Medical personnel often have easy access to powerful pain killers. Occasionally, this access is abused for personal use or gain. The recent arrest of a paramedical technician by Indiana State Police shows how easy such thefts have become.
The investigation in the case began when a member of the Greenwood Fire Department showed a so-called “confession letter” to the Indiana State Police. The writer of the letter was employed by Seals Ambulance Service, and he is accused stealing fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, from five ambulance stations across central Indiana. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is considered to be 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 to 100 time more potent than heroin. The drug is also highly addictive.
The man allegedly admitted drawing fentanyl from a vial using a syringe and then using the same syringe to top off the vial with saline solution. Police did not explain the motivation that caused the man to write the confession letter. An internal audit by the ambulance firm discovered 26 compromised vials of fentanyl. The suspect said that he used the fentanyl to treat a “medical issue,” but no details about his actual use have been released. The suspect was arrested and has been charged with two counts of possession of narcotics and two counts of theft.
Stealing narcotics such as fentanyl is both a state and federal crime. A conviction can have severe consequences for a person’s life. Seeking advice from a competent criminal defense attorney is often helpful in avoiding those consequences. In the case reviewed above, for example, the confession letter may have been obtained improperly or its statements may be incorrect. A knowledgeable attorney can help identify such weaknesses in the prosecution’s case and prepare an effective defense strategy.