An Oxford man has been sentenced to three years of supervised release after tampering with opioids while working as a paramedic with Baptist Ambulance.
According to court documents, 35-year-old Richard Fox Bowen tampered with vials of morphine and fentanyl beginning in October 2021 while working his shift as a paramedic.
Bowen injected himself with fentanyl and morphine from the vials and disguised his theft of the drugs by refilling the vials with saline solution.
The court stated that Bowen acted with reckless disregard by placing the tampered-with vials back into service, which put Baptist Ambulance patients in danger of bodily injury.
“Our office is committed to protecting the health and safety of our citizens,” United States Attorney Clay Joyner said. “Actions like the ones committed by the defendant place citizens in grave danger of harm and bodily injury and cannot be tolerated.”
Bowen will now serve three years of supervised release and has been ordered to pay $30,405 in restitution for tampering with the opioids.
“Patients rely on the knowledge that they will receive FDA-approved medications to manage their conditions,” Special Agent in Charge Justin Fielder, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Miami Field Office said. “When health care professionals tamper with those needed medications, we will pursue and bring them to justice.”
