special agent chad brown - naddi
TRANSCRIPT
Special Agent Chad Brown
Virginia State Police
Drug Diversion Unit
Wytheville, Virginia
In February 2018, I assisted Wytheville Town Police with a diversion investigation involving fentanyl.
Andrea Crigger was working as a Registered Nurse at the hospital located in Wytheville.
The charges were based on incidents that were recorded by surveillance video on February 19, 2018 and February 20, 2018.
As I began gathering information for the investigation, the hospital staff told me that complaints had been made accusing Andrea of possible drug usage dating back to September 2017. There were multiple complaints, but nothing could be proven at the time.
These suspicions were not reported to law enforcement.
Due to continuous complaints, surveillance video was placed in locations that Andrea regularly worked.
After the initial investigation was completed by the Town Police, the Wythe County Commonwealth Attorney's Office requested that I look into the issues surrounding the diversion of drugs historically.
42 years old
Married with 2 kids
Former First Assist RN ($80,000+ annual salary)
Former Part-Time Professor at New River Valley Community College.
Bodybuilder
Competes in Beauty Pageants
Facility / Entity Name Dates of Employment Reason For Leaving
Wythe CountyCommunity Hospital
July 2015 to February 2018
Terminated
New River Valley Community College (Adjunct Instructor)
August 2017 to February 2018
Terminated after being criminally charged.
Bluefield Regional Medical Center
May 2013 to June 2015 Resigned
Carilion New River Valley
June 2001 to May 2013 Resigned
Search Warrant
1. Medication Administration Report Summary
2. AcuDose Records
3. Copy of Interviews conducted internally
4. Surveillance video footage
5. Nursing Assessment notes for patients related to investigation
Amount dispensed to patients (per
records), 1175
Unaccounted fentanyl, 875
*8 mg of Morphine also unaccounted for
2050 mcg dispensed to Andrea Crigger for patient use(11 known discrepancies over a six month period)
Following patients to Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), when she wasn’t needed
Started going to the bathroom so often that it became weird
Behavior change after the bathroom break
Often volunteered for extra shifts
Showed up at the facility on her day off
Crigger was giving Fentanyl to patients that had caesarean sections even though they were given spinal epidural
Doctor stated that it was interesting that Crigger always wanted a Fentanyl order for patients instead of Dilaudid
Aggressive attitude
Known as a bully
Crigger had already obtained 2 Attorneys for the initial charges
Charged with 11 additional felonies for Obtaining by Fraud
Crigger’s Voluntary Statements
1. Stole medication due to severe headaches
2. Stress due to being a wife, mother, and bodybuilder
3. Needed medication in order to work the extra hours that were required
Pled guilty to 15 felonies
Qualified for 1st offender status
Driver’s license suspended for 6 months
$6050 fine
1 year of probation
HPMP program
Board of Nursing suspended license as well
February 2019, the CVS District Asset Protection Leader contacted VSP in reference to a diversion that had occurred at the Galax Store
The diversion incidents began May of 2018 and ended October of 2018
Missing approximately 1,895 Zolpidem and 79 Alprazolam
I requested and received all documents from CVS that were relevant to the investigation along with surveillance footage.
Video footage showed a female putting something into her mouth while stocking shelves in the pharmacy area.
Balance on Hand Modification Report (BOH)
Shows a rolling (6) weeks of inventory
Pharmacist A, conducted her report weekly which followed protocol.
Pharmacist B (Head Pharmacist), stated that he was put into the position with no training.
Had no clue about the BOH report
Was aware that the report was received weekly
Didn’t know how to handle discrepancies
Simply didn’t understand the logistics of the report
End of September 2018, Head Pharmacist was relocated
New Pharmacist arrived at store in October
Less than 2 weeks, the diversion came to the surface by utilizing the BOH Reports
4% 11% 3%
62%
20%
Types of drugs diverted
Alprazolam (.25 mg)
Zolpidem (12.5 mg)
Zolpidem (6.25 mg)
Zolpidem (10 mg)
Zolpidem (5 mg)
Total number of pills stolen: 1,974 Total Loss: $9,250.82
29 year old female
Shift supervisor for 7 ½ years
Hard worker
Official job duties consisted of working in the store area NOT in the pharmacy handling drugs
Always willing to help in the pharmacy
Immediately confessed and requested assistance for addiction
Prescribed Ambien by a doctor
Quickly became addicted
Stole medication every opportunity
Never stole medication for anyone else
Only diverted to support the addiction
2 counts of Obtaining Prescriptions by Fraud
Pled guilty on October 16th
Qualified for first offender status
$9250.82 restitution
