Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Jacquelyn DeVito (40, Brandon) has pleaded guilty to 10 counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and 1 count of acquiring a controlled substance by fraud. DeVito faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each unlawful drug distribution count and up to 4 years in federal prison for acquiring a controlled substance by fraud. DeVito has also agreed to forfeit and relinquish her Florida advanced practice registered nurse (“APRN”) license and her registered nurse (“RN”) license and not to reapply for a DEA registration number.
According to the plea agreement, between March 2020 and June 2022,
DeVito worked as an ARNP and RN at an urgent care medical office where she introduced herself to patients and offered to provide separate home health services through her privately-owned company, Bee Home Medical LLC. By signing up these patients, she acquired their names and dates of birth for the purpose of using the information to prescribe oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, without their knowledge or consent (collectively “Victim Patients”). DeVito issued prescriptions for oxycodone in the names of the Victim Patients to local retail pharmacies for the pharmacists to dispense the controlled substances. When the prescriptions were filled and ready to be picked up, DeVito went to the pharmacies and acquired the controlled substances by misrepresenting and deceiving the pharmacists by telling them she was the Victim Patients’ caregiver and was picking up the controlled substances on their behalf. During the Drug Enforcement Administration’s investigation, several Victim Patients were identified who had no knowledge DeVito issued the prescriptions in their names and confirmed that there was no legitimate need for them to receive oxycodone medication. DeVito prescribed and acquired more than 2,900 oxycodone pills.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration—Tampa District Office and the Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit. The Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit was created by the Department of Justice to help combat the devastating opioid crisis. The Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit focuses specifically on opioid-related health care fraud, using data to identify and prosecute individuals contributing to the prescription opioid epidemic. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Greg Pizzo.