, made the announcement today.
The case is being prosecuted by Michelle Lauren Dineen Jerrett of Ortiz’s Worcester Branch Office. The details contained in the Indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Mandatory Facts:
Defendant/Respondent: Lea Roberge
Criminal Charges: Two counts of tampering with a consumer product, specifically the Schedule II controlled substance morphine
City and State: Worcester, Massachusetts
Exact Date: March 2015
Sentence or Outcome: To be determined
Dollar Amounts: $250,000 fine
Related Federal Cases
- Lea Roberge, Tampering with a Consumer Product, Massachusetts 2017 · New York
- Robert Evans, Theft of Government Money, Massachusetts 2016 · Puerto Rico
- Alberto Marte, Heroin Trafficking, Massachusetts 2023 · Pennsylvania
- Landon Eckles, Healthcare Fraud, Massachusetts 2015 · Pennsylvania
- Kwamaine J. Wells, Sex Trafficking, Massachusetts 2014 · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Drug Trafficking|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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