Cheshire Nurse Admits To Writing Illegal Prescriptions: Feds

CHESHIRE, CT — A Cheshire nurse faces up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to a federal charge in connection with writing illegal prescriptions for Oxycodone and Xanax, according to authorities.

Lisa M. Alexander, 54, of Cheshire, waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty Friday in New Haven federal court to a charge stemming from her writing prescriptions for controlled substances outside the scope of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose, the U.S. States Attorney for Connecticut’s office announced.

Alexander was a licensed Advanced Practice Registered Nurse and held a DEA-controlled substance registration that allowed her to prescribe Schedule II through V controlled substances, according to court documents and statements made in court.

“Between approximately April 2017 and February 2020, Alexander wrote illicit prescriptions to distribute and dispense more than 3,600 oxycodone pills, a Schedule II controlled substance, and nearly 3,000 alprazolam pills (which is sold and marketed under the trade name Xanax), a Schedule IV controlled substance, to multiple individuals,” officials wrote in a news release. “Alexander did not have a legitimate practitioner-patient relationship with these individuals, did not conduct medical examinations with these individuals, and did not confirm conditions that would medically require treatment using these controlled substances. Alexander also knew that at least some of these individuals were selling the pills instead of taking them.

“In addition, Alexander knew that some of the individuals who received prescriptions from Alexander were on Medicare or Medicaid. Most of the illicit prescriptions that Alexander wrote were paid for by Medicaid or Medicare.”

Alexander pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful distribution and dispensing of controlled substances by a practitioner, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 22.

Alexander has been released pending sentencing, according to officials.