Illinois Paramedic Stole Fentanyl, Put Patients At Risk: Ruling

BELLEVILLE, IL — A southern Illinois paramedic was found guilty this week of stealing the potentially deadly narcotic fentanyl and putting lives at risk by leaving tampered vials that could have been used on patients. A federal jury on Monday found Jason Laut, 40, of O'Fallon, was guilty of 38 counts including tampering with fentanyl, identity theft, wire fraud and falsifying narcotics logs.

Laut is due to be sentenced March 2, 2018, and could face a hefty prison sentence.

Prosecutors said Laut would use a needle to siphon fentanyl from vials and replace it with water or saline, according to the Belleville News-Democrat. Then he would leave the tainted vials on ambulances, where they could have been used on patients, according to the News-Democrat.

Photo: In this Aug. 9, 2016, photo, a vial containing 2mg of fentanyl, which will kill a human if ingested into the body, is displayed at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Testing and Research Laboratory in Sterling, Va. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)