York County Nurse Charged With Stealing Prescription Drugs From A Hospice Patient

HARRISBURG- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that licensed practical nurse (LPN) Dana Aldinger, age 55, of York, PA, was charged by criminal information with theft in connection with health care. 

According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the criminal information alleges that on or about August 10, 2019, Aldinger stole and converted for personal use Oxycodone pills prescribed for a Medicare hospice patient residing at a personal care home where she was employed. 

The case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Harrisburg Field Office, and the Bureau of Narcotics Investigations (BNI) of the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel S. Dalke is prosecuting the case.

Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law for the offense charged is one year of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $100,000 fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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