Former Medical Assistant in Louisiana Pleads Guilty in Connection with Fabricating Controlled Substance Prescriptions

Louisiana – On October 6, 2022, United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Debra Bossier a/k/a Debra Palmer, 48, of Mansfield, Louisiana, entered a guilty plea to one count of acquiring or obtaining controlled substances by fraud. The hearing was held before United States District Judge Donald E. Walter.

Bossier worked as a Medical Assistant at the Desoto Regional Health System (Desoto Regional) in Mansfield, Louisiana, according to evidence provided to the court. Desoto Regional employed an Electronic Medical Records system to track patient visits and create electronic prescriptions. Bossier exploited the Electronic Medical Records System to falsify telephone contacts in order to get controlled medications through fraud and forgery by fabricating controlled substance prescriptions for herself, her husband, her daughters, and one of her daughters’ boyfriends.

The principal controlled substances obtained by Bossier through fraud were Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen 10-325, often marketed under the brand name “Norco,” and Oxycodone-Acetaminophen 10-325, occasionally marketed under the trade name “Percocet.” Bossier also forged prescriptions for Adderall, Vyvanse, and Ativan. During the deception scheme, Bossier generated almost 200 prescriptions incorrectly.

Bossier would print the prescriptions and mark them with an “E” above the name of the physician who allegedly provided the medications, then fill them at Mansfield Drug Company or give the bogus prescriptions to her family members. The prescriptions would subsequently be filled at Mansfield Drug Company by family members. On October 31, 2019, one of the bogus prescriptions was filled at Mansfield Drug Company. Bossier wrote herself a prescription for 120 Percocet tablets under the name of Debra Palmer. Percocet contains the Schedule II restricted drug Oxycodone.

“Medical providers and their employees have a duty to put patient’s interests ahead of their own and not take advantage of their employment situation for personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “The defendant in this case fraudulently obtained multiple controlled substances for herself and others without a valid prescription. This office will continue to hold those accountable who commit such selfish acts.”

Bossier could face up to four years in jail, one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The sentencing date has been set on February 10, 2023, at 11:00 a.m.

The US Drug Enforcement Administration is investigating the case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook.