Former Essentia employee accused of opioid theft – Duluth News Tribune

Erik Lee Huberty, 24, of Proctor, was charged Wednesday with taking fentanyl and other prescription painkillers and sedatives from the Duluth hospital on at least six occasions in November.

Huberty was summoned to appear in State District Court on charges of felony theft and fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance in a case that was investigated by the Lake Superior Drug and Violent Crime Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Drug Diversion Control Division.

Authorities said Huberty was identified through fingerprints and electronic identification badge records after Essentia officials discovered the missing medications and reported the incidents to the Duluth Police Department.

It was not immediate clear what Huberty’s duties were at Essentia, and hospital officials declined to release additional details on the situation.

“Erik Huberty is no longer employed by Essentia Health,” spokeswoman Kim Kaiser said in a statement to the News Tribune. “Beyond that, I’m not able to comment on specific personnel matters or pending investigations.

“At Essentia, we are vigilant about the potential threat of drug diversion, and have systems in place to prevent and detect abuses.”

According to a criminal complaint, an internal Essentia investigation revealed unauthorized access to the operating room carts containing controlled substances on six dates between Nov. 6-18.

Missing were quantities of fentanyl and hydromorphone, another opioid sold under the brand name Dilaudid, according to police. Also taken was midazolam, a drug used for various anesthesia and sedation purposes.

Police processed the carts for evidence, locating several fingerprints that were searched in a database. Two of the prints matched those on file for Huberty, who worked in the hospital and had access to the room where the medication was stored, according to the complaint.

Authorities said additional investigation by Essentia determined that Huberty had been accessing those areas around the times of the thefts, using his electronic badge to gain entry.

Confronted with the information, police said Huberty denied ever accessing the carts and could not explain why his fingerprints would have been located inside.

However, he later allegedly asked police: “If I tell you where the stuff is, would you not arrest me?” Advised that it likely would not affect their decision, Huberty nevertheless told officers that they would find the evidence in the garbage outside his home, according to the complaint.

Police obtained a search warrant for the residence on Libby Circle in Proctor. They said numerous empty and partially empty narcotic vials were found, along with a safe which contained a substance that tested positive for LSD.

A check of court records shows only a misdemeanor conviction for disorderly conduct and several traffic offenses on Huberty’s record. He remains free, with an initial court appearance scheduled for April 12.