Twenty vials of fentanyl vanished from medication vending machines at two Phoenix fire stations in August 2025, and prosecutors say a now-former Phoenix Fire Department paramedic is at the center of the mystery.
The Maricopa County Attorney indicted paramedic Anthony Amplo on Monday after investigators alleged he used another firefighter's personal identification number to pull the drugs and that none of the transactions included incident numbers documenting patient use. Amplo, identified in court records, is scheduled for an initial court appearance on May 8, 2026, and Phoenix officials say he is no longer employed by the fire department. The investigation and indictment were first detailed by ABC15.
Court records reviewed by prosecutors say the vends took place between Aug. 16 and Aug. 26, 2025, and describe the department's restocking process as requiring both a primary and a witness paramedic to enter their PINs along with an incident number. "The whereabouts of the 20 vials remain unknown," the filings state.
What the indictment alleges
The Maricopa County Attorney's Office indicted Amplo on one count of obtaining narcotic drugs illegally, alleging that he vended 20 fentanyl vials from machines at two stations using another firefighter's PIN and without any incident documentation. The firefighter whose PIN was used denied giving permission for the transactions, and court records say investigators could not account for the missing vials. ABC15
Legal stakes
Arizona law prohibits obtaining or procuring the administration or possession of narcotic or prescription drugs by fraud, deceit, misrepresentation or subterfuge, and such offenses can be prosecuted as felonies with penalties that depend on the statute and facts of the case. Prosecutors can seek prison time, fines and other consequences if the evidence supports those charges. Arizona Revised Statutes
Why this matters in Phoenix
Fentanyl has driven steep increases in overdose deaths statewide and in Maricopa County, and state reporting shows more than 1,600 opioid overdose deaths in Arizona during 2024. Maricopa County and state monitoring resources underline how synthetic opioids have reshaped local public-health priorities. Because of fentanyl's potency, missing medical-grade vials from emergency supplies are treated as both a public-safety and workplace risk, and federal authorities have prosecuted paramedics who stole or tampered with narcotic supplies in other jurisdictions. DEA
The case is set to appear on the Maricopa County docket on May 8, 2026, when prosecutors will present the indictment and scheduling details. Court filings and official statements will be the primary public record to watch as the situation moves through the legal process.
