Acting United States Attorney Julie Beck announced that a registered nurse from Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan, has been indicted on charges of tampering with drug vials and theft. The nurse, identified as 53-year-old Travis Eskridge, faces serious allegations of misconduct while working in the emergency room at Ascension St. John Hospital.
The Justice Department reported that Eskridge tampered with vials of fentanyl, a potent narcotic painkiller, by removing the substance and substituting it with another liquid. The indictment further accuses him of stealing these tampered-with vials for nine months and fraudulently obtaining fentanyl for personal use. Having kept the tampered vials in the locked drug storage system, he did this with a disregard for patient safety that is characterized as reckless.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Special Agent in Charge Ronne Malham, from the FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations Chicago Field Office, joined Beck in announcing the indictment. Acting United States Attorney Beck stated, "Such crimes are a betrayal of the trust placed in licensed medical professionals." She underscored the authorities' commitment to pursuing those who, in positions of trust, choose to inflict harm on others.
Eskridge's activities were revealed in August 2022, resulting in his removal from Ascension St. John Hospital. He appeared in court yesterday and has since been released on a bond stipulating he does not seek employment as a nurse. Charged with three counts of tampering and one count each of theft and obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, Eskridge could face up to 10 years imprisonment for the tampering charges and additional sentences for the theft and fraud charges, each accompanied by a fine of up to $250,000.
