HOUSTON — A former Houston Methodist nurse was sentenced to 120 days in jail and will lose her Texas nursing license for life for stealing drugs at work and replacing them with salt water, the Harris County District Attorney's Office announced Saturday.
The DA's Office said Alexis Joann McNeilly, 25, was arrested after she was caught stealing from a medication-dispensing system at Houston Methodist. She was reportedly caught on camera injecting stolen fentanyl into her hand at the hospital.
"Being a nurse, or any health care worker, carries an incredible amount of responsibility," said DA Kim Ogg. "Anyone who does not maintain the highest level of integrity should not be allowed to work in that field."
McNeilly's scheme was first discovered in May 2023 when a supervisor conducting audits noticed several vials that looked suspicious, according to the DA's Office. The suspicious vials were tested and found to be saline. This led to a further investigation that showed NcNeilly had accessed the drugs despite none of her patients being prescribed them.
Surveillance video showed McNeilly had stolen drugs on at least 11 different occasions from April 20, 2023, to May 10, 2023.
McNeilly was fired after this was uncovered and charges were filed.
She later told police she was involved in a similar scheme in the Dallas area at Baylor University Medical Center, according to the Harris County DA's office. She was fired from that job after she was given a drug test when staff became suspicious of her. The drug test reportedly came back positive for morphine, hydromorphone and marijuana. This was still being reviewed by the licensing agency when she was hired at Houston Methodist, the DA's Office said.
Ultimately, McNeilly pleaded guilty to two counts of diversion of a controlled substance. Once she completes her 120-day jail sentence, she'll be placed on probation for four years.
"What was most important is that she not ever be allowed to be a nurse, to put patients at risk, ever again," said Assistant DA Micahel Eber, who prosecuted the case.
