DES MOINES, Iowa, March 6, 2019 – United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced that six nursing home employees have been indicted for controlled substance offenses committed in the course of their employment at nursing home facilities.
The defendants from various nursing homes are accused of diverting drugs from nursing home residents. The drugs included Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, and Tramadol pills. In one case an employee allegedly removed fentanyl patches from nursing home residents and diverted the medication for her own use.
The public is reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty, the Department of Justice said.
The possible penalties for acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, deception, and subterfuge is up to four years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine.