Lisa M. Alexander, Prescription Fraud, Connecticut 2020

A nurse has admitted to writing prescriptions for controlled substances outside the scope of her professional practice, leading to the illegal distribution of thousands of pills.

Lisa M. Alexander, 54, of Cheshire, waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to a charge of unlawful distribution and dispensing of controlled substances by a practitioner.

Between approximately April 2017 and February 2020, Alexander wrote illicit prescriptions to distribute and dispense more than 3,600 oxycodone pills, a Schedule II controlled substance, and nearly 3,000 alprazolam pills, a Schedule IV controlled substance, to multiple individuals.

Alexander did not have a legitimate practitioner-patient relationship with these individuals, did not conduct medical examinations with these individuals, and did not confirm conditions that would medically require treatment using these controlled substances. Alexander also knew that at least some of these individuals were selling the pills instead of taking them.

In addition, Alexander knew that some of the individuals who received prescriptions from Alexander were on Medicare or Medicaid. Most of the illicit prescriptions that Alexander wrote were paid for by Medicaid or Medicare.

Alexander pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful distribution and dispensing of controlled substances by a practitioner, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Judge Hall scheduled sentencing for January 22, 2021.

Alexander is currently released pending sentencing. This investigation is being conducted by HHS-OIG’s Office of Investigations and the DEA’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad, with the assistance of the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection – Drug Control Division and the Manchester, Meriden and Cheshire Police Departments.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ct/pr/nurse-admits-illegally-writing-prescriptions-oxycodone-and-xanax