GREENSBORO, NC – A woman in Winston-Salem pleaded guilty today to attempting to tamper with consumer products, said U.S. lawyer Sandra J. Hairston for the Central District of North Carolina.

According to court documents, Emilee Kathryn Poteat, 32, removed and opened packages containing vials of injectable hydromorphone from Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center (NHFMC) while employed as a contact nurse in the hospital. pre / post procedure clinical unit. From July 2020 to November 2020, Poteat withdrew vials for the purpose of converting and consuming hydromorphone by injecting the drug. Poteat then replaced the used vials with falsified vials containing saline solution. Poteat knew that by doing so, nurses at the NHFMC could unknowingly administer the contents of the compromised vials to patients.

Virginia Department of Health investigator Laura Pezzulo opened an investigation into Poteat’s handling of the drugs after the NHFMC provided vials they suspected were tampered with by Poteat. Poteat later admitted to tampering with injectable hydromorphone in an interview with investigator Pezzulo.

US District Judge Loretta C. Biggs will set the sentence at a later date. Upon conviction, Poteat faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, a period of supervised release and financial penalties.

Sandra J. Hairston, United States Attorney for the Central District of North Carolina, made the announcement. Agents from the Food and Drug Administration / Criminal Investigations Division investigated the case. The case is being continued by Assistant US Attorney Frank J. Shhh.

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