Timothy T. Duax U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa
A former nurse anesthetist from Illinois has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of acquiring fentanyl through fraudulent means while working at a Dubuque hospital in January 2022.
Benjamin K. Albert, 53, admitted that during his employment as a certified registered nurse anesthetist at the hospital between January 13 and January 27, 2022, he administered fentanyl to 18 patients. According to his plea agreement, Albert obtained extra fentanyl from the hospital pharmacy by using patient names and only gave a portion of the drug to the intended recipients. He kept the remainder for his own use. Some patients who were recorded as having received adequate amounts of fentanyl showed signs of significant pain during their procedures.
Albert faces sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams after completion of a presentence report. He is currently free pending sentencing. Each count carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and one year of supervised release. As part of the agreement, Albert will forfeit his Iowa nursing license to the United States.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick J. Reinert and Timothy Vavricek. The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Investigative Division of the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals.
