U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida Press Release:
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Eric Brewer (30, Lakeland) to five years and three months in federal prison for tampering with a consumer product and obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. Brewer pleaded guilty on April 28, 2025.
According to court documents, Brewer was a Florida-licensed registered nurse who worked at various hospitals in the Tampa Bay area. Brewer tampered with fentanyl intended for patients by removing a portion of the controlled substance from its container, at times diluting it with another substance, and using the drug for his own personal use. By tampering with the fentanyl, Brewer acted with reckless disregard for the risk that patients would be in danger of death or bodily injury and under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to such risk.
On seven occasions between June 2 and September 12, 2023, Brewer repeatedly took needles, syringes, and saline flushes from the supply room, entered the treatment room of another nurse’s patient who was receiving intravenous fentanyl, and stole the patient’s fentanyl by redirecting it into a Styrofoam cup.
At other times, Brewer stole fentanyl directly from a secure medication locker or started and stopped the patient’s intravenous (IV) pump of fentanyl to steal it. After stealing the drugs, Brewer injected them into himself in a restroom.
Brewer’s criminal conduct came to the attention of hospital administrators on September 12, 2023. Although he was not assigned to care for any patients receiving fentanyl, Brewer volunteered to change the fentanyl IV drip bag for another nurse. Brewer acquired a 100mL fentanyl IV bag and tubing from the secured medication locker and disbursed it to the patient.
Shortly thereafter, Brewer entered a restroom. When he left the restroom, nurses observed Brewer stumbling, slurring his speech, and falling asleep. An inspection of the restroom revealed a bloody needle and paper towel, which Brewer had used to inject himself with fentanyl.
A hospital employee reported Brewer to a manager who requested he take a drug test. Brewer refused and was fired. Subsequent lab testing of the fentanyl IV bag he had administered that morning revealed that fentanyl had been removed from the drip bag and diluted approximately 50% with saline.
This case was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration – Office of Criminal Investigations and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Greg Pizzo.
