Former Nurse Sentenced for Drug Diversion from Boston-Area Hospital

BOSTON – A former nurse was sentenced yesterday in federal court today in Boston for diverting benzodiazepine medication from a Boston-area hospital.

Ariana Foley, 37, of Needham, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to three years of probation and 100 hours of community service. In November 2025, Foley pleaded guilty to one count of unlawfully obtaining controlled substances by fraud, deception, and subterfuge.

Beginning in December 2018, Foley worked as a nurse at a Boston-area hospital. On July 16, 2022, Foley worked an overnight shift where she was assigned to an intubated and immobile patient in the intensive care unit. During her shift, Foley checked out a bag of Versed, which is a controlled substance and a benzodiazepine medication. She also checked out three bags of fentanyl, one of which was discarded when it began leaking. None of these medications were scanned into the patient’s medical records. Foley was discovered slumped over on the wall of the patient’s room after an emergency alarm went off. Foley was questioned by hospital administrators and found to have three syringes in her pocket.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley, Fernando McMillan, Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations and Dr. Robert Goldstein, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mackenzie Queenin and Meghan Cleary of the Health Care Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.