Connecticut Nurse Sentenced to 16 Months for Drug Tampering

A registered nurse from Connecticut has been sentenced to prison for tampering with and stealing controlled substances at the hospital where he worked. Sean Falzarano, 39, of Southbury, received a 16-month prison term from U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford, followed by two years of supervised release. This action comes after a thorough investigation by federal authorities into his activities at Yale New Haven Hospital.

According to court documents, Falzarano had access to secure areas within the hospital that stored controlled substances, including Lorazepam. In January 2022, he removed vials containing the medication, which he was aware were intended for patient use. He then altered the contents of at least one vial by replacing a portion of the Lorazepam solution with an inert substance before returning it to its original location for distribution.

The investigation began when Falzarano was confronted by hospital staff who were looking into reports of drug tampering. A search of his backpack yielded significant evidence, including vials, crimping tools, saline, vial caps, and syringes, as detailed in a statement from federal authorities.

Falzarano pleaded guilty in December 2024 to charges of tampering with a consumer product and acquiring a controlled substance through misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, or subterfuge. Currently free on a $50,000 bond, he is required to report to prison on October 21, 2024. His nursing license has been suspended pending the outcome of the case.

The investigation was conducted by the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, along with the DEA’s Hartford Diversion Control Division and the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Drug Control Division. The serious nature of these offenses raises alarms about the integrity of healthcare professionals and the safety of patients receiving care.