News

Actions

Deputies arrest Tampa nurse for reportedly using dead patient info to obtain prescription drugs

Posted

A Tampa nurse has been arrested after she reportedly used a dead patient's information to obtain prescription drugs. 

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office arrested Christina Baker, for one misdemeanor count of Obtaining a Legend Drug by Fraud and one felony count of Fraudulent Use of a Deceased Persons Information. 

Hillsborough County deputies say Baker obtained 30 Metolazone 10mg tablets under the name of a patient, Patsy Allen. Allen was born November 9, 1950 and died September 25, 2015. The incident occurred on June 13, 2017.

Allen's prescription was phoned in using the name and DEA number of Dr. Robert Sheppard. For the last two years, Dr. Sheppard has received numerous notifications for prescriptions in the name of Patsy Allen and another patient, Brian Baker. 

However, officers say Dr. Sheppard provided a sworn affidavit he did not write or authorize a prescription for Patsy Allen. 

According to the criminal affidavit, video surveillance captured Baker ordering the prescriptions in July. She was positively identified from her driver's license by a Walmart Asset Protection employee named Henry Perez. 

This investigation is ongoing.