A nurse anesthetist from Mineral Point, Wisconsin, has been sentenced to three months in federal prison for diverting fentanyl for personal use. Ian Lindsey, aged 42, was previously found guilty on November 13, 2024, of acquiring a controlled substance by deceit and making false statements related to healthcare.
Lindsey admitted that he had been diverting fentanyl and other drugs from a hospital in Platteville, Wisconsin, since at least 2017. Despite the hospital purchasing fentanyl above the monthly limits, the supply was consistently depleted. Lindsey also accessed patient records illegally and falsified information in these records. He was described as "shaky" and often "falling asleep at surgery bedside," leading to his dismissal from the Platteville hospital in 2017.
His misconduct continued at a Dubuque, Iowa hospital from October 2022 to January 25, 2023. Lindsey diverted fentanyl from nearly 50 patients and manipulated the medical records of six patients, making false entries to suggest he administered fentanyl for pain relief when he had not.
Lindsey's criminal history includes four drunk driving convictions in Wisconsin, with blood alcohol levels as high as .240% in three cases, and a 2024 conviction for fourth-offense operating with prohibited alcohol content.
United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams in Cedar Rapids sentenced Lindsey to three months in prison, followed by six months of home confinement. He was fined $5,000 and will serve a three-year supervised release, with no parole in the federal system.
Despite his criminal record, Lindsey still holds valid nursing licenses in several states. At the sentencing, Judge Williams criticized the licensing boards for not taking action against Lindsey's licenses and urged him to reconsider his career in the medical field. He described Lindsey's actions as a "gross abuse of trust."
Lindsey was released on bond and is expected to report to the Bureau of Prisons on an unspecified date. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek prosecuted the case, with the Iowa Medicaid Fraud Control Unit leading the investigation.