A federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an eight-count indictment on May 28 charging Jackeline Correa-Vázquez, 45, with tampering with fentanyl, according to a June 2 announcement by W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.
Court documents state that Correa-Vázquez was licensed as an Advanced Practice Nurse with a Clinical Concentration in Anesthesia by the Puerto Rico Board of Nursing. She is accused of accessing and illegally obtaining vials of Fentanyl Citrate intended for patient care, removing the drug from those vials, and replacing it with clear liquid substances to conceal the theft. The indictment alleges that through these actions she abused her professional position and jeopardized patient safety.
“The defendant betrayed the trust of patients and her employers by tampering with critical medicine,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “Today’s charges reflect the seriousness of these offenses and should make clear that the U.S. Attorney’s Office, along with our law enforcement partners, will work tirelessly to investigate and prosecute anyone who endangers the safety of patients seeking medical treatment.” Michael Mayer, Special Agent in Charge at DEA Caribbean Division, said, “The people of Puerto Rico place their trust in our healthcare institutions during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. When that trust is violated, the DEA will act decisively… Through our Fentanyl Free America initiative and strong partnerships we maintain… we will continue to pursue those who jeopardize public safety and undermine confidence in our medical system.” Acting Special Agent in Charge Juan Berríos from FDA Office of Criminal Investigations added, “The FDA oversees the U.S. drug supply to ensure that it is safe and effective, and those who knowingly tamper with medicines put patients’ health at risk… The FDA will continue to hold accountable those who compromise the safety and security of our healthcare system.”
Correa-Vázquez faces four counts each for tampering with consumer products (maximum penalty ten years per count) under federal statute 18 U.S.C §1365(a), as well as acquiring or obtaining controlled substances by misrepresentation or fraud (maximum penalty four years per count) under 21 U.S.C §843(a)(3). Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge considering guidelines and statutory factors.
Her initial court appearance was scheduled before U.S. Magistrate Judge Héctor Ramos Vega at the U.S. District Court for Puerto Rico on June 2.
The case is being investigated by multiple agencies including Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Puerto Rico Police Department, Food & Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA OCI), and Puerto Rico Department of Health; prosecution is led by Assistant United States Attorneys Myriam Y. Fernández-González and María L. Montañez-Concepción.
An indictment constitutes only an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
The office led by Muldrow supports public safety across all federal law enforcement efforts—including handling civil rights violations—and offers mechanisms for reporting crimes such as public corruption or drug trafficking throughout Puerto Rico, according to its official website.