Iowa Pharmacist Sentenced to Prison for Diverting Controlled Substances

In late June 2025, pharmacist Megan Elsbury, aged 43 years, was sentenced to 1 month in federal prison.

Plea Agreement

In February 2025, Elsbury pleaded guilty to 1 count of the federal charge of acquiring a controlled substance by means of misrepresentation, fraud, deception, and subterfuge. Elsbury admitted that between 2008 and 2023, she was employed by at least 3 different pharmacies located in Mason City. During that time, Elsbury developed a substance use disorder. She began diverting controlled substances, such as codeine, phentermine, alprazolam, clonazepam, lorazepam, pregabalin, and tramadol, from the pharmacies for personal use. According to the US Attorney’s office for the Northern District of Iowa, Elsbury created unauthorized prescriptions and falsified prescription and inventory records using the names of existing patients. When the pharmacy was closed, Elsbury would fill the prescriptions, pay for them, and take them home for her own use.

Sentence

Elsbury was sentenced to 1 month in federal prison, followed by 1 year of supervised release. She is due to begin serving her sentence in mid-July 2025.

The Takeaway

Readers will note that Elsbury received far less prison time than pharmacists convicted of defrauding federal programs such as Medicare or Medicaid, or a of distributing controlled substances for profit. Her case was treated primarily as a matter of substance use disorder rather than profit motivated diversion. Pharmacists who are struggling with substance use disorders can access assistance through professional resources. For more information, visit the Pharmacists Recovery Network.

Reference

United States of America v Megan Elsbury. No 25-CR-3007-LTS-KEM. United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa Central Division; 2025. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-iand-3_25-cr-03007/pdf/USCOURTS-iand-3_25-cr-03007-0.pdf

United States of America v Megan Elsbury. No 25-CR-3007-LTS-KEM. United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa Central Division; 2025. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-iand-3_25-cr-03007/pdf/USCOURTS-iand-3_25-cr-03007-1.pdf

United States of America v Megan Elsbury. No 25-CR-3007-LTS-KEM. United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa Central Division; 2025. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-iand-3_25-cr-03007/pdf/USCOURTS-iand-3_25-cr-03007-2.pdf

Mason City pharmacist sentenced to federal prison for diverting controlled substances. Press release. US Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Iowa. Published June 18, 2025. Accessed July 30, 2025. https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndia/pr/mason-city-pharmacist-sentenced-federal-prison-diverting-controlled-substances