Registered Nurse Admits Stealing Fentanyl at St Marys
Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - A woman who was working as a registered nurse at Mayo Clinic’s St Marys Hospital when she was caught stealing a large amount of fentanyl pleaded guilty Friday.
The felony case was filed earlier this year against 32-year-old Tiffany Gustafson.
She was facing ten counts of theft and one drug charge. As part of a plea agreement, she pled guilty to one theft count and the drug charge. Gustafson was placed on probation for two years. A one year jail sentence was stayed as long as she stays out of trouble during her probationary period.
The criminal complaint against her says a pharmacist at St Marys Hospital contacted police in December about the suspected diversion of the powerful painkiller. Investigators eventually determined at least 81 vials of the drug had been diverted from patients between October and December.
Gustafson, who has a Sargeant address, admitted taking between 50 - 100 vials of the drug. Gustafson also admitted injecting the drug at work and home.
She is no longer a Mayo employee.