Zachary T. Lee Acting United States Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia
A pharmacist from Gate City, Virginia, has been sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for tampering with prescription medications. Dillon West Breeding, age 34, pleaded guilty in June 2024 to one count of tampering with consumer products.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh commented on the case: “Ensuring the integrity of our prescription drugs is vital to maintaining the public’s confidence in our healthcare system. When patients go to the pharmacy, they trust the medicines they receive are legitimate, and prosecutions like this one go a long way towards ensuring that trust. I am grateful to the FDA, Virginia Department of Health Professions, Virginia State Police, and the Gate City Police for bringing this important matter forward.”
George Scavdis, Special Agent in Charge at the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations’ Metropolitan Washington Field Office, stated: “FDA-OCI remains committed to safeguarding the drug supply chain from individuals who endanger public health and safety by tampering with products. When pharmacists betray their customers’ trust by tampering with narcotic medications, they not only risk causing needless suffering from ineffective substitutes but also put lives at risk by introducing potentially harmful substances into the drug supply chain. The foundational work of the Gate City Police Department and our valued partnership with the Virginia State Police were integral to our efforts in safeguarding public health and safety in this case.”
Court documents show that Breeding replaced oxycodone tablets with prednisone—a steroid used for inflammation—and substituted hydromorphone tablets with leflunomide, which is used for rheumatoid arthritis treatment. He also dispensed medication while withholding pills from patients and kept those pills for his own use.
Authorities indicated that such actions could have resulted in pharmacists dispensing incorrect drugs to customers, posing risks of death or serious injury.
The investigation was conducted by the Food and Drug Administration - Office of Inspector General, Virginia Department of Health Professions, Gate City Police Department, and Virginia State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Macon prosecuted the case.
