This story is updated to include comment from Yale New Haven Hospital.
HARTFORD – A Yale New Haven Hospital registered nurse was sentenced to 16 months in prison and two years of supervised release for tampering with and stealing Lorazepam vials at the hospital.
David X. Sullivan, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Sean Falzarano, 39, of Southbury, was sentenced Tuesday, July 29, by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford.
On Dec. 11, 2024, Falzarano pleaded guilty to tampering with a consumer product, and acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge.
Falzarano, who is released on a $50,000 bond, is required to report to prison on Oct. 21. Also, his nursing license is currently suspended.
Yale New Haven Hospital issued the following statement after the prison sentence was announced:
“The safety and comfort of our patients is always our top priority. At the time, following both a report by a nurse and detection of irregular activity through our protective technology, YNHHS acted swiftly to stop the activity, investigate and report to law enforcement. The individual was immediately terminated by the hospital and YNHHS proactively notified potentially impacted patients and families as we cooperated fully with law enforcement in their investigation.
“We are truly sorry if any patients suffered as a result of this nurse’s actions. We have extensive measures in place to detect and stop any diversion or tampering of medications and continue to improve on these as new technology is developed.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, Falzarano was granted access to secure locations used by YNHH to store controlled substances, including Lorazepam. On Jan. 31, 2022, Falzarano took vials containing Lorazepam solution that he knew were intended to be dispensed to patients.
He removed a portion of the Lorazepam solution from at least one of the vials, replaced the contents with an inert solution, and returned the vial to the secure location where it was available for distribution to patients. Falzarano was confronted on that date by YNHH employees who were investigating drug tampering. A search of Falzarano’s backpack revealed vials, crimping tools, saline, vial caps, and syringes.
This matter was investigated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Diversion Control Division; and the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Drug Control Division.
