A former nurse has been sentenced to five months in prison for tampering with controlled substances at a surgical clinic in Connecticut. Kristen Carotenuto, 35, from Pelham, New York, was found guilty of removing vials of hydromorphone and fentanyl from a secure storage area while working at an outpatient surgical center in Stamford. The sentencing occurred on September 27, 2024, under the authority of U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford.
In addition to her prison sentence, Carotenuto received three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine. The case was investigated by multiple agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), highlighting the serious nature of her actions.
According to court documents, Carotenuto had access to a secure location where controlled substances were stored. In December 2024, she secretly removed several vials containing hydromorphone or fentanyl, took them home, and used the drugs. Following her use, she refilled the vials with saline or water and returned them to the storage area, where they could have been distributed to patients.
While authorities confirmed the tampering, they noted there was no evidence that any patients received the altered medications. Carotenuto pleaded guilty to tampering with a consumer product, a violation that raised significant concerns regarding patient safety.
Following her guilty plea, Carotenuto has been free on a $25,000 bond and is required to report to prison on October 1, 2024. She has also surrendered her nursing license, marking a severe professional consequence for her actions.
The investigation into Carotenuto’s conduct involved collaboration between the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations, the DEA’s Hartford Diversion Control Division, and the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection’s Drug Control Division. This case serves as a reminder of the critical importance of safeguarding controlled substances in healthcare settings.