CARMEL, Ind. (WISH) — A Carmel-based nurse practitioner is facing charges after an 8-month long investigation discovered she’d been involved in several fraudulent drug practices.
Katherine Curtis, 34, was arrested Thursday by detectives with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Carmel Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Police say investigation into Curtis started earlier this year after several pharmacies reported they believed Curtis, who is a licensed nurse practitioner, was “overprescribing medications and writing fraudulent scripts.”
Following several interviews and reviewing other information, detectives believe that “not only was Curtis overprescribing medications, but that she was also writing fraudulent scripts and writing prescriptions under other nurse practitioners’ identities.”
Officers served warrants at Curtis’ home and office on Thursday, and she was arrested on several preliminary drug charges:
- Possession of a narcotic drug
- Dealing by a licensed practitioner
- Identity deception
- Obtaining a controlled substance by fraud
IMPD Chief Chris Bailey in a statement shared his pride in the investigators who uncovered Curtis’ “scheme.”
“Prescription fraud undermines the trust placed in healthcare professionals and puts our community at serious risk,” Bailey said. “I’m proud of the diligent work by our IMPD task force officers, the DEA, the Carmel Police Department, and our other local partners who worked together to uncover this scheme and ensure accountability.”
As of Friday morning, Curtis was being held at the Hamilton County jail.
Her initial hearing date has not been set yet. The Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office was expected to make official charges.
This is a developing story.
