Ex-Pharmacy Tech Charged with Drug Trafficking

A former pharmacy technician in Massachusetts has pleaded not guilty to charges of drug trafficking and larceny.

Stephen E. Lebourdais, 33, formerly worked at the Tewksbury State Hospital and was accused of stealing more than 4000 oxycodone pills from the facility, according to The Lowell Sun.

He has since lost his job, and the state pharmacy board has suspended his license.

Lebourdais was released on $4500 cash bail on March 25, 2015, after he pleaded not guilty, and his probable cause hearing is scheduled for April 22, 2015, The Lowell Sun reported.

The Drug Enforcement Administration contacted local police after discovering 4098 oxycodone pills were missing from the hospital’s medication dispensing machine. The pharmacy tech was accused of falsely outdating pills and rigging the machine.

Considering the demand for the drug, authorities alleged that the pills should not have been considered expired.

The pharmacy tech allegedly admitted to using “some” medication from the pharmacy because he had acute back pain from an accident, according to The Lowell Sun.

Prosecutor Christopher Minue told The Lowell Sun that the number of pills stolen would typically surpass what an individual would consume for personal use, but court documents did not mention the possibility that Lebourdais was selling the pills.