Former VA pharmacist indicted for stealing pharmaceutical drugs from patients’ prescriptions

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a grand jury indicted Melissa W. Richardson, 43, of Shreveport, on 20 counts of acquiring a controlled substance by fraud.

According to the indictment, Richardson, who worked for Veterans Affairs in Shreveport as a pharmacist, stole various quantities of Hydrocodone, Tylenol/Codeine, Diazepam and Morphine on June 9, 2017 from prescriptions meant for patients.

If convicted, Richardson faces a maximum term of four years imprisonment, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine for each count. 

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison D. Bushnell is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.