Edmond doctor convicted of stealing controlled substances from hospital

OKLAHOMA CITY – U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester has announced that JOHN NEDZA, 35, of Edmond, has been convicted of 18 counts of obtaining a controlled substance by deceit or subterfuge by a federal jury.

On September 19, 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Nedza on 18 counts of obtaining a controlled substance through deception or subterfuge.

Dr. Nedza was found guilty of all charges by a federal jury on July 11.

Dr. Nedza served as a contract anesthesiologist at a hospital in Oklahoma City until March 2022. Dr. Nedza’s testimony at trial indicated that he had utilized his position at the hospital to divert controlled substances, such as fentanyl, ketamine, dilaudid, and midazolam, over an extended period.

The evidence presented at trial demonstrated that Dr. Nedza removed substantial quantities of controlled substances on at least six separate occasions in early March 2022, claiming that the medications were required for patient surgeries.

However, Dr. Nedza was not scheduled to perform—and did not perform—those surgeries. Rather, he claimed that he intended to dispose of the drugs, but he actually retained them for his own personal purposes according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office press release.

Nedza is subject to a maximum sentence of four years in federal prison per count upon his conviction, for a total potential sentence of 72 years in federal prison.

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted an investigation that led to the development of this case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas B. Snyder and Elizabeth M. Bagwell.


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