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A former Bedford pharmacist was sentenced to two years in prison for drug related offenses this week.
According to a statement from United States Attorney Scott W. Murray, Thomas Kellermann, 65, of Bedford, began abusing narcotic pain relief drugs.
According to court documents, Kellermann took medical leave from his position in March of 2012. While on medical leave in March and April 2012, Kellermann repeatedly returned to the pharmacy after business hours and on weekends and stole narcotic pain medication for his personal use.
Kellermann removed the plastic top of vials containing hydromorphone and morphine, inserted syringes into the vials, and withdrew drugs from the vials.
Prosecutors said he tried to cover up the tampering by injecting saline into the vials and using glue to seal the caps.
The tampering was discovered when an employee of the pharmacy detected irregularities in certain vials of drugs. After the tampering was discovered, vials of both hydromorphone and morphine were analyzed by an independent laboratory and found to be substantially below their labeled strength.
At the time his tampering was uncovered, 62 percent of the hydromorphone and morphine in the pharmacy’s inventory showed signs of tampering.
Kellermann pleaded guilty on January 10, 2018, to a two-count Information charging him with one count of tampering with a consumer product and one count of obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, deception, or subterfuge.
Kellerman was also fined $10,000 and will be on supervised release for two years.
“The reckless action by this health care worker is not only a violation of the Controlled Substance Act but a betrayal of the public trust,” said DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Albert Angelucci. “In response to the ongoing opioid epidemic DEA is committed to working with our law enforcement and regulatory partners to ensure that these rules and regulations are followed.”