HIV-Positive Surgery Tech Pleads Guilty In Painkiller Theft
DENVER (CBS4) - A former hospital surgery technician accused of stealing painkiller syringes in Colorado, possibly exposing patients to HIV, pleaded guilty on Tuesday afternoon.
Rocky Allen pleaded guilty to tampering with a consumer product and obtaining a controlled substance by deceit.
The move comes after prosecutors announced Allen had HIV and urged surgical patients at Swedish Medical Center where he worked to be tested.
Authorities say Allen replaced fentanyl needles intended for patients with syringes he previously used, making infection possible.
Authorities say someone saw Allen take a syringe filled with painkillers from an operating room at Swedish Medical Center on Jan. 22. The hospital fired him, and three weeks later federal prosecutors charged him with tampering with a consumer product and obtaining a controlled substance by deceit.
Prosecutors have said he has a history of moving from hospital to hospital and lying about his past to steal drugs.
Court records say that before Allen moved to Colorado, he had been fired from at least three hospitals in Arizona, California and Washington. Patients who were treated there have also been advised to be tested.
The Colorado Department of Health and Environment said so far there has been no evidence that any patients were infected by Allen.
Allen's lawyer has said he starting abusing drugs while serving as a Navy medic in Afghanistan.
Allen is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 13 where he faces a maximum of 14 years in prison. He was allowed to leave the hearing after a judge ruled he was not a flight risk or a danger to the community.
Statement From Swedish Medical Center
"We are thankful to city, state and federal investigators who have worked to achieve justice in this case. As the criminal proceedings continue, we encourage those who have not yet completed testing to do so."
