Illegal prescription drug scheme leads to prison for Florida nurse

FLORIDA — A Florida registered nurse has been sentenced for participating in an illegal prescription scheme, said the US Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida (USAO).

U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Debora Ryder, 56, of New Port Richey, to three years in federal prison for drug conspiracy. Ms. Ryder entered a guilty plea on September 19, 2023. She has also agreed to forfeit her nursing licenses.

According to court documents, MS. Ryder was a Florida-licensed advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), registered nurse (RN), and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registrant who conspired with another individual to distribute controlled substances in the names of individuals without lawful authority.

As an APRN and DEA registrant, Ms. Ryder had the authority to issue prescriptions for controlled substances. However, she knew her licensing became delinquent on July 31, 2022, making her ineligible to issue controlled substances.

From August to September 2022, Ms. Ryder admitted to conspiring with another individual who provided Ms. Ryder with more than a dozen identifications and driver licenses for her use to issue prescriptions for promethazine with codeine and oxycodone without any medical evaluation.

Ms. Ryder received cash and electronic payments in exchange for each controlled substance prescription she issued. Records revealed Ms. Ryder issued approximately 84 illegal prescriptions during the conspiracy.

Additionally, between January 2021 and August 2022, Ms. Ryder illegally issued 34 oxycodone and hydromorphone prescriptions in the name of J.R., Ryder’s deceased husband, who died in 2018, said the USAO.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (Tampa District Office) and the Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Greg Pizzo prosecuted it.