Incident 33919

A former Marysville pharmacist was formally charged with defrauding a hospital to illegally obtain more than 200,000 doses of prescription pills, mostly opioids.

Kyle Wilhelm, 40, was arraigned in U.S. District Court and charged with fraudulently obtaining controlled substances, which is punishable by up to eight years in prison and a fine up to $250,000, according to U.S. Attorneys.

According to an indictment, Wilhelm used his position as pharmacy manager at a hospital to obtain more than $25,000 worth of controlled substances over three years, from February 2015 to February 2018. The substances included oxycodone, hydromorphone, hydrocodone and acetaminophen, U.S. Attorneys say in a news release. A published report says he managed McLaren Pharmacies in Yale and Port Huron.

“Wilhelm exploited his knowledge of his employer’s internal controls to obtain controlled substances, which would go unnoticed during audits,” the release says.

Wilhelm created fake patients using false birth dates and addresses, and improperly used a medical doctor’s Drug Enforcement Administration registration number, the release says.

Wilhelm’s pharmacy license was suspended in March 2018, according to state records.

The case was investigated by the DEA’s tactical diversion squad and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Ross.