Former Stamford Nurse Sentenced To Prison For Stealing And Tampering With Drug Vials: Feds

STAMFORD, CT — A New York woman was sentenced Tuesday to five months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for tampering with vials of hydromorphone and fentanyl at a surgical clinic in Stamford where she was employed as a nurse, according to a news release from David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.

Kristen Carotenuto, 35, of Pelham, N.Y., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford. She is currently released on a $25,000 bond and required to report to prison on Oct. 1. She must also pay a $5,000 fine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Carotenuto was employed as a nurse at an outpatient surgical center in Stamford.

As part of her employment, she was granted access to a secure location used by the surgical center to store controlled substances, Sullivan said.

In December 2024, Carotenuto removed several vials, each containing hydromorphone or fentanyl, from the secure storage area, Sullivan said, noting she then took the vials home, removed the controlled substances using a syringe, and used the drugs.

Carotenuto then refilled the vials with either saline or water and returned the tampered vials to the storage area in a location where they could be distributed for patient use, Sullivan said. There is no evidence that any patients received the tampered medications.

On Aug. 7, Carotenuto pleaded guilty to tampering with a consumer product. She has surrendered her nursing license, according to Sullivan.

The case was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; the DEA’s Hartford Diversion Control Division; and the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Drug Control Division.