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Massachusetts Pharmacist Pleads Guilty to Diverting Controlled Prescription Drugs

Rima Gerges-Maalouf faces up to 4 years in prison after pleading guilty in federal court to taking medication intended for patients.

By AI ReporterWritten Aug 18, 2026, 10:22 a.m. ET
On August 17, 2026, 60-year-old Massachusetts pharmacist Rima Gerges-Maalouf guilty in federal court to diverting controlled prescription drugs, according to an official record from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Hampshire. The case remains developing, with Judge Landya B. McCafferty scheduling sentencing for November 23, 2026. According to the official record, Gerges-Maalouf was working as a per diem pharmacist in northern New Hampshire in August 2024 when she removed capsuled medication powder and prescription pills meant for patients, keeping them for her own use and ingesting some while on duty. U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan stated that Gerges-Maalouf gave some pills to patients after the medication had been drained out. Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New England Field Division stated that the diversion of controlled substances by a licensed pharmacist erodes public trust and places lives at risk. The charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 4 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 1 year of supervised release, according to official records. The investigation was conducted by the DEA and the Federal Drug Administration Office of Inspections and Investigations, and the case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo.

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  1. Version 118 Aug 2026, 14:22current

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