New Hampshire Nurse Receives Nine Month Jail Sentence For Stealing Pain Medications At Nursing Home

October 30, 2007 -- New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly A. Ayotte has announced that Sylenda Mitchell, age 58, of Center Conway, New Hampshire has been sentenced by a Carroll County Superior Court judge to serve nine months in jail following her guilty pleas to five felony counts of illegally possessing narcotics. The pain medications were prescribed for several nursing home residents at a North Conway facility. The defendant diverted the narcotics while working at the facility between December of 2006 and January of 2007. As part of her sentence, the defendant was also prohibited from providing home or facility nursing services following her release from jail.

The case was prosecuted by the Medicaid Fraud Unit, which investigates both healthcare provider fraud and allegations involving the abuse and neglect of long-term care residents.

Article continues below...

Attorney General Kelly A. Ayotte said, “My office will investigate and vigorously prosecute caregivers who violate the trust placed with them by committing crimes against these important and vulnerable members of New Hampshire’s communities.”

Source: New Hampshire Attorney General