FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
January 22, 2016
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Alabama Attorney General
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
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AG STRANGE ANNOUNCES ARREST OF A DEKALB COUNTY LICENSED
PRACTICAL NURSE FOR THEFT OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES
(MONTGOMERY) – Attorney General Luther Strange announced the arrest of a
former employee of a Boaz area nursing facility for theft of narcotics. Cheryl Hamm, 39,
of Rainsville, surrendered at the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department and was
released on $1,500.00 bond.
The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit presented evidence to a
Marshall County grand jury resulting in an indictment* on August 27, 2015, charging
Hamm with second-degree theft of property. The charges allege that Hamm, a licensed
practical nurse at Golden Living Center-Boaz, misappropriated several Hydrocodone
and Oxycodone–opioids that are schedule II substances–that had been prescribed to a
patient of the facility. This was discovered when the patient advised he or she had not
received the medication and a review of the required medication logs showed Hamm
had signed for the medication. Hamm failed to account for the missing narcotics as per
protocol after signing the medication logs stating the medications had been
administered.
Theft of property in the second degree is a class C felony with a possible sentence
of a year and a day to ten years incarceration in the Alabama Department of
Corrections. Because Hydrocodone and Oxycodone are controlled substances, the theft
is automatically classified as in the second degree.
Attorney General Strange commended the staff and administration of the Golden
Living Center-Boaz, as well as his Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for the investigation of
the case.
*An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us
