Attorney General Kelly A. Ayotte announces that Tammy Tura, age 41, of Canaan, New Hampshire and Stephanie Wood, age 33, of Brattleboro, Vermont were convicted in separate cases of taking narcotic pain medications at the nursing homes where they worked.

Tura, a licensed medication nursing assistant, pleaded guilty in Grafton County Superior Court to misdemeanor theft for stealing a surplus vial of liquid morphine that was due for destruction. She received ten days in jail with the remainder of her six-month sentence suspended. The Lebanon nursing facility where she worked discovered the theft and reported the matter to the Lebanon police department.

Wood, a licensed practical nurse, pleaded guilty in Cheshire County Superior Court to felony drug possession. Wood stole narcotic pain medications from a nursing home resident and replaced them with over-the-counter pain relievers that were not prescribed. Wood received a six-month suspended sentence. The Jaffrey nursing facility where Wood worked discovered the tampered medication supply and reported the matter to the Jaffrey police department.

Adverse licensing actions are proceeding against both defendants. Attorney General Kelly A. Ayotte said: "My Office will aggressively prosecute those who put our elderly population at risk in any way. These cases are examples of how nursing facilities work with local police departments to protect our most vulnerable citizens." The cases were prosecuted by the Medicaid Fraud Unit, which investigates allegations involving healthcare provider fraud as well as matters involving the financial exploitation, abuse, or neglect of long-term care residents.