Former Florida Nurse Sentenced for Stealing Fentanyl, Endangering Patients

A former South Florida nurse has been sentenced to over two years in federal prison for stealing fentanyl meant for patients and replacing it with saline.

Emmanuel Valentin, 40, was arrested in 2023 and pleaded guilty to tampering with consumer products last December. While working at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital’s cardiac catheterization lab, he used syringes to extract fentanyl and midazolam for personal use, refilling the vials with saline.

Prosecutors said Valentin even retrieved empty vials from biohazard waste, refilled them with saline, and swapped them for stolen ones—exposing patients to potential infections and unnecessary pain during medical procedures.

The hospital fired Valentin, alerted patients, and provided free blood testing, though no acute infections were found. Authorities later discovered he had stolen fentanyl from another Miami hospital in March 2023.

Valentin’s case highlights the risks of drug diversion in healthcare settings, with prosecutors emphasizing the danger he posed to patients.