VA hospital nurse anesthetist sentenced for stealing fentanyl, DOJ reports

MADISON, Wis. – A VA hospital nurse was sentenced to three years of probabtion in federal court Tuesday for stealing fentanyl, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice. 

Todd Mehrhoff, 49, of Waunakee, was convictied was worrking at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison as a certified registered nurse anesthetist  in December 2017 when he was arrested for obtaining fentanyl by use of misrepresentation and fraud. 

Officials said Mehrhoff used a Med-Select system, which gave him access to prescription medications, including fentanyl. An investigation into Mehrooff’s records revealed over 100 suspected diversions of fentanyl between August 2017 and December 2017

According to the release, Mehrhoff admitted to obtaining fentanyl for personal use such as, when he was not on duty, for patients he was not assigned to, on days when no surgeries were scheduled and in amounts greater than would be typical for any operating room procedure. 

The Veteran’s Affairs Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation that led to Mehrhoff’s charges. 

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