Arrested for Obtaining a Controlled Substance by False Representation in North Smithfield
Criminal Charges:
Woman Arrested by North Smithfield Police and charged in Rhode Island Superior Court (Kent County) located in Warwick, RI for obtaining a controlled substance by false representation (i.e. False Prescription).
Case Overview:
North Smithfield Police arrested a Nurse Practitioner (NP) employed at a nursing home for creating false prescriptions to obtain controlled substances. The healthcare provider solicited a fellow employee to obtain a controlled substance for her if she (the NP) wrote the employee a false prescription for Norco, a prescription pain medication. The employee reluctantly agreed, but after receiving the false prescription, reported the NP to nursing home administration officials. The administration terminated the NP from her employment, notified the Rhode Island Department of Health, and contacted the police. Police investigating the incident interviewed the NP who confessed to her actions. As a result, she was criminally charged, first in Rhode Island District Court, and ultimately in Rhode Island Superior Court with unlawfully obtaining a controlled substance by making false representations. She then retained Rhode Island Criminal Defense Lawyer, John L. Calcagni III, to defend her in this matter.
Case Result:
Dismissed. Attorney Calcagni successfully applied for and placed his client into the Superior Court Adult Diversion Program. This enabled her to avoid traditional felony prosecution. According to the program’s conditions, the woman was required to attend counseling and complete 100 hours of community service. Upon successful completion of these terms, the charge against her was dismissed. The case has since been sealed from the woman’s record and the Department of Health took no adverse action against her Nurse Practitioner’s License. The woman is back to work fighting the battle against COVID-19.