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A former nurse at the University of Colorado Hospital has been arrested for allegedly stealing pain medications of six patients and replacing the drugs with non-sterile materials.

Kacye Unruh, 30, of Aurora, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on suspicion of tampering with vials of fentanyl and hydromorphone and appeared in court Friday, according to a U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Colorado media release.

Prosecutors say Unruh removed vials containing fentanyl or hydromorphone from the hospital’s dialysis area and replaced the vials with other substances. Six patients have been identified as victims in the case, according to the indictment.

Unruh is also being charged with making false statements to federal investigators.

According to court documents, Unruh, from June 29 through July 12, tampered with, and attempted to tamper with, vials containing schedule II controlled substances. Unruh acted with reckless disregard for the risk to others, placing victim patients in danger of bodily injury.

“She also allegedly knowingly and intentionally obtained and attempted to obtain those same controlled substances by deception,” the indictment said.

The hospital, according to a CU media release, identified possible mishandling of medications in July and began an immediate investigation, contacting the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and law enforcement.

“The employee was terminated before any additional patient contact,” according to the hospital.

There is no evidence that any patients have ongoing issues stemming from the alleged incidents, CU said, and there is “no evidence of infection transmission at this time.”

Fewer than 50 patients have been contacted about testing for hepatitis C because of the case.

Unruh did not access non-dialysis patients or medication-dispensing machines in other areas of the hospital, the CU release said.

As the investigation unfolded, Unruh allegedly lied to a federal investigator about current allegations against her, as well as an alleged prior incident in Oklahoma.

“She was asked if she diverted drugs at the medical facility where she worked in Oklahoma,” the media release said. “She said ‘no’ when in fact she had diverted drugs there.”

Unruh allegedly lied about failing a drug test in Oklahoma, according to prosecutors.

In Colorado: “She said she replaced the narcotics with sterile saline, when in fact she replaced the contents with material other than sterile saline,” according to the release. “She also said she had not cross-contaminated material when in fact she had.”

According to the indictment, Unruh is accused of cross-contaminating vials with water, saline and Benadryl.

Unruh’s nursing license in Colorado was suspended on July 22. The Oklahoma Board of Nursing currently lists Unruh’s nursing license there as “temporarily suspended.”

Unruh is next scheduled to appear in federal court on Nov. 29.

If convicted, Unruh faces not more than 10 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine per count, for each of the 14 tampering counts. She also faces multiple count charges of obtaining a controlled substance by deceit or subterfuge and of making false statements.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations worked on the case along with the U.S. Attorney Office, District of Colorado.