Former Nurse at Grace Healthcare Sentenced on Tampering Charge
Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Western District of Virginia
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, July 26, 2019
Abingdon, VIRGINIA – Amanda Kilgore, a former LPN at Grace Healthcare in Abingdon, was sentenced yesterday to 36 months in federal prison for tampering with consumer products. United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen made the announcement today following a hearing Thursday in U.S. District Court in Abingdon.
“This health-care provider put her addiction over patient care and violated the trust of those who relied on her,” U.S. Attorney Cullen stated today. “I am grateful for the hard work of the FDA and the Virginia State Police in bringing this defendant to justice.”
“Patients deserve to have confidence that they are receiving the proper treatment from those entrusted with providing their medical care,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark S. McCormack, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Metro Washington Field Office. “As part of the FDA’s comprehensive work to address the opioid epidemic, we will continue to hold medical personnel accountable when they take advantage of their unique position and tamper with drugs needed by their patients, especially when such tampering could cause unnecessary pain and suffering.”
Kilgore, 34, of Louisville, Tenn., pleaded guilty in April 2019 to one count of tampering with consumer products. The defendant admitted that on various dates of her employment, she tampered with oxycodone in order to divert drugs prescribed to patients for her personal use.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration - Office of Criminal Investigations and Virginia State Police with the assistance of the Virginia Department of Health Professions, Tennessee Department of Health – Office of Investigations, City of Kingsport Police Department, and Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Randy Ramseyer prosecuted the case for the United States.
Topic(s):
Prescription Drugs
Component(s):
USAO - Virginia, Western