Former South FL Nurse Replaced Stolen Fentanyl From Nearly 450 Vials With Saline: U.S. DOJ

FORT PIERCE, FL — A former South Florida nurse pled guilty Thursday in federal district court in Fort Pierce to tampering with a consumer product, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release.

Between Feb. 28 and April 18, 2022, Catherine Shannon Dunton, 54, a registered nurse, worked at an outpatient surgical center in Jensen Beach as a circulating nurse.

While working there, Dunton took vials of fentanyl in liquid form and self-injected it, the DOJ said. To avoid detection, she replaced the fentanyl from nearly 450 vials with saline solution before returning them to the center for use during outpatient surgical procedures.

She faces up to 10 years in prison, followed by up to three years of supervised released and a fine of up to $250,000. Dunton’s sentencing will take place June 27.