Home Health Nurse Sentenced To Federal Prison For Tampering With Patients' Medication

Kristie Mollohan Stole and Diluted Seizure Medication From Disabled Patients

          GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN —Kristie Ann Mollohan, 42, formerly of Kalamazoo, Michigan and currently of Cosby, Tennessee, was sentenced to 82 months in prison for drug tampering, U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced today. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Gordon J. Quist imposed a 2-year term of supervised release that will commence once Mollohan is released from federal prison.

          Mollohan pled guilty on May 10, 2018, to two counts of drug tampering, involving liquid diazepam (Valium), a Schedule IV controlled substance. Mollohan, who was a licensed practical nurse working for a home health company, admitted to stealing Valium from three patients in two homes in August of 2016. All three patients relied on Valium to suppress life-threatening seizure activity, were completely disabled, and required 24-hour care by their families or other caregivers at the time of the thefts. Mollohan replaced the Valium that she stole with water or saline solution, leaving the patients’ medication 90-99% diluted. Mollohan acknowledged that her conduct resulted in one of the patients having a life-threatening seizure.

          In imposing sentence, Judge Quist called Mollohan’s conduct "reprehensible." He emphasized that patients must rely on medical professionals to be honest and act professionally, to administer patients’ drugs and not steal them. Judge Quist remanded Mollohan to begin serving her federal sentence at the end of the sentencing hearing.

          In its sentencing memorandum, the U.S. Attorney’s Office noted that federal drug tampering involves the "reckless disregard for the risk that another person will be placed in danger of death or bodily injury and under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to such risk." The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized that Mollohan was previously investigated for stealing a patient’s medication and argued that Mollohan "used that experience to devise a plan to steal medication in a manner that would be both harder to uncover and more dangerous to her patients."

          U.S. Attorney Birge stated: "Licensed health care professionals who not only steal drugs but then render those drugs dangerous or ineffective are committing a heinous offense. Patients may not know – and in this case may not be able to express -- that something is wrong with their medication until it is too late and they suffer a serious consequence. My office will continue to work with the Food and Drug Administration as well as state and local investigators to punish and deter professionals who engage in such deceitful and dangerous conduct."

          "Patients deserve to have confidence that they are receiving the proper treatment from those entrusted with providing their medical care," said Special Agent in Charge William P. Conway, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations’ Chicago Field Office. "However, we must hold medical personnel accountable when they take advantage of their unique position and tamper with drugs needed by their patients, especially when such tampering causes unnecessary pain and suffering for those who are unable to care for themselves."

          This matter was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, the Michigan State Police, and the Allegan Police Department. The Barry and Allegan County Prosecutors’ Offices also cooperated with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raymond E. Beckering III prosecuted the case.

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