Disgraced Pelham Nurse Who Stole Fentanyl From Her Job Gets Prison

PELHAM, NY — A Westchester nurse who stole and tampered with hydromorphone and fentanyl vials from the surgery center where she worked has been sentenced to prison.

David X. Sullivan, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that 35-year-old Kristen Carotenuto, of Pelham, was sentenced in federal court to five months of prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for tampering with narcotic vials at a surgical clinic in Stamford where she was employed as a nurse. She was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.

Carotenuto was employed as a nurse at the outpatient surgical center in Stamford. As part of her job, she was granted access to a secure location used by the surgical center to store controlled substances, including hydromorphone and fentanyl.

In December 2024, Carotenuto removed several vials, each containing hydromorphone or fentanyl, from the secure storage area. She then took the vials home, removed the controlled substances using a syringe, and used the drugs. She 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. There is no evidence that any patients received the tampered medications, according to federal investigators.

On Aug. 7, Carotenuto pleaded guilty to tampering with a consumer product.

Carotenuto, who was released on a $25,000 bond, is required to report to prison on Oct. 1. She has surrendered her nursing license.

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. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Miller.

SEE ALSO: Nurse From Pelham Admits To Stealing, Tampering With Drugs: Feds