Former Paramedic From Medford Pleads Guilty To Fentanyl Tampering

MEDFORD, MA — A former EMT paramedic from Medford has pleaded guilty to tampering with liquid fentanyl vials at the ambulance company she worked at, according to U.S. Attorney Rachael S. Rollins.

Candice Mangan, 43, pleaded guilty to one count of tampering with a consumer product, said Rollins. She could face up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.

While working in Needham in late September 2020, Mangan allegedly tampered with three fentanyl citrate vials by removing fentanyl citrate and replacing it with saline. The liquid remaining in the three vials contained only approximately 4.4 percent, 6.8 percent, and 24.2 percent of the declared concentration of fentanyl citrate.

“The grave consequences of the opioid crisis extend far beyond street level dealing of heroin and fentanyl, which continues at an alarming pace,” Rollins said in a statement. "Almost every one of the 15 units in the Criminal and Civil Divisions of this Office are handling matters relating to the opioid epidemic. Aside from the obvious opioid related matters handled by our narcotics and organized crime units, we are also prosecuting human trafficking and health care fraud as well as civil rights government fraud and public corruption cases all directly pertaining to opioids.”

"There is no higher priority in my office than doing everything in our power, using every option available on both the civil and criminal sides of this office, to keep people and communities safe from these deadly destructive substances,” she continued.

Mangan is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 7.