Nurse Sentenced to 16 Months in Federal Prison for Tampering with and Stealing Lorazepam Vials

David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SEAN FALZARANO, 39, of Southbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 16 months of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release, for tampering with and stealing Lorazepam vials at the hospital where he was employed as a nurse.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Falzarano was employed at Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH) as a Registered Nurse.  As part of his employment, Falzarano was granted access to secure locations used by YNHH to store controlled substances, including Lorazepam.  On January 31, 2022, Falzarano took vials containing Lorazepam solution that he knew were intended to be dispensed to patients.  He removed a portion of the Lorazepam solution from at least one of the vials, replaced the contents with an inert solution, and returned the vial to the secure location where it was available for distribution to patients.  Falzarano was confronted on that date by YNHH employees who were investigating drug tampering.  A search of Falzarano’s backpack revealed vials, crimping tools, saline, vial caps, and syringes.

On December 11, 2024, Falzarano pleaded guilty to tampering with a consumer product, and acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge.

Falzarano, who is released on a $50,000 bond, is required to report to prison on October 21.

Falzarano’s nursing license is currently suspended.

This matter was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; the DEA’s Hartford Diversion Control Division; and the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Drug Control Division.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Miller.