An indictment has been unsealed against Travis Eskridge, a registered nurse from Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan. Eskridge faces charges of tampering with vials of fentanyl at Ascension St. John Hospital in Detroit. The charges include three counts of tampering with a consumer product, one count of theft of medical products by an employee, and one count of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Julie Beck alongside Special Agent in Charge Ronne Malham from the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Chicago Field Office. According to the indictment, Eskridge tampered with fentanyl vials intended for emergency room patients by removing the drug and replacing it with another liquid before returning them to storage. This activity reportedly took place over nine months until his removal from the hospital in August 2022.
Acting United States Attorney Beck commented on the case: “Such crimes are a betrayal of the trust placed in licensed medical professionals. To protect the health and safety of our citizens, we take crimes like this seriously and pursue those in positions of trust who choose to harm others.”
Eskridge appeared before a Magistrate Judge at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and was released on bond under conditions that prevent him from seeking employment as a nurse.
If convicted, Eskridge could face up to 10 years imprisonment for each tampering charge, up to 5 years for theft, and up to 4 years for acquiring substances by fraud. Each charge also carries a potential fine of $250,000. Sentencing would be determined based on United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The investigation is being conducted by special agents from the Food and Drug Administration. It is important to note that an indictment is not evidence of guilt; Eskridge is entitled to a fair trial where his guilt must be proven beyond reasonable doubt.