A Fairfield man has been sentenced to four years of probation for stealing prescription drugs from a pharmacy he owned and operated. According to court records, Bryan Paul Vander Linden, 43, admitted to obtaining thousands of prescription pills from Summit Pharmacy of Iowa for his personal use between June 2022 and at least November 2023.
Vander Linden acquired more than 3,500 oxycodone and hydrocodone pills—both classified as Schedule II controlled substances—as well as over 400 carisoprodol pills, which are considered Schedule IV muscle relaxants. He did this by ordering pills without reporting them in the pharmacy’s inventory, taking them directly from stock, or removing them from the controlled substance collection bin.
In addition to probation, Vander Linden was ordered to pay a $9,500 fine.
“Pharmacists are entrusted with the handling of controlled substances and ensuring that laws are followed in their handling,” DEA Omaha Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Rafael Mattei said. “This Iowa pharmacist broke that trust by diverting controlled substances for his own use. I commend the DEA Diversion Investigators whose work uncovered the diversion of controlled substances in this case and who work diligently to ensure that pharmacies follow the law and maintain a safe and secure environment.”
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa announced the sentencing along with the Drug Enforcement Administration. The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
