A Marshalltown woman has entered a guilty plea for charges related to drug diversion. Amanda Nicole Manatt, 37, admitted to diverting controlled substances for personal use and falsifying patient records to indicate the administration of these substances.
Court documents reveal that Manatt worked as a registered nurse at hospitals in Marshall County in 2023 and Story County in 2024. During her tenure, she acquired controlled substances intended for patients, including fentanyl and hydromorphone (Dilaudid), which she used herself. Additionally, Manatt falsely documented the administration of these drugs in patient records.
Manatt is set to be sentenced on July 11, 2025. She faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The final decision will be made by a federal district court judge who will consider the United States sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal from the Southern District of Iowa announced the plea. The investigation was conducted by the Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals – Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (DIA/MFCU), the Tama County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau.
