Scandia Pharmacist Pleads Guilty to Stealing Oxycodone

MINNEAPOLIS – Scandia pharmacist Kristie Marie Dezell, 46, has pleaded guilty to stealing bottles of oxycodone from her pharmacy for her own personal use, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.

According to court documents, Dezell was the pharmacist in charge at a pharmacy located in Maplewood, Minnesota. From March 2020, until June 2023, Dezell knowingly and intentionally obtained bottles of oxycodone for her own personal use from the pharmacy’s inventory. In a blatant display of disregard for the law, Dezell falsified the pharmacy’s records to conceal her actions.

The brazen thefts went on for nearly three years, with Dezell showing no regard for the serious consequences of her actions. By stealing oxycodone, a highly addictive painkiller, Dezell put herself and others at risk of addiction and overdose.

Dezell pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court before Judge Michael J. Davis to one count of obtaining possession of controlled substance by misrepresentation. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time.

This case is a stark reminder of the importance of holding those in positions of trust accountable for their actions. Pharmacy owners and employees are entrusted with the care of their communities, and any breach of that trust will be met with swift and severe consequences.

The investigation into Dezell’s thefts was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Maplewood Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Forbes is prosecuting the case.

In a statement, U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger emphasized the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions. ‘This case is a reminder that those who seek to exploit their positions of trust for personal gain will be held accountable,’ Luger said.

Dezell’s guilty plea brings an end to a long and thorough investigation into her thefts. Her sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.