BRUNSWICK, GA: A brazen scheme to steal and resell prescription drugs from nursing home patients has landed two former employees behind bars. Rochella Ellison, 48, of Townsend, Ga., and Nadia Gibson, 38, of Jacksonville, Fla., each pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Alprazolam.
According to court documents and testimony, Ellison and Gibson, who were employed at a Brunswick, Ga., nursing home and senior living facility, conspired to steal drugs from patient supplies and resell them for shared profit from as early as Dec. 2019 until early 2020. Ellison worked as a guest services representative, while Gibson was a licensed practical nurse.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Brunswick Police Department, and Glynn County Sheriff’s Office took over the investigation after an internal review at the facility discovered the missing drugs. Ellison and Gibson were indicted on federal charges in May 2020.
The distribution of pain pills for non-medical reasons continues to be a major concern, and the DEA and its law enforcement partners will continue to target those who traffic these addictive and sometimes deadly pain medications, said the Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division Robert J. Murphy.
Rochella Ellison was sentenced to probation on Thursday, April 15, while Nadia Gibson received her sentence in March. Both defendants pleaded guilty to their crimes, and their sentences were handed down by a federal judge.
The case was prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew A. Josephson and Mary Sue Robichaux. Acting U.S. Attorney David H. Estes praised the work of law enforcement partners in tracking down and interrupting the sources of illegal drug supplies.
This case serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance in healthcare facilities and the devastating consequences of prescription drug abuse. We will continue to work tirelessly to protect our communities from those who seek to exploit the vulnerable for their own gain.
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Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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