Florida nurse accused of tampering, diluting fentanyl used during surgeries

FLORIDA – A former registered nurse in Martin County is accused of tampering with medical grade fentanyl used during surgeries and diluting it with saline, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida (USAO) has announced.

A South Florida federal grand jury has charged Martin County resident Catherine Shannon Dunton, 54, with tampering with vials of liquid fentanyl at an outpatient surgery center where she reportedly worked as a licensed registered nurse, the USAO said in its statement.

Medical providers use a liquid form of fentanyl — fentanyl citrate — to keep patients from moving during surgery and relieve their pain. According to the indictment, while working as a nurse at a Martin County outpatient surgery center, Dunton is alleged to have removed liquid fentanyl from vials, refilled them with saline, and returned the adulterated vials to their location for use during surgeries.

If convicted, Dunton faces up to 10 years in prison.

Juan Antonio Gonzalez, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Justin Fielder, Special Agent in Charge, Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI) Miami Field Office, announced the charges.

FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Miami Field Office, investigated this matter with assistance from United States Postal Inspection Service, Miami Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Diana M. Acosta is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is only an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

You may find related court documents and information at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 22-cr-14073-Cannon.