Pharmacy worker convicted of stealing 600 doses of opioid pain killers

The Iowa Board of Pharmacy has revoked the license of a pharmacy technician convicted of stealing 600 doses of opioid pain killers.

According to police records, on April 11, 2023, the CVS Pharmacy within the Target store at 3804 Metro Dr., Council Bluffs, called in a report of prescription-drug theft. The pharmacy then provided police with written documents, including a statement signed by phramacy tech Sarah Elizabeth Taylor, 38, of Council Bluffs.

In that statement, Taylor allegedly admitted to CVS investigators that she had stolen roughly 600 50-milligram doses of the narcotic Tramadol between November 2022 and March 2023. Pharmacy officials estimated the actual loss at 700 doses of Tramadol.

Police alleged Taylor admitted that while at work she would place the pills into the trash and retrieve them later in order to conceal the theft. She was charged with fourth-degree theft, possession of a controlled substance, and obtaining a prescription drug through deceit.

She pleaded guilty to the possession and theft charges and the prescription-drug charge was dismissed by the court. She was sentenced to 45 days in jail, with all of that time suspended. Court records give conflicting information as to whether $860 in potential fines were actually imposed.

In January 2024, the Iowa Board of Pharmacy held a hearing on the matter that Taylor did not attend. On March 5, the board revoked Taylor’s license as a pharmacy technician. The decision was announced Monday.