Former Veterans Hospital Nurse Pleads Guilty to Stealing Medication

RICHMOND, Va. – Allison Rulli, 34, of Mineral, pleaded guilty today to charges of obtaining controlled substances by misrepresentation, fraud, or deception.

According to the statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, Rulli was a registered nurse employed in the Spinal Cord Injury Ward at the Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Administration Medical Center in Richmond.  From August 2015 to August 2016, Rulli fraudulently obtained 20 to 30 Oxycodone tablets from the medication dispensing cabinets for her own use.  On occasion, Rulli removed the correct amount of Oxycodone prescribed for a patient but would only administer some of the tablets to the patient and would keep the remainder for herself.  Rulli also fraudulently obtained eight to 10 Fentanyl patches, each 25-100 micrograms.  Rulli used a scalpel to open the Fentanyl packaging and remove the patch, but would return the tampered packaging to the medication dispensing cabinet in order to hide the evidence. When confronted by law enforcement, Rulli admitted her wrongdoing.

Rulli waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a criminal information. Rulli faces a maximum penalty of four years in prison when sentenced on Feb. 4, 2017. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Richard J. Griffin, Acting Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney, Jr.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:16-cr-136.