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Nurse Pleads Guilty to Pill Scheme
A 38-year-old Madelia nurse pleaded guilty to fraudulently acquiring a controlled substance, namely oxycodone, while employed at an inpatient health care facility.
Tess Marie Johnson, who was indicted on May 21, 2013, entered her plea before United States District Court Judge Patrick J. Schiltz.
According to her plea agreement, Johnson admitted that in October 2012, she obtained for her own use Percocet tablets that had been intended for patients. Specifically, she removed the Percocet, which is oxycodone, that was intended for patients and replaced it with Tylenol tablets.
For her crime, Johnson faces a potential maximum penalty of four years in prison. Judge Schiltz will determine her sentence at a future hearing, yet to be scheduled.
The case is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mankato Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole A. Engisch.
Johnson’s actions put patients at risk and undermined the trust placed in healthcare professionals. Her guilty plea serves as a reminder of the importance of accountability in the medical community.
The investigation and prosecution of healthcare professionals who engage in pill schemes and other forms of diversion will continue to be a top priority for law enforcement agencies and prosecutors.
Tess Marie Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced at a future hearing, but her fate is all but sealed. With a maximum penalty of four years in prison, it’s likely she’ll be trading in her scrubs for a jumpsuit sooner rather than later.
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Key Facts
- State: Minnesota
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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